Do you hate your employer?

J
JPNor

As of the last couple years, the focus of my job has shifted to legal compliance and as such I'm subscribed to several newsletters to keep me abreast of changes in employment law. I've taken some interest in the topic even considering going to law school.


I had a conversation with a colleague, an upper-level human resources manager, about the challenges of employment law and the increasingly litigious workforce in our country. He runs seminars on managing company policies and practices to avoid lawsuits, and poses the question: "What can an employer to do absolutely eliminate the risk of being sued by an employee?" The ensuing discussion includes recommendations on writing policies, keeping certain information out of the HR office to avoid discrimination claims, etc. All wrong.


"Kill them" is the correct answer. But then, the employer still runs the risk of being sued by the employee's estate.


From an HR perspective, the employer-employee relationship feels almost adversarial. Even tiny companies are now extremely concerned about one employee suing over discrimination, another abusing workers compensation, or claims of retaliation from a bitter former employee. And this adversarial relationship sometimes even begins before the person is hired - take, for example, an amusing Twitter exchange:


@theconnor: Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.
@timmylevad (Cisco channel rep): Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.


Though it was never officially confirmed, "theconnor" more than likely never received his first fatty paycheck.


So my question is this: Do you hate your employer? It's OK to hate your job, but other than your daily responsibilities would you classify your relationship with your employer as adversarial? Do you respect them, and do you think they respect you?

Comments (4)

A
AngryJason·
as a small business owner, I can absolutely state that I am mortified at the thought of an employee suing. I don't have a fancy legal team - just a lawyer that I hit up from time to time. Should Employee ABC decide to sue - even if it is the most frivolous suit - they will probably be able to find a lawyer somewhere who would pursue the case - resulting in costs, possible damage to the brand, etc... So yeah, I'm hypersensitive to it, and methodically lay out goals and consequences ahead of time, get things in writing with signatures, etc...
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BalekFekete·
I'm fortunate to work for one of the best companies out there. Ranked #1 in NJ, and #49 in the US, my company really goes to bad for its employees and understands that the human resource is the most valuable resource a company has.\r \r But...I count myself one of the lucky minority...
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BalekFekete·
*bad = bat.\r \r Where the fuck is the edit button! GRR
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NorthernPlato·
I never understood hating your employer. Mrs. Plato summed it up best when she worked retail: 'Don't like your job? Quit\"\r \r I've hated going in to work, because my job description had changed and I was no longer good at my job, but things change. I opted to adapt. \r \r Now, that said, I wouldn't hesitate to sue an employer for maintaining a willfully negligent and unsafe work environment. Or using trying to use their abilities to influence my paycheque (lowered authorized work hours, for example) as punishment for choosing family time over overtime. But that's why I believe in clear workplace legislation.\r \r Fuck u-nions and fuck employers who feel entitled to every minute of my day. Clear, legal and enforceable workplace safety requirements and defining what constitutes \"abuse\" would likely go a long way to making it easier for small-medium sized businesses and employees to interact, without requiring large bargaining units. \r \r But then, it's quite different up here in Canada, I believe. Non-u-nionized employees can sue quite easily if they believe the employer has been breaking the law in regards to entitlement to overtime pay (for example). No lawyers, just a tribunal. Usually pretty cut-and-dry.\r \r Wow, I seemed to have rambled and derailed myself.