Cultures in Contact Week 3 Notes

2. Cultures in ContactWeek 3 Notes • This week’s topic: HR (Human Resources) Management

3. Injecting some humor • Showed short clips from the 1998 comedy, Office Space, to introduce the idea of the HR stereotype: • -the archetype of the ‘red stapler’ • -the two Bob’s and how they determine who gets made redundant • -macro vs. micro managing (8 different bosses)

4. Discussion on what HR entails: -recruitment -posting ads -organizing resumes -ensuring background checks are carried out -payroll + benefits (is this the job of HR?) -coordinate employee relations and programs, including employee counseling -determine the needs of the staff -mediate disputes

5. HR roles, cont. -recruit and train the best employees (do they always focus on training? For recruitment: headhunter) -supervise the work (to what extent is this true?) -ensure equal opportunities (what does this include?)

6. How important is it to have HR be in charge of inspiring/boosting motivation? Response in class: mixed opinions-teamwork activities, seminars, retreats, team-building (some students had participated in similar, non-working events with youth organizations)

7. The human side of human resources • Mary Schaefer’s TED talk on “Putting the Human Back in Human Resources” • Focus on the mediating role of the HR department. Talk about problems that arise at work, and personal experiences – real life examples from class included jobs being physically draining/strenuous, feeling overworked, low salary, employee rights, emotional distress-’life draining’-, how repetition is one of the worst aspects of any job, the need to learn new skills

8. What types of issues could get brought up to HR? • Some examples: • -being overlooked for a promotion • -breastfeeding/childcare in the office • -outsourcing work • -employee isn’t doing what you want them to do/takes too long to do it • -avoiding conflict-always making excuses • -not a team player • -overhearing a rude comment about self

9. Group Activity • Asked the students to define themselves as a people person or more reserved-some stated both, being dependent on the situation at hand. Input from classmates on whether they agreed with these self-labels. Grouped all remaining students into equal groups of three per person, in which one is

10. The three groups chose their own work-related issues and acted them out • Each group had two individuals with a conflict (could choose two employees, or employee vs. employer), and one who represented HR. Presentations done in front of class. Each party laid out their concerns and were then given a response/solution from the HR manager.

11. Which conflicts did they select? • Group 1: One employee is upset that her coworker can bring her baby to work, while she isn’t allowed to bring her dog. • Group 2: One coworker gets promoted far earlier than another who had been there longer • Group 3: accusation of coworker not contributing enough-not being a team player

12. Vocabulary from class: • ”to cut a check” nepotism • Employee retention • “on the books” • Tracking employee output • High turnover rate • Fulfilling job • Word of mouth • To quit/to resign • To be sacked/to get fired/to get the ax/to be made redundant/to get laid off •  a layoff/termination • Disgruntled employees