HR people - can I ask you a question?

Dochas

Hi!  I'm not a working Mom, but not sure when I will be so I lurk here a bit. I know there are some HR people here so I came over for some help.

If an employee asks to make an appointment with you to discuss something do you call their supervisor to tell them their employee has contacted you?  I'm not sure if it matters but just for more info - in this scenario you don't know what the employee wants to talk to you about.

And secondly - would you avoid the employee at the manager's direction?

Thanks!

WilkieCollins

I would not tell the supervisor that an employee had asked to speak with me. If somehow the supervisor found out and told me to avoid the employee (this would be a red flag for sure), I would  still meet with that person.

luvmagoldn

It depends.  Just to let them know?  No.  But when I worked for a call center I would encourage the employee to check with their manager about when would be a convenient time.  They wouldn't know what we were talking about but people couldn't just disappear from the call floor without notice.

For professional type positions?  No.  I never call the manager to let them know. 

sunflwra

WilkieCollins:

I would not tell the supervisor that an employee had asked to speak with me. If somehow the supervisor found out and told me to avoid the employee (this would be a red flag for sure), I would  still meet with that person.

This...

Pips09

WilkieCollins:

I would not tell the supervisor that an employee had asked to speak with me. If somehow the supervisor found out and told me to avoid the employee (this would be a red flag for sure), I would  still meet with that person.

This. My conversations with employees are confidential unless they choose to invite someone else in, or action needs to be taken.

Dochas

Thanks very much.  It seemed odd to me.  My DH made an appointment to meet with someone from HR and made it specifically during his lunch hour so the HR person knew there was no scheduling problem.   On Mon HR called him and rescheduled his Tues appt for this Fri.  Later is mgr called him in to tell him he was being written up (he had no idea that was going to happen when he made the appt).  He wouldn't sign without a union rep mtg with them and right after that the HR person's secretary called to cancel his Friday appointment.  They met about the write up yesterday.  This am his manager called him in to his office and told him "XX can meet with you at 1:30 today after all so you should call him and let him know either way".  How is that appropriate in any way?