HR overstepping boundaries AGAIN

Anonymous

April 9,2023 at 4:59AM UTC

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HR overstepping boundaries AGAIN

I am a talent acquisition manager and the HR Manager took it upon herself to approach my direct report about taking on tasks in the HR department without talking to me first. My direct report was also taken aback.

We are in the process of doing a system integration of recruiting, HR, and Payroll which was initiated by the HR Manager which also has some issues with the flow of integration and the capability of integrating the various systems. She reached out to my coordinator to tell her that her responsibilities will be decreased (I have enough work for her to maintain FT status btw)and wanted to know if she would be interested in assuming some HR responsibilities without consulting me first. She does so many of these back-handed things and I am getting so tired of her.

I am speaking with our coo this week about it.

My question is even though she is HR does she have the right to approach MY direct report with this?

Please let me know your thoughts.

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AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 6:27AM UTC
This is a culture questions. Are there boundaries and policies guiding behavior. Are their formal processes to address this type of behavior?
The truth is some cultures will allow her behavior and might even find ways to reward her......other cultures would address this behavior and shut it down.
AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 12:40PM UTC
Your new start up business may be challenging, but since you've survived your previous 8-5 challenges, you are way ahead of trials. Make sure that you like your niche and that it will be helpful to those that you wish to serve. All the best to you
AnonymousApril 9,2023 at 12:44PM UTC
Sounds like a (not great) manager issue not HR industry issue. I am a manager with direct reports and have run into this so many times with my current and former managers over me. Likely, they just care about checking off their own boxes to present to their boss above them, not actually acting like a (good) manager who is focused on their direct reports and team. They're looking above not below. I used to get boiling mad, but have since let it simmer.
LApril 9,2023 at 3:38PM UTC
HR communication usually doesn’t not have to go via managers to communicate with your reports. If they did - people would not have an avenue to file complains or apply for transfers without their manager knowing. It is in poor taste to not discuss this with you first, but if the directive came from someone much higher it isn’t that unusual.
AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 12:24PM UTC
It's hard to say with just the information given. If this is a one-off thing, then it probably isn't an issue. There may be a position in HR that she feels your coordinator is ready for and wants to give her the opportunity to apply internally. If this is an ongoing problem, where she consistently impinges on your authority, she is overstepping a boundary she shouldn't. I wasn't sure from your comment about her "backhanded" behavior, whether that includes micromanaging your employees.
AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 8:55PM UTC
Is this manager YOUR manager? If so, yep, she can ask your report to do whatever as long as she runs it by you first. In my opinion.
AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 10:23PM UTC
No, she is not. We are peers.
AnonymousApril 10,2023 at 10:25PM UTC
We are peers, and my point is she did not run this by me.
Clydene HorriganApril 11,2023 at 3:22AM UTC
It is bad form for a manager to approach another manager’s direct report to take on new responsibilities. Even if I only needed a few hours of help from someone, I would ask their manager if I could borrow their resource first.
AnonymousApril 11,2023 at 6:50AM UTC
She is your direct report so NO. She has to talk with you first then talk to her. She is showing no respect for you what’s so ever. I would speak to the COO.