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vwindham · April 2003

Can anyone tell me- What is the difference between being the HR Manager, Administrator, Director, Generalist, etc. etc?

Human Resources Manager · April 2003

Sometimes, not much.

What a job title means is usually defined by the company confering the title.
Some typical distinctions are a 'Generalist' works with all areas of HR and is not a specialist (e.g. benefits, recruiter, etc.).

Manager and Director tend to apply when the person supervises other people within the HR department.

However, these are not necessarily the case. A company can give the title of HR Manager to a person who is the sole employee in the HR department.

PAhr · April 2003

An HR Manager is the person who is allowed to come in late, leave early and not be penalized for taking his dog to the vet.

The HR Administrator is the one stuck doing all the hands on work like harassing the supervisors into making sure they document everything and listening to employees whine about how they know the law better than anyone in HR. Usually they tell you that the company has already broken a few such as the Federal break policy (hey, when did they pass that one?) or the one that thinks the anti-harassment law has been broken because you had to speak to them twice in one day for not following orders. And of course the Administrator always has to sit in on the terminations.

The HR Generalist is usually someone who knows a little bit of everything. They don't specialize in one thing, but rather know a little about a variety of things. They also have a lot of grunt work to do.

The Benefits Administrator only deals with company benefits, WC, ADA and FMLA.

LindaS · April 2003

Hey PAHr, I take offense to your assessment of an "HR Manager". I happen to hold the title of HR Manager and not only come in early, I often stay late as well. In fact I can't recall the last time I worked less than 40 hours in a week (without utilizing vacation). In addition, I am also the person people come to with ALL their problems from benefits and payroll problems to employees telling me how many "laws" are being broken. In addition I deal with all the union issues and sit in on, and deal with the ramifications of, terminations, performance reviews, etc.

Shawn · April 2003

HR Manager, Director or Administrator are all interchangeable, depending on your work environment (private vs public). HR Generalist is a term used by SHRM as a general HR certification offered by thatparticular organization. SHRM is generally for private sector HR professionals.

Leslie · April 2003

I'm an administrator and PAhr, you are right on!

PAhr · April 2003

I didn't mean to offend you LindaS. It was meant as a joke. Please forgive?

LindaS · April 2003

Not a problem. My opinion is that it is the HR Directors who receive all those "fringe" benefits (at least in my experience).

jimlegal · April 2003

Big title, little money, sounds like a banker to me! Besides does a title really mean anything anyway?

Leslie · April 2003

Only when someone is reading it off your resume.

njjel · April 2003

They can call me anything they wish, just put it in my pay check! Actually, through this forum I see all sorts of titles and it seems to me that we all wear many hats and work hard regardless of the title.

mrbill · April 2003

I, for one, was called Personnel Director an I was quite pleased with that title. I frown on use of the term Human Resources, since from my experience, there was very little development of the "humans" who diligently worked.
This is akin to use of the term Lay-off. Now it is consolidation, restructuring, reduction in force, etc. Keep it simple

Don D · April 2003

Secretely we all get wrapped up in and obsess about titles. You can tell by the number of persons who list a string of alphabetical credentials following their name which sometimes begins with a letter, like, A. Randolph Pershing. I remember moving through numerous titles in my earlier years and we were taught that arriving at a new plateau carried not only more money, but, a new title with a more important ring. I fought to be titled Director once but nothing other than the title changed. I recently moved to a new position as a manager where before I was a director and the new position pays eleven thousand more. The new corporation doesn't use the title director. I think we should just do the best at whatever it is we currently do and let the title flutter in the wind. Just my opinion. Don D., M.ed, former counselor, supervising interviewer, office manager I, II and III, and Director.

Shawn · April 2003

How about head guy/gal in charge of nagging grown ups to do what they already know they are supposed to do, but just plain don't.

Zanne · April 2003

I agree with Don. When I started in HR, I was an "assistant" and did data entry, explained benefits, researched legal stuff, and helped with payroll.

I now hold the title (like WWF?) of Assistant VP of Human Resources. However, I do data entry, explain benefits, research legal stuff and help with payroll.

Titles are just ways of assigning who is going to get in trouble when something doesn't go right.

By the way - my favorite title is "Mom".

Zanne

AnneLa · April 2003

Zanne,

Just wait util you're called 'NANA". Now that's the icing on the cake!

AnneLa
AKA - Nana

Zanne · April 2003

Nana AnneLa:

I can wait for the Nana title. However, I saw this morning what you meant. I took my son to his grandparents to hang out for the day (We're not closed) and saw how Grandma's face lit up when she saw him.

Grandparents are pretty special. Hope you enjoy it.

Zanne

Brad Forrister · April 2003

So, how about HR Nana in place of HR Director and HR Nanny in place of HR Administrator?

Brad Forrister
Director of Publishing
M. Lee Smith Publishers

Parabeagle · April 2003

Well, being a swaggering, virile, all-American guy-type, I think I'd be offended if someone started calling me "Nana" or "Nanny."

Zanne · April 2003

Parabeagle:

Not to leave you out - we could call you HR Pappy.

I think the HR Nana fits!

Zanne

Leslie · April 2003

I think HR Nanny is perfect - whether you're male or female! x;-)

Parabeagle · April 2003

Nananana, nananana, hey, hey, goodbye! x;-)

Zanne · April 2003

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 04-21-03 AT 01:41PM (CST)[/font][p]Nannabeagle:

You are showing your age! :DD

Zanne

Parabeagle · April 2003

But doesn't the fact that you KNOW I am showing my age indicate that you are showing YOUR age? x;-)

MsLady · April 2003

Good 1! xclap

Zanne · April 2003

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 04-22-03 AT 07:52AM (CST)[/font][p]I humbly bow to the older and wiser Beagle in that reply. x;-)

Zanne

WOCO Frank · April 2003

After some thought, I have changed my title from "HR Director" to "Superintendent of Carbon-Based Self-Determinative Assets".

Well, I said "some thought". I didn't say it was very much thought.

Human Resources Manager · April 2003

I love this one, but I doubt it would fit on my business cards!x:D

Parabeagle · April 2003

I resent the term older. I prefer youthfully challenged. x;-)

Whatever · April 2003

I, also, am not old. I have, however, had plenty of time to achieve the wisdom that comes from having the opportunities to experience many of lifes adventures.

WOCO Frank · April 2003

I have to grow old, eventually.

But nobody can make me grow up.

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