Good Senior Mgt Behaviour ??

[RCorrigan]

HR Director sends email to Credit Control asking them to follow up on a €20 overdue (5 months) amount by a member of staff .......... Not a issue in itself.

Should senior staff be more "sensitive" to an overall situation or just take the "black & white" approach of it's overdue so pay ??

At this point most people would be of the opinion that this is not unreasonable.

Background :

Request was issued first week of January (just back from Xmas Holidays)
Member of staff had been in hospital for 4 months with a very problematic pregnancy
Gave birth to twins on 23rd of Dec
First died on 24th, second on 25th and her mother passed away on 26th.

Does it still sound reasonable now ??

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[KenCunningham]

The HR Director was aware of the circumstances I take it? If so, they need to be hung drawn and quartered for their insensitivity, and that would be letting them off lightly. Unbelievable in this day and age.

 

[Dollie]

Not sure why management is collecting money from staff, and why it would be overdue to begin with, but if I were in this poor woman's place and received a collection letter from my employer for €20 (euros?)...

Appalled, enraged, outraged... I can't begin to think of what I would feel.

For the employer to take the step forward and actually think of trying to collect right now is insensitive to say the least.

 

[chiph]

All that going on, and all they can think of is collecting 20 Euros? What a {rhymes with "thick"}.

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[aquias]

I have to agree, the company should be more sensative about this. No, not dropping it entirely, business does HAVE to move forward, but not at the cost of someone going through so much.

If I were her manager I would, probably, do one of two things.

1. Talk to HR and tell them they need to "sit on it" and wait for the employee to come back to work AND get her feet back under her. Assure them that I "have the ball" and would take care of this.

2. Pay the 20 off and have a long talk with HR about the value of staff members, being certain to point out the fact that HR should be the one more aware and sensative of such issues.

 

[aarenot]

I would pay the 20 myself if I were the manager. I would consider mentioning it in passing that it came across my desk, and I wanted to do something or say something to make her feel better, but I know nothing would make her pain and struggle go away. So, I did this because it made me feel good to be able to do something nice.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[cupid11213]

She ought to just clock one right on his jaw!

What a piece of *#*!


Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, while others wonder what happened.

 

[RCorrigan]

Just to add a few points :

The staff member's manager was not consulted before the contact with Credit Control.

The HR Director is female and was fully aware of the circumstances.

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[svanels]

She ought to just clock one right on his jaw!

As always the men have to wear the black sheep coat!!


Probably the two women cannot pass together through one door


Steven

 

[cupid11213]

ok then in that case she ought to clock one on her jaw!

maybe that's better


Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, while others wonder what happened.

 

[flapeyre]

I have to wonder why this even happened in the first place. Couldn't the HR manager simply docked her next paycheck by €20 (assuming employee was indeed coming back to work)?

That said, HR manager's actions were insensitive and uncalled for. Something tells me that there is something going on between HR Director & your employee that you don't know about (think feline with claws extended).

Feles mala! Cur cista non uteris? Stramentum novum in ea posui!

 

[aquias]

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. I've seen purebred business people act in this manner. Ignoring what happens in a persons personal life because it shouldn't impede business.

However, as her manager, I still believe you have an obligation to get involved here. Show her that YOU understand she's in a tough spot and you want to help her out. Show her that YOU support her and are willing to back her on whatever she needs.

Even on a such small issue, I'm certain it would mean a lot.

 

[flapeyre]

A "purebred business person" should understand that good employees are assets, and there is simply no excuse for abusing them in this manner. Plus, it doesn't make business sense - it will cost them a lot more than €20 in bad publicity. The word gets around.

Feles mala! Cur cista non uteris? Stramentum novum in ea posui!

 

[Dollie]

At this point I would shell out the €20 myself just to end the issue and keep the peace.

 

[aquias]

They should, but many are all about the bottom line. Must squeeze out every dollar and prove that we can make X amount.

 

[aarenot]

I wonder how you came into this information? If it was not from the person whom had the collections inquiry that told you, but from the HR person not maintaining the privacy of the employee, I would file a complaint. If she is not holding in confidance the information which she is not in good ethical standing asllowed to diseminate, file a formal complaint, and advise the lady who owes the money to do so as well.
The HR person is privy to information that is not for office gossip, the creation of a hostile environment, or for non-essential and authorized ears. This could be considered sharing confidential information, and could be considered gross insubordination. She could lose her job, or face civil or criminal consequences.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.

 

[rosieb]

It sounds to me like a simple "the system has got out of control" thing - has someone been to HR and pointed out the connection between the person owing this money and the woman going through this tragedy?

If they(HR)are aware, and have made the connection, then the woman's manager should be breaking limbs in HR...

(If nothing else, it almost certainly contravenes EC legislation / opens the organisation up to litigation by causing stress to a bereaved employee.)

Oh and it's utterly and completely unacceptable.

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[KornGeek]

Rosie,

With all due respect, I disagree that the manager should be breaking limbs in HR if they are aware of the circumstances (which I believe has been stated). I believe that forcefully removing the limbs and using them to beat the HR people would be much more appropriate.

To hassle somebody who has had a recent death in the family over such a small amount of money is petty and inhumane, let alone somebody who has suffered such unimaginable tragedy. Instead of trying to collect money from her, send her some food so she doesn't have to worry about cooking dinner. This situation just makes me sick.

 

[aarenot]

I say, since this HR person is so focused on money, and following procedures and polcies to the letter of the law. Report the incident to a member of senior management, a financial officer who understands the idea of confidentiality of personal finances of employees. It is not within HR's realm of authority to diseminate this information to anyone who does not have a procedural need to know. The only person who has the right to share this info., is the person who allegedley owes the $20. Even in collections the person has the right to dispute the debt.

You do not always get what you pay for, but you never get what you do not pay for.