Do a HR job well

My impression of HR is that people in this line are supposed to be helpful, friendly and concerned for the employee’s welfare. The HR in my new workplace differs greatly from my impression and not many people are satisfied with their service.

Anyway, when I was recruited, NO ONE gave me a call to tell me what time to report to work or if I should go to HR first. So I called the day before I was to report.

Me: Hi, xxx, I am calling because no one has contacted me as to what time I should report to work. So what are the official working hours and who do I go to see tomorrow?
HR: 9-6pm, just go see your boss secretary and later I will come over.
Me: So would there be any induction briefing or orientation?
HR: Induction? No. It’s up to your boss to give you one.
Me: So HR won’t be giving an overview?
HR: No, it’s up to your boss to give you one.

Erm, isn’t HR in the best position to give an overview of all the depts? My boss can give me a micro view. Anyway in the end, I had no induction, no orientation and I was brought round the office and introduced to at least 20 people, each lasting for 10 secs only. What the use for this?? So, imagine, my 1st day I came, was shown to my seat and sat there. My colleague even told me that when she came a year ago, the people in the section did not even know she was coming!

Then, the best thing that happened was HR actually emailed me to ask me if I was settling down and told me to go online to our own website to know more about the company. Hello, HR is just 1 min walk away, do you need to email?!

It’s so different from my previous company which we had induction, then after that orientation for a week, tea session with section heads. While I don’t expect the same treatment, I would expect HR functions such as induction, HR queries to be answered properly and admin HR stuff to be done. Such a big company and no induction briefing. So what if HR here deals with international HR issues? The basics are not even done properly!

If I call HR and ask about issues that I am not clear about or need explaining, they will say, it’s up to your boss but my boss don’t know and won’t do a thing. Or they give you a pissed tone to signal that you are disturbing them with trivial stuff. I don’t know, you, as HR needs to tell me. Right? Dumb.

I feel HR reflects the reputation and environment of a company. So, please, do a HR job well.