Vanesa Cotlar, MBA’s Post

HR is here to help. Seriously. I've not met a single HR human who ever said to me: 'I got into HR to make the lives of employees worse'. While our job consists of doing things that you may not 'like' as an employee, like terminations or difficult conversations, know that those are not our favourite moments either. We want to work with you proactively. We want to help you lead better. We want to help you create the type of environment you want to work in. We want to help the business thrive. I know sometimes it may not seem like it, but trust me, HR humans really do want to help. You'll get so much more value if you see us as a helpful partner that you work with regularly, than as a feared enemy that only steps in with bad news. We can help the most where we are integrated the best! #hr #help #leadership

Equity matters. Diversity matters. Inclusion matters. Back in the 1960s, the world of work was a different place. Conversations started about how to create environments where all humans could have access to opportunities. There were initial laws passed and the corporate world began to shift from its primarily all male, all white inhabitants to start bringing in the 'rest of us'. Since then, I like to think we've been on a forward trajectory towards a better world of work. That said, I know that's the optimist in me talking and that we still have a lot of work left to do. However, sometimes taking a step back is what helps us take two steps forward. The level of deep thinking I've seen this week around the importance of DE&I has been incredible and I hope we only see these types of conversations continue to get bigger spotlights. Next step? Move from talk to action. A few humans who shared perspectives this week that definitely sparked discussion: 🏡 Kim Rohrer Alex Seiler Hebba Youssef Anessa Fike Tracie Sponenberg Enrique Rubio (he/him) Stacey Nordwall Kim Minnick Thank you for voicing your thinking! #hr #shrm #equity

HR is 24/7. I know, boundaries are important. I know, some people may disagree. But in my experience, things happen that require our expertise beyond the 9-5. Difficult conversations and difficult moments don't always tuck nicely into business hours. So, how do we manage it? For me, I say I'm always available IF I am needed. But I clarify what it means to be needed, especially during evenings and weekends. Over the years, I've learned how to set boundaries that work for me, so that I can do the best job leading HR, while also keeping my sanity. To be honest, there isn't a perfect formula for things that can be classified as urgent and things that can't. There are nuances. The important part is to be transparent with our peers and teams as to where we are at. Since so much of what we do is behind the scenes, often others don't know how much we truly take on. My biggest tip is to monitor how much time you're spending. To keep an eye on your energy and stress levels. To keep track of the things you're doing. Advocate for yourself and uphold boundaries that make sense for you. There isn't just one right way to do this. Iteration and exploration is key here. #hr #leadership #realtalk

In HR, we are Humble Realists. Humility creates openness. Comfort. A safe space. Humility should not be confused for lack of drive. Or for lack of advocacy. Or for quiet. Realists drive truth. Pragmatism. Likely scenarios to consider. Realism should not be confused for lack of innovation. Or for negativity. Or for rigidity. We should all strive to be a little more 'HR' sometimes. #hr #leadership #drive

HR cannot get rid of the people responsibilities of a manager. Coaching should sit with managers. Giving feedback should sit with managers. Setting career goals should sit with managers. Having difficult conversations should sit with managers. Capacity planning should sit with managers. HR can enable managers to take on their responsibilities by offering guidelines, training and support, however, HR cannot do these things for managers. Being a manager of a team means being a people leader. It is part of the job description! Trying to have HR take on the responsibilities of managers leads to chaos. HR is not big enough to own all of these items across an entire company and HR will never be as close to the work and the people as the managers running those teams. HR should enable. Managers should execute. #hr #management #leadership

HR friends, you did great this week! Now, take care of yourself as you go into the weekend. Remember that it is okay to leave things at work. That you also need to fill your own cup so that you can show up best to support of others. We often prioritize the business and its employees above what we need, and especially as our week wraps up, a gentle reminder that we matter and that our needs matter can go a long way in helping us pause and enjoy our weekends. I hope this weekend you get to enjoy whatever you love to do most with whomever you love to do it most with! #hr #advice #mentalhealth

HR requires an immense amount of patience, relationship building, strategic thinking, ruthless reprioritization, resilience and more.   HR is hard work.   I remember when I was doing my business undergrad, I thought that HR was a 'simple' career choice.   I thought it was one of those 'easy' jobs that people would get when they couldn't get something else.   Reflecting on why I had such a strong misconception, I realize that back then, there was such limited information about what the field and role requires.   It is about SO much more than simply 'working with people.'   Some of the hardest business decisions are made in HR.   Some of the most important business decisions are made in HR.   Some of the most innovative business decisions are made in HR.   The job is far from easy and simple.   It is rich with complexity.   But it is also insanely rewarding!   I'm grateful I was able to see its value as I progressed through my career.   And more grateful that I was able to move into this space.   The people that inhabit it and the work we do is truly one of a kind!   #hr #leadership #careers

We've opened up some new remote-first roles at PolicyMe for Q3!   First up, software engineering: join one of the best software engineering teams around. They truly are some of the brightest and most welcoming engineers I've ever worked with. Open roles are:   ✨ Senior Software Engineer   ✨ Intermediate Software Engineer   Second, design: come help us build beautiful and user-friendly products and interfaces as well as support us in making our existing products better. Open roles are:   ✨ Senior Product Designer   I'd appreciate it if you shared our roles with your network - you never know who may be looking for a change! 😊   In these roles, you will: ✍ Grow a ton 🤗 Be surrounded by incredible colleagues 🎯 Have real impact 🌻 Actually enjoy your day to day   A few disclaimers: - At this time, we are only hiring in Canada - We are not looking for any agency help   Please reach out if you have any questions! #hiring #recruiting #policyme

HR careers are grool (great AND cool!). While they may not always seem that way, here are 5 reminders of why this is true: (1) We can positively impact the lives of people in our organizations. (2) We support humans through their toughest moments. (3) We help managers lead better. (4) We empower humans to have more meaningful careers. (5) We collaborate across the entire business as business enablers. What comes to mind for you? #hr #careers #impact

What would make you switch jobs? 50K more? Remote work? More flexibility? Faster career progression? A stronger culture? Better benefits? More autonomy? An innovative company? A leader you admire? While we may want 'everything', we are all motivated in different ways and have different priorities in how we evaluate opportunities. Do you know what you value? If not, it is worth taking the time to find out. Knowing what is most important to us professionally enables us to make more informed and more aligned career decisions. Some of the greatest power we have in our careers is in knowing ourselves and what we want professionally. The time spent on self reflection is what helps us make the best choice for us, especially when shiny opportunities come up. If we know what matters, we can choose what matters. #hr #careers #development