Are you criticized by coworkers at work (behind your back)?

Question

I work in Human Resources and am constantly being judged by people. I am the most visible person in the company and known by all three hundred people in the company. I am always meeting with employees, doing presentations and meeting with managers about employee issues. I feel like a politician. I have to make difficult decisions, tell people what they do not want to hear and try to not be emotional in difficult situations.

But due to my visibillty, I am always being critized and people love to go to my boss and talk about me behind my back. I have survived at my employer for 7 years so senior management must like my work, but I hear alot of lower level managers and employees hate me.

How do you respond to complaints about you by coworkers?

Answer 1

I am also in HR and have the same situation. It's even harder when you have worked hard to help someone, and consider them a close acquaintance if not a friend, and then hear them complain about you to your boss.

I have come to the conclusion that it is not necessarily "me" people have a problem with. It is more policies and decisions that I have had to implement and/or enforce that they may not agree with. A lot of times when they don't have all of the facts that we are faced with, they may not understand the steps we feel compelled to take. And sometimes there may just be a personality clash.

Either way, I have come to terms with the fact that I can't please all of the people all of the time; and that's OK. I take each situation and each day one at a time. I hold myself to my own high standards and ethics. And I make the best decisions I can to protect both my staff and my company. At the end of the day, if my boss is pleased with my performance that's all that really matters.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I don't know of anyway people are criticizing me at work, but I hear other things about other people.
Unfortunately, this happens everywhere you go. A lot of times, people will criticize when you don't give them the answer they want to hear or when they are jealous.
Don't worry about those people. If you have been with the employer for 7 years, you must be doing something right.

Answer 3

I think everyone to some degree gets critizied behind their backs. Its normal for people to be jealous or upset at the decisions management or HR has to make. It goes with the job. You have to take it with a grain of salt, and understand it is not personal, they are just upset. I am sure you have or still talk behind managements backs, when you didnt agree with something. Like you said if you have survived this long, your employer must like what you are doing, and they are the ones paying your bills, just make them happy, treat everyone with respect, and dont worry about the other say.

Answer 4

Human Resources employees tend to be treated poorly because of the nature of their work. Like you said, you have to "make difficult decisions, tell people what they do not want to hear and try to not be emotional in difficult situations".

You can't respond to them if they don't confront them directly. But you're likely doing nothing wrong. Telemarketers aren't doing anything wrong either - just their job - and they're probably one of the most hated professions out there. They, like you, are forced to do things that are unpleasant; it's the nature of their work.

If you are hearing about the complaints from your boss, try to take them seriously. If the complaint is "____ is really mean when they talk to me", next time try to be a little more compassionate. If it's "______ is singling me out because they hate me", try to convey that you are not when you're forced to speak to that individual again about their work. I'm not saying the complaints are valid, but you should use them as a learning tool. You won't be able to avoid the complaints because people inherently don't like you (not you as a person, you in your role at work) because of what you have to tell them. Either grin and bear it, learn from it, or find another job. No matter where you go, you're going to find people who don't like you and complain about you for whatever reason.

Answer 5

First find out if it is the same complaint, then see if you can work on it. If it is just petty bordom complaining go to the person / people and address them directly. OR, just dont worry about it and have fun with it. Play the part, you know. Heck you can even get a broom and black cat to carry with you.

Point is: It happens everywhere. Dont let it bother you. If YOUR boss is happy with your work then thats all that matters.Right? Right!

Answer 6

This happens everywhere you go. No matter what job you have, what school you go to...even at church. I don't know of anyone that speaks ill of me behind my back at work, but I'm sure they are there. You just have to grin and bear it. If they don't like you, and you have done nothing wrong to them, then it is not worth it to worry about it. I say just ignore it, unless a boss talks to you about it, then just tell him/her your side of the story...that's all you can do.

Answer 7

Ignore them. They didn't hire you. If you feel your work environment is too stifling, change your job - it's worked well for many people, like being given a new lease of life.

Answer 8

You realize that this is the adult world and it happens. NO ONE is going to be 100% happy with you. That's the nature of your job. Instead of worrying what people think about you, worry what you think about them.

Answer 9

Everyone talks behind everyone's back everywhere!
And in your position it will be even worse.
It sounds like you have been doing well though.
Just remember you can Never please everyone!