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I have the title but none of the responsibilities?
I’ve been hired by a small but growing company that has never had a HR professional before. They seem unsure how to utilize me. I recently found out a lot of duties that would belong to HR are being performed by the office manager. I don’t wish to step on toes but I would like to do the function of HR...how do I gracefully ask for these duties? I really think this company has potential and a strong hr would help keep things organized and running smoothly.
Hi! I've seen similar experiences at past companies and it can at times be an awkward transition. But you as the HR professional, taking over those duties would be beneficial for everyone. If the company is growing, there will be a number of things the Office Manager can focus on outside of HR. I would recommend talking to the office manager directly if comfortable, set-up a meeting with him/her and talk about how you guys can collaborate to make some process improvements. Obviously if they are trying to hold on tight to those responsibilities, your manager may need to step in, but I think meeting with them first would be a good solution. Good luck!
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate everyone’s time and thoughtful answers.
The previous replies are spot on. Perhaps open a conversation about HR partnership, and how you can support the office manager by taking on HR related tasks to free them up for other duties they may have.
I imagine your manager maybe aware of this and I agree with Robin, dig deeper and just ask what HR duties are solely HR and what are shared with the office manager?
I suggest you set-up a meeting with your manager. Let them know what you have learned in your time there and what your recommendations are. If it's a sensitive situation, perhaps you can cross train so you have a back-up.