The "Fun" HR Manager

I just wanted to call out a trend I’ve experienced at the past few companies I’ve worked for - a new trope if you will. The Fun HR Manager™️.

They’re not like those lame HR people you’ve dealt with in the past. They’re young(ish). They might have dyed hair. They might even live in a city. They’re crazy, yo.

But they’re different. They care. They’re not here to be scary. You can trust them. They’re here for you.

They want to have fun!

They’re going to host all sorts of quasi-mandatory “fun” events. Remote happy hours. Game nights. Connectivity breaks. Mindfulness sessions. They’re going to acknowledge every history month, as if it’s a legal requirement. You want to see cringe? Watch your head of HR host a Black History Month lunch at a company with zero black people.

“This is a great place to work!” they’ll say, over and over, as if none of us have ever worked anywhere else and have nothing to compare it to. They’re going to give out the cheapest swag money can buy, and expect you to wear it for a company photo. Bring the water bottle too. It doesn’t matter our logo washed off the first time through the dishwasher.

Just remember it’s all a lie.

They are Human Resource Managers. You are the Resource. You must be Managed. They work for and care for nothing but the company and its leaders.

Any fun-ness is pure marketing. The first part is marketing the company to its employees. This place rocks. You’re lucky to work here. This team is the best. Perhaps if the lie is repeated enough it will become true. The second is marketing the company to everyone else. Look at how cool this company is. Come work for us. Share us with your clients. Give us your venture capital.

And then when it ends.

When you’re sitting across the table from them and your manager being laid off you’ll see the Real HR™️. That forced compassion they exhibited in all those XYZ History Month learning sessions? Gone. You’re going to be facing the uncaring gaze of someone doing what they were really hired to do.