So is HR women's work?

Paul in Cannon Beach

It would appear to be.

HRQ

If it is, then what does that make you, girlfriend? ;;)

Paul in Cannon Beach

I dont know. I am really questioning alot of stuff right now in my life.

allsteaks

Okay it seems like a sexist question, but in reality HR has become a career that allows females to climb into higher echelons of the corporate world. I've seen the evolution and have trained many female HR grads that are now at the corporate level. Back in the good ole days when it was known as employee or labor relations, the person was expected to be tough when dealing with the unions or union avoidance. With all the legislative changes in the last 30 years, and the need for increased productivity and working together, as well as dealing with a world marketplace, HR is more of a balancing act between the needs of the company and the needs of individuals, and staying within the legal guidelines.
There, I know that's what you really wanted to say Paul.

Paul in Cannon Beach

Of course the initial post was meant to be inflammatory. But in reality, when I attend an "HR" conference, 80-90 percent of the attendees are women.

So, allsteaks, you are saying that HR is now a profession that values more feminine qualities such as sensitivity?

mwild31

Hi Paul.

I don't think of HR as a "woman's job", but I agree with you - when I attend HR conferences it's mainly made up of women.

Women rule.

;;)

Paul in Cannon Beach

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-25-07 AT 08:26PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Hi Mandi, good to see you posting again. So women rule, eh? Well, in HR apparently that's true.

My SHRM (thats S-HR-M to you bub) meetings I am usually one of just two guys in a gaggle of gals.

So am I at a disadvantage as a male in this profession?

Is there.. an old girls club?

Cheryl S SPHR

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-26-07 AT 07:08AM (CST)[/font][br][br]I don't know about an old girls club, but I liken working in HR to either running a day care center or elementary school. Those too, are highly female occupations. Perhaps that is why there are so many women?

NeedCoffee

For what it's worth, I think that there are traits women possess which make us very good at this profession, but at the same time, we don't often get the same respect and consideration a man would get in this position.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I agree with both Cheryl and Needcoffee. I also think there might be more women than men in HR because HR is a field most people get "promoted" into rather than seek out via a degree.

In other words, alot of people come to HR through a side door by virtue of their proficiency with people or administration.

Is there such a thing as "macho" HR?

ACU Frank

There's another dynamic or two at work here...

First, many employers feel "safer" with a female HR pro, because they think it gives them some type of dispensation when investigating sexual harassment claims.

Secondly, there are employers who see the political/legal value of having females represented in senior management, but don't want to "entrust" the roles they see as more complex to women. So, rather than look at qualified female candidates for CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, etc., they save the HR and Marketing jobs for women.

Sure, some companies have males in HR and Marketing and females as CFO, COO, CIO, CEO, etc... but I'm guessing there aren't many.

allsteaks

So now I'm in another minority group!!! Male in HR, new EEO category; I love it.

joannie

You forgot Old & White.

allsteaks

Yeah, those too. Don't forget Left Handed.

joannie

So that would be an old, white, lefthanded, Catholic, Republican, male, HR Manager?

Dutch2

Close but not exact...

joannie

Don't tell me, if you are a male in HR, you have to be a Democrat?

allsteaks

You've got me pegged Joannie but I'm not sure about Dutch. Let's not venture into some "other" protected groups please...

Paul in Cannon Beach

If this forum is any proof, women HR managers are not necessarily more sensitive than men.

Joannie and Q hurt my feelings on a regular basis.

joannie

We are so. We instinctively know when to gouge you.

HRQ

You seem to have forgotten that every now and then, I very senstitively remind you that I poke at you because I like you. Then I poke at you again and snicker.

Paul in Cannon Beach

As a female HR professional do you find that you cry more than you make people cry in a given week?

I definitely make more people cry.

HRQ

I almost never cry, and when I do, nobody sees it. I may get choked up or sniffly from a touching moment in a movie or when my kids make me really proud, or if a friend is really hurting, but that's about it. Never at work.

I do occasionally make people cry, but I make a conscious effort to be sensitive, like by handing them a tissue, then crossing my arms and sighing deeply.

Kidding. I just wait quietly for them to get it together, then I forge ahead with whatever I was saying.

joannie

If I cry, every body gets out of my way, because they know I'm mad.

Paul in Cannon Beach

My daughter once told people that daddy's job was "making people cry".

Dutch2

Nope... not a Democrat,not left handed and Protestant.