The small company I work for created a new position to hire an HR manager about 6 months ago on an impressive salary. Since then, the company has continued to outsource finance/payroll, and started outsourcing even more – including for recruitment and salary packaging. HR hasn’t introduced any new policy. Another manager takes care of OHS and professional development. HR also doesn’t meet with staff, though she does have regular meetings with managers. Staff have only had individual meetings with her when they’re being disciplined and even then, she will let the supervisor do the talking. Staff started unionising about a year ago.
What else is there for HR to do? Is she there purely to keep an eye on union activity? She doesn’t seem particularly useful in the HR role. She doesn’t even seem to be able to engage in difficult conversations – she has left two group meetings crying when she felt criticised.