Biggest Challenges Faced by a Former Chief Human Resources Officer at Cloudera
Britt, a retired SVP of HR/CHRO, identifies the evolving expectations placed on companies as the biggest challenge in their role. The shift from solely providing reasonable pay and competent management to now encompassing significant emotional and mental support is a key concern, with Britt stating that a company "is not necessarily responsible for your happiness," while still emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment.
Executive/Leadership, Workplace Challenges, Industry Realities, Hard Truths, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Britt Sellin
Retired - Former SVP of HR /CHRO
Cloudera
UC Berkeley; UCLA extension for an HR certificate post graduation from Berkeley
N/A
Psychology
Technology
Human Resources (HR)
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Balancing employee expectations with company responsibilities: Modern workplaces face increased pressure to provide emotional and mental support, but companies need to define their boundaries and differentiate between providing a supportive environment and guaranteeing employee happiness.
2. Evolution of HR: The role of HR has expanded significantly over the past two decades. Previously focused primarily on compensation and preventing manager misconduct, HR now addresses employee well-being and mental health.
3. Defining the role of a company in employee happiness: The speaker asserts that while companies can create positive environments and provide resources, they cannot ultimately control or be responsible for an employee's happiness. This highlights a crucial aspect of managing expectations in the workplace.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
The biggest challenge today is that companies are expected to provide things they weren't in the past. For instance, when I first entered the business 20 years ago, the expectation was to pay people reasonably and ensure their managers weren't awful.
Today, there's an expectation of significant emotional and mental support. I'm not always sure that's the company's role, though it is important.
I don't believe a company is necessarily responsible for an individual's happiness. People often confuse company support with wanting the company to *make* them happy, and those are two very different concepts.
This doesn't mean I won't provide a great environment or a great manager to enable happiness. But ultimately, I cannot *make* someone happy.