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HR policies that treat people like professionals and adults are refreshing. Sadly, not everyone can afford to hire only those who will act this way. It's expe

HR policies that treat people like professionals and adults are refreshing. Sadly, not everyone can afford to hire only those who will act this way. It's expensive, and not always worth the cost.

rdelk 15y ago
Exactly. It's the best system, but only works when dealing with the best people.
peteretep 15y ago
They also only last until the company hits a certain size, and someone starts taking 4 months of holiday a year, because they can. In countries where you can't easily be fired, anyway. Most stupid HR policies come about from an employee abusing the system. Come in before 9:30! No sick pay! etc etc
- acangiano 15y ago
  It's also worth noting that punishing every worker for the abuse of one, is a very common and stupid attitude. Get rid of the slacker, don't make it hell for the rest of the team.
  - adgar 15y ago
    And when the employee sues for wrongful termination, because all s/he did was follow the company policy of taking as much vacation as s/he wanted, what do you do? Maybe not in the US, somewhere where you're not likely working at-will?
  - Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
    That's great in countries with poor employee protection, but in most European counties getting rid of someone is easier said than done. You tend to need a very good reason, backed up with evidence and, unless it's a major major thing, you need to have worked with the employee to correct the behaviour. In a country like that a policy which states "Take some vacation" couldn't be used to discipline someone because the issue is actually that they're conforming with it a little too much? It doesn't mean good vacation policies aren't possible though. For instance you can have flexible allowances. You get, say, 25 days as a basic allowance, you have to take at least 20, you can take up to 30 but you get charged for / paid extra for the variation from your allowance of 25 days. That gives people the flexibility to have either more money or a very generous allowance, while still being manageable.
- Gormo 15y ago
  The solution is to have consistent ways of measuring work output, so you don't have to worry about irrelevancies such as what time in the morning people are arriving or how much vacation time they take. Meet all your milestones for the year while taking four months of vacation? You get a commendation for efficiently doing in eight months what your colleagues needed eleven for.

HR policies that treat people like professionals and adults are refreshing. Sadly, not everyone can afford to hire only those who will act this way. It's expensive, and not always worth the cost.

rdelk 15y ago

Exactly. It's the best system, but only works when dealing with the best people.

peteretep 15y ago

They also only last until the company hits a certain size, and someone starts taking 4 months of holiday a year, because they can. In countries where you can't easily be fired, anyway. Most stupid HR policies come about from an employee abusing the system. Come in before 9:30! No sick pay! etc etc

acangiano 15y ago
It's also worth noting that punishing every worker for the abuse of one, is a very common and stupid attitude. Get rid of the slacker, don't make it hell for the rest of the team.
- adgar 15y ago
  And when the employee sues for wrongful termination, because all s/he did was follow the company policy of taking as much vacation as s/he wanted, what do you do? Maybe not in the US, somewhere where you're not likely working at-will?
- Tyrannosaurs 15y ago
  That's great in countries with poor employee protection, but in most European counties getting rid of someone is easier said than done. You tend to need a very good reason, backed up with evidence and, unless it's a major major thing, you need to have worked with the employee to correct the behaviour. In a country like that a policy which states "Take some vacation" couldn't be used to discipline someone because the issue is actually that they're conforming with it a little too much? It doesn't mean good vacation policies aren't possible though. For instance you can have flexible allowances. You get, say, 25 days as a basic allowance, you have to take at least 20, you can take up to 30 but you get charged for / paid extra for the variation from your allowance of 25 days. That gives people the flexibility to have either more money or a very generous allowance, while still being manageable.
Gormo 15y ago
The solution is to have consistent ways of measuring work output, so you don't have to worry about irrelevancies such as what time in the morning people are arriving or how much vacation time they take. Meet all your milestones for the year while taking four months of vacation? You get a commendation for efficiently doing in eight months what your colleagues needed eleven for.