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> Human Resources is not your advocate. Human Resources is a risk-assessment department. Powerful statement.

freehunter 13y ago
This is basically why unions were formed in the first place. HR is there to protect the company, and they are owned by the company. Unions are there to protect the employees, and they are owned by the employees. I know the current attitude is against unions, and there are probably a lot of anti-union people on HN, for good reasons. Unions realized their power and became corrupt, became money-hungry, became power-hungry. Unions were one hand in the pot that bankrupted Detroit. And that's a shame, because now employees have literally no one watching their backs. At-will employment and an employer-friendly environment creates a hostile work place where employees of many companies never know when or why they're going to be fired. Unions aren't entirely bad. Employers aren't entirely bad. It's just a shame we can't figure out a good balance of employer and employee protection.
- mjn 13y ago
  I find my union in Denmark helpful. I think union systems operate quite differently in different countries, for a mixture of cultural, legal, and economic reasons. For me it's exactly as you indicate: HR represents the employer's interest, the union represents my interests, and the two negotiate mutually agreeable working conditions that represent a compromise between each side's wishlist.
- mcv 13y ago
  Good unions are great. For employees, for the economy, and even for the employers. I don't understand how American unions got so crazy and self-destructive (or if they're not, why so many Americans are convinced the are).
  - rrouse 13y ago
    I'd say it's because of the same reason why some people vote against their own best interests (e.g. less taxes on the wealthy). They believe that one day, they will be rich and powerful, so they had better not vote in things that would affect them when they get there. The problem is, most of them never get there.
mratzloff 13y ago
> Powerful statement. It's a bit naive to believe that HR is about anything other than protecting the company. Sure, employees have the side benefit of having someone to go to to answer questions about pay schedule, holidays, and benefits, but that's all it is: a side benefit. The real reason is to limit the company's legal exposure.
- ececconi 13y ago
  I know for me it's common knowledge now. But, it wasn't common knowledge for all employees when we first entered the company.
sown 13y ago
The same applies to EEO offices. They are there to keep the school/company from getting sued by people who might be discriminated against.

This is basically why unions were formed in the first place. HR is there to protect the company, and they are owned by the company. Unions are there to protect the employees, and they are owned by the employees. I know the current attitude is against unions, and there are probably a lot of anti-union people on HN, for good reasons. Unions realized their power and became corrupt, became money-hungry, became power-hungry. Unions were one hand in the pot that bankrupted Detroit. And that's a shame, because now employees have literally no one watching their backs. At-will employment and an employer-friendly environment creates a hostile work place where employees of many companies never know when or why they're going to be fired. Unions aren't entirely bad. Employers aren't entirely bad. It's just a shame we can't figure out a good balance of employer and employee protection.

mjn 13y ago
I find my union in Denmark helpful. I think union systems operate quite differently in different countries, for a mixture of cultural, legal, and economic reasons. For me it's exactly as you indicate: HR represents the employer's interest, the union represents my interests, and the two negotiate mutually agreeable working conditions that represent a compromise between each side's wishlist.
mcv 13y ago
Good unions are great. For employees, for the economy, and even for the employers. I don't understand how American unions got so crazy and self-destructive (or if they're not, why so many Americans are convinced the are).
- rrouse 13y ago
  I'd say it's because of the same reason why some people vote against their own best interests (e.g. less taxes on the wealthy). They believe that one day, they will be rich and powerful, so they had better not vote in things that would affect them when they get there. The problem is, most of them never get there.

mratzloff 13y ago

> Powerful statement. It's a bit naive to believe that HR is about anything other than protecting the company. Sure, employees have the side benefit of having someone to go to to answer questions about pay schedule, holidays, and benefits, but that's all it is: a side benefit. The real reason is to limit the company's legal exposure.

ececconi 13y ago
I know for me it's common knowledge now. But, it wasn't common knowledge for all employees when we first entered the company.

sown 13y ago

The same applies to EEO offices. They are there to keep the school/company from getting sued by people who might be discriminated against.