HUG ME!

Don D · May 2003

Ever have one of those days when you chunk caution to the wind, forget your sexual harassment policy and take your chances? At my new job, the HR Assistant's daughter was just diagnosed with a serious illness. I won't bore you with the details of prayer lists, crossed fingers and devastated family and friends. Last Thursday morning at 7:50 she came into my office on cloud nine with a smile as wide as Texas and exclaimed, "Can I hug you?! The retest was negative!" I said, "Absolutely not! Unless it's on a Thursday morning before 8 o'clock. Then I hugged her. I also brought her flowers the next morning. The card said, "God works miracles".

Prayer, temporary emotional involvement with a coworker, the mention of God, hugging in the office; Am I politically incorrect or what? x:D

Parabeagle · May 2003

Highly illogical, undoubtedly politically incorrect, far too sensitive for the neutral nature of our work. For shame x;-)

Leslie · May 2003

Absolutely politically incorrect - and sometimes you just can't work it any other way. Sounds like great news for the family and may all future tests remain the same.

Hunter1 · May 2003

Don, Don, Don! Who always chides me and others on the Forum when they break the 'rules'? Good for you! Hope everything continues to go well for your co-worker.

HS · May 2003

But it's why we all love you so much...and why we come to the forum ultimately.

You are, just you!

xhugs

( x:o Uh-Oh, guess this means I'm a little politically incorrect too! :-S )

Parabeagle · May 2003

Sorry, but I draw the line at considering Don's presence to be the reason I come to the forum. I came to meet chicks! -Oops! /:)

Leslie · May 2003

So come on tell us - who have you been sending those private messages to?!?!
:oo

System · May 2003

Political correctness is highly overrated! You were very kind to respond to her, especially with the flowers. I have hugged troubled coworkers and given congratulatory hugs, too, and I'm sending you one now - well done! (I'd put an emoticon here, but I still haven't figured out how to do that!)

Parabeagle · May 2003

What private messages?

Leslie · May 2003

The little memo above with the three squiggles to the left. That's a private message.

lorrie · May 2003

Exactly why you belong in Human Resources - because you are human! Your co-worker is lucky to have you there.

Trinity · May 2003

Ditto to all the above. If we can't show ANY human emotions at work, then they should just chuck all of us out the door and put robots in our places...whoa..I see a Terminator plot here...
Well done Don, Well done.

LindaS · May 2003

Ditto to all of the above (except the meeting chicks thing)! It's too easy to get bogged down in the myriad of law and political correctness so it's nice to be able to get out from under that umbrella and just be!!

Balloonman · May 2003

I have to admit, I was cautious going to a post from Don asking for a hug. Hey guess you aren't a heartless SOB after all. :-)
Let us never forget HUMAN resources.............
My $0.02 worth.
DJ The Balloonman

ray a · May 2003

Wonderful. Now I feel better because I have done the same thing. As others have said, we need to forget PC sometimes and just be ourselves. We are emotional beings and sometimes need to express our emotions. Let people know we are humans, not robots.

Rockie · May 2003

Don....what a nice guy you are! I am sure you are going to be a great asset to the employees of your new company.

safety · May 2003

OK all, it's time for a politically incorrect group hug but remember, no grabbing or pinching allowed!xhugs

jmpmo · May 2003

That is so great! Sometimes the rules are made to be broken for that reason alone.

Congrats to her family and many thoughts and prayers! Uh-oh, I just crossed the line too. For shame!!

njjel · May 2003

Where I work your type of response to the situation is expected! Glad to know you are human too!

Human Resources Manager · May 2003

I have to heartily concur with my fellow forumites (forumians?) There is being cautious, and then there is being heartless. Your heart is definately in the right place Don! Hope everything continues to go well with your co-worker.

mmscott · May 2003

That was a wonderful thing you did. Being in HR doesn't mean we don't have feelings. If we didn't love people we wouldn't be in this business. Right? ( Although there are some days I question that) Good Luck to your Co-Worker ~ a Gods miracle indeed. Keep up the good work!

Moria · May 2003

I didn't get in on the group hug yesterday, just curious, hug anyone today Don?

Zanne · May 2003

Thank goodness you are politically incorrect.

It probably meant more to her than you will ever know.

Zanne

keithlf · May 2003

Yes Don, you are incorrect, but you are human! Everyone needs a hug once in a while. Keep up the good work and God will take care of you.

Crout · May 2003

What a great feeling to turn the clock back to a simpler time when we could be human and not worry about the legal consequences. Thanks for sharing it.

JulieP · May 2003

I'm proud to say I'm on the same forum as you! Good job. I'm glad I'm not the only politically incorrect HR person out there. xhugs

System · May 2003

I had to fire an employee who knew that he was going to be fired. When he left, he said it was nice to work with me and he asked if he could give me a hug without it being "sexual harassment." I said that sexual harassment has to be unwanted and unwelcome - I gave him the hug.

Never want to take "human" out of HR!

"Sam"

safety · May 2003

Well Don D, I did it also. We held a going-away party for a non-exempt ee yesterday afternoon. All of her co-workers in the salary ranks attended the event; we had cake, punch and all of the usual party favors. We gave her a few going away gifts, she said a few choice good-bye words then all lined up to give her a hug. I couldn’t help but think of this post as I waited my turn. I also couldn't help my emotions as well as everyone else; we really hated to see her go. Anyway, when it was my turn, I first gave her a tissue to dry her eyes; I gave her a big hug, told her to come back and visit when she is in town then hugged her again. xhugs

HUG ME!

Comments