In some organisations HR doesn’t have a seat at the top table. In
many organisation HR don’t feel they have the status or influence
their expertise and contribution warrants. But this isn’t about those
organisations this is about what happens when an ambitious new chief
executive hires a ruthless head of HR with the intention of taking
complete control of the organisation. Board members would need to be
manoeuvred out in the search for new blood, directors would have to be
intimidated till compliant, loyalty rewarded, power concentrated in
one post.
Reorganisations were used to force senior people to apply for their
own posts and relocate them and their families to the other end of the
country. The frequency of board meetings was increased as was there
length and the number of reports to be read. Board meeting were moved
around the country because this is a national organisation and we
should be seen to be out and about.
HR exerted a tight grip on recruitment with considerable latitude on
pay grades. ( No one knew what any one else earned). Trade unions were
not recognised instead HR operated a staff association, each workplace
had a hand picked rep. And reps met quarterly with the head of HR at
HQ. HR arranged for “ unhappy” people to leave quietly having signed a
non disclosure agreement (NDA).Those not considered important enough
to warrant a NDA who left and sought redress through an Industrial
Tribunal we’re bought off with a one off sum which was, HR calculated,
less than the legal costs the organisation would incur.
Lady Macbeth eventually left quickly and quietly. The rumour was she
was caught on CCTV having sex in the car park at HQ. The rumour didn’t
say with whom or why she wasn’t using her more spacious , more
comfortable and more private office. Bearing in mind the
indiscretions, lies, bullying , extortion, cronyism, abuse of power
and the total lack of integrity extra marital sexual gymnastics in the
car park hardly seems reason to be forced out. But maybe her
usefulness had come to an end or did the chief executive have a
suspicion she had ambitions for the throne?
Blair Mcpherson former Director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk