Risorse Inumane
Read in 16 min.
Listen in 20 min.
Learn the key ideas of the book by Denis Murano

Risorse Inumane

Behind the scenes of the world of human resources

Dealing with human resources is actually much less...human, than one might think. As Head of HR, Mr X, the anonymous personnel manager of a large company, knows only too well, people are necessary, but they are not indispensable. He reveals that personnel decisions are often made in a hurry, without much thought for the company’s future needs. Having said that, people are a company’s driving force and selecting, managing and training them correctly is the only route to success. In his diary, Mr X tells the story of his job as a personnel manager, from interviews to dismissals, and of course his relationship with company management. This book is a tale of human resources management from the inside, with a healthy tinge of cynicism and a few lighthearted jokes, just for good measure! 

Risorse Inumane
Read in 16 min.
Listen in 20 min.
IDEA CHIAVE 1/15

Firing people, one of a senior personnel manager’s main jobs

HR Head, Mr X heads up the personnel team of a large company: he has been working in human resources for 15 years, having been responsible for the selection and training of personnel for several different companies. He firmly believes that every few years, we should move to a different company, because at a certain point, we have nothing left to give, so it is time for a change. He now manages a team of eight staff in a large and flourishing company. One of his tasks is to let people know when they are about to be fired: over the years, he has learned to deal with this situation, but he admits that no matter how experienced he is, the task is always unpleasant and causes him stress. In fact, Mr X cannot stand it when someone bursts into tears in front of him, but it happens often.

As with every job, a Human Resource Manager has to learn a few tricks of the trade: first of all, never give the person being fired the impression that it is their fault or that they have done something wrong. Most of the time the decision to fire someone is taken for other reasons than the actions of the person themselves. When firing someone, you must show understanding and demonstrate that you have analysed the situation carefully, that you know it well, and that you are concerned about finding the best solution, especially when it comes to financial matters. Therefore, a redundancy package should include outbound mentoring and helping with finding new opportunities, as well as a sum of money.

Once a dismissal procedure has started, the company has no interest in stopping it: therefore when a person is told that he will have to stay at home, there is nothing he can do to influence this. The dismissal meeting has an unspoken format, in which there is a careful balance between what is said and what is implied. In short, everyone plays a role which is already written, but they pretend to improvise, as though each of these meetings were unique. For example, Mr X is very familiar with the expressions and gestures that accompany this type of meeting, and has a finely-tuned sense of timing to manage the situation appropriately.

  

The key ideas of "Risorse Inumane"

01.
Firing people, one of a senior personnel manager’s main jobs
02.
Company meetings are often a waste of time and energy
03.
Using data to back up any statements made during meetings makes them more productive
04.
A good manager treats all employees with respect
05.
The blame culture in a company is a good indicator as to the level of well-being
06.
Hiring the right people is difficult
07.
Meetings with trade unions are a waste of time and energy
08.
The three types of external consultant: desperate, unconvincing, and capable
09.
Formal and informal organisation within a company
10.
Overtime: a double-edged sword that opportunistic employees can take advantage of to earn more money
11.
Travelling on the company dime: the magical world of working away
12.
The trial period: a window for “easy” dismissal
13.
A manager’s responsibility: manage people to the best of their abilities
14.
Quotes
15.
Take-home message
 
 
4books preview

Try 4books Premium for free!