For this week’s blog, we were asked to research multiple Fortune 500 companies and see what employees say make these companies great places to work. The companies I chose to research are AbbVie, Bain & Company, Inc., and Veterans United Home Loans. The practices used in HR for these companies are intriguing and it was nice to see real world examples and perspectives.
AbbVie – From an HR perspective, there seems to be a major room for improvement. Almost all reviews for this companies HR department were very poor and all stated a lack of action from the department. One review in particular that caught my eye in relation to HR was a review by a senior scientist regarding their group dynamic and communication. That the group was “rife with abuse” with “little attempt to fix any of the problems by HR”. This individual did not go into details on was form of abuse their was but I would assume it was an abuse of power or simply within the way the group communicated. With that being said, It seemed as though HR would listen to what this individual had to say without any cause for change.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/AbbVie-Reviews-E649837.htm
Bain & Company, Inc. – This companies reviews for HR were largely positive with the company also responding to negative comments and stating that these will be brought to HR’s attention in hopes of solving the problem. It was very nice to see a large company like this stepping up and listening to what is being said and actually replying to the individual posting the negative review. One review posted by an analyst stated, “I’ve had some crazy circumstances and HR has gone above and beyond to support me.” which is very nice to see as often in the corporate world it feels as though there is a lack of understanding that individuals have life outside of work and there will always be extenuating circumstances.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Bain-and-Company-Reviews-E3752.htm
Veterans United Home Loans – For thus company, it was very difficult to find any reviews on the HR department itself. But I was able to see how the company responded to the reviews posted, good and bad. For almost every post, there was a response from the employer. These replies addressed every negative review that was left as well as who to reach out to in order to handle the situation in the best manner possible. The fact that the employer was able to address everyone’s concerns showed me that they do truly care and this would be an excellent company to work for.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Veterans-United-Home-Loans-Reviews-E242421.htm
Managerial Aspects – After researching these companies and hearing how employees and employers interact there are many takeaways I have. Firstly, I believe the most important aspect of a good manager is making there employees feel heard. This does not simply mean listening to what they have to say but to actually make them feel heard. By taking their feedback and implementing aspects of that into their work life. With that being said, you cannot make everyone happy as an employer and you must consider that into the decisions you make. I believe the best mentality to have in that aspect is to try to make the most people happy overall. By addressing the concerns of the group rather than applications to specific individuals. This is the most difficult part of management, you will never be able to please everyone but you must try to do the best for all.
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