HR as reception central
Cinderella
632 Posts
How many of you with public entrances have HR right smack in the front? How many of you HR-ers are in charge of a receptionist or reception, period (as in, you're closest to the door but have no receptionist)? How do you feel about HR handling "the front desk duties" and answering the "main" business phone line?
Comments
When I worked at a hospital, HR was across the street from the main hospital in a converted doctors' office. It was very spacious, but very removed from employees.
Another hospital I worked in, HR was near the front lobby and the receptionist and the HR Assistant reported to me. They shared telephone duties when needed, along with one other person.
I guess it depends on the size of your organization. Ours is so large that HR is a totally separate, dedicated department from things like switchboard, receptionist, security, etc. In a smaller organization which is more self contained in one building, the set up with the receptionist reporting to HR would probably work.
For a majority of us, it's not really an issue.
My $0.02 worth.
DJ The Balloonman
In my current job, the HR offices are along the front of the building with the prized windows, not near the reception area. The receptionist is on my staff and the HR Assistant covers for her. Its a constant hassle. HR duties frequently take a back seat to the mundane but so important tasks of phone answering and traffic management.
Of course this is all your payoff, Cinderella, for staying out past the midnight hour, so you have no one to blame but yourself.
At my last place of employment the HR Assistant covered the receptionist when she was out / on lunch / etc. which was kind of painful but it worked out okay. I hear from old co-workers that now just about everybody in HR there has to take turns covering the receptionist (who apparently has become the "event coordinator" as well and attends a plethora of meetings....).
Just wanted to see what others were doing in this area. I think it's a little weird for a $600 million company with 1200+ employees to have not only the HR Assistant but the Recruiter, Payroll Administrator, Benefits Specialist, HR Mananger, Senior HR Generalist, AND HR Generalist answering the phones and sitting in the lobby to cover the receptionist when she's at a meeting. I mean, might as well hire another receptionist and promote the current one to event coordinator or hire an events person for all the time it's taking and morale it's digging at.
When phones need answered, they call on HR. When events need planning, they call on HR. When something needs to be typed, they call on HR. As if we don't have enough to do...but you just learn to deal with it.
I wear many many hats. Some days I'd rather not have all of those hats, but my bills unfortunately don't pay themselves, so I smilply simle and nod, and do the best I can with what cards I have been dealt. :0)
I don't want to sound sexist, but I don't think a department with a man in charge allows clerical dumping, event planning and all that stuff, unless the department solidly does already handle it and plans to continue.
When I got here I replaced a woman with 30 years as HR Manager. I have a sign on my wall in clear view that says: This is not the Donut Department. This is not Pizza Ordering Central. We cannot do your expense reports any longer. This is not snack tray planning and birthday control. Betty no longer works here.
Not saying I like it--just facing reality!
Answering phones or greeting visitors is not an HR function in my opinion.