Your HR Department can be the source of valuable, legal advice and can help solve many employee-related problems. But not all the kinds of issues you might face in the workplace should end up in HR. HR is not the parent. HR is not the baby-sitter. And HR is not the police. Some issues you should handle yourself. Here’s how to decide which door to choose.
In general, go to HR whenever:
- You are being discriminated against for any legally protected category such as race, gender, religion, or other protected class.
- You are being harassed either sexually or on the basis of your age, race, nationality, or other protected class.
- You have questions about company benefits or about what the law guarantees in terms of medical leave or accommodation for disability.
Experienced HR employees have had extensive corporate compliance training and so know what the law requires and how to proceed properly. But, not everything makes sense to bring to HR.
Deal with workplace complications on your own if:
- You don’t like your boss. This is unfortunate but not a legal issue. Your best course of action is to have a direct conversation with your boss to uncover how to best help them succeed in a way that works for both of you.
- You have a dispute with a co-worker. This is also a situation where you should try to resolve your differences directly. Start by listening and truly understanding their point of view.
- You find a co-worker irritating. Try to figure out a work-around…maybe shifting your work station, tactfully requesting a change in behavior or being more patient, tolerant or understanding.
In general, HR’s purpose is not to solve basic work or leadership issues. Unless people are being openly abusive, illegal, unsafe or acting against the company’s values, use your leadership and influence skills to improve the situation.
Learn more at: http://www.lsaglobal.com/corporate-compliance-training/
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