WHY EVERYONE LOVES TO HATE THE HR DEPARTMENT

The HR function remains the most feared, maligned and unappreciated business in a company. What gives?

- Devina Sengupta

In 2016, Amitabh K., a senior marketing executive working at a multina tional technology company in Mumbai, raised what he thought was a pertinent question: "Where are the nonwhites in the senior management team?"

He brought up the issue with the com pany's human resources (HR) department while discussing the possibility of a promotion. He noticed that while a substantial chunk of the company's employees were from across the globe, there was little diversity at the top.

The HR team refused to explaininstead, he was asked to go.

"They handed me my severance pay without any explanation. Perhaps because I raised questions. Maybe, the bosses could not accommodate my demand for a promotion. No one explained if there was a performance issue. The HR was called in to do the unpleasant task," said the 42-year-old, who now lives in Australia.

Few years after Amitabh was laid off, an electronics major started an audit against one of their senior executives. The Mumbai-based company received three mails from whistleblowers pointing out that the executive had taken personal holidays, paid by the company's vendors. All concerns were brushed aside for years-until a whistleblower letter reached the Board and the promoters. In this case, the HR team at the company wasn't empowered enough to alert the board, leading to delays in the investigation.

Then, one day, in October 2024, unmet sales targets loomed large for a marketing team at an advertising company. The team had to work additional hours and missed an email from the HR department-aparty with snacks and games was being organized to celebrate Diwali. At 5 pm sharp, the party began. The marketing team continued to work, upping their voices so that they can be heard above the din.

"This will neither engage the employee nor prevent an exit," quipped an employee who didn't want to be identified. No one questioned the HR on the need for a party when business numbers weren't met.