Renee M. Alfieri  

(Copied verbatim from an entry to the ExecuNET HR Roundtable Discussion Forum on 12/6/08 in which Renee Alfieri is only sharing with her Blog to educate, inform and share opinions with her viewers and following)

"I had wanted to address the forum in terms of an observation that I had astutely discerned about 6-8 mos. ago in response to a topic in a posting.  I usually am a humble servant of my profession in which I do not need to champion my own thinking and creative juices, yet, sometimes, one needs to pat themself on the back in terms of their "rightness."

I had mentioned my own personal belief in that, the way HR is working as "an HR Business Partnership" that we are more now than ever prone to a surge of Unionization efforts than ever before.  When I had shared my opinion, as HR's, we all have opinions.  Some have a need to pipe off in a was that is seen at best condescending and at worst, superior either in gender-opinion, or ken.  While I have been in this profession now for over 18 years in progressive experiences in industries such as logistics, supply chain management and financial services--I feel I have a well-informed intuitive processing of what is happening today.

To those that chided at my "right-brain, intuitive leap of faith in my opinion," please read something that the "left-brain law firm" is presenting in a workshop as a result of a new law that can affect our   complaisant attitude about deluding ourselves that we are exempt from having to think Unionization may not come on the rise with organizing and changing the rules of the game.

I am not cynical, although, right-brain thinkers do in fact offer something quite powerful in terms of being open to thinking on a more divergent basis, versus the need of many HR's out there today in the world that are in a field that makes no sense to the majority who experience their lack-luster, interpersonal skills and coaching abilities toward the workers.  I am sometimes embarrassed to say I am an HR for all those that have made such a bad name for us, in terms of their sneaky, under-handed approach toward the organization, forever more undermining culture and needing to then have organizational development work harder at engagement issues and 360 assessments to determine how the leadership can become more effective.  My thoughts are, lets go back to basics and try to actually listen to people instead of working out metric-based spreadsheets and succession plans in which we fill positions and protect those that are usually politically aligned better than those that have "heart" and "compassion" and can ultimately command attention of the people in avoiding unionization efforts and organizing. 

When I see Unionization threats, I immediately know, the HR in that organization is compromised and does not do the best by the people but is so busy partnering with the Executive Leadership team and not challenging the authority since, they are protecting their own skin in the game.  I do not speak for "all" HR's as, I do know there are some that are exceptional and are using heart along with their brain.  We need an emotionally intelligent HR and Executive Leadership Team more now than ever in order to turn the tables on our greedy past and lazy ways in which we have not responded appropriately to the needs of the people and have instead responded to the Leaders that have more often than not, had their "own hands in the cookie jar," making our country the mess that it is today and our 401K Plans absolutely useless and compromised forever.

The rules of the game need to change, and if we are worth our salt as HR's, we need to challenge the political paradigm united together forever, versus worrrying about our own success which has become our united failure.

Just my humble opinion, no need to attack me for it, since, I have been attacked out here myself for piping off on an opinion in a much less obstreperous way by the narrow-minded professionals that are no longer passionate about challenging authority and perhaps doing the right thing for the common good.

I am exercising my freedom of speech and welcome opinions that may be similar or varied, as long as you utilize appreciative inquiry techniques verus, the need to have a top-down, all-knowing opinion of something that we are all facing together in this "brave new world."

Best,
Renee M. Alfieri
Executive Coach & HR Consultant
Empowering Inquiry
www.empoweringinquiry.com
Long Island, NY

(see below workshop being offered; I am no way affiliated with this training and am simply sharing an observation made through this course being offered on a topic that affects us all)
 
Workshop Series
WORKSHOP SY01
[Syosset, Long Island]
Jan 21, 2009
EFCA – A Looming Threat to All Employers

Workshop Series
WORKSHOP NYC1
[New York City]
Jan 28, 2009
EFCA – A Looming Threat to All Employers

 WORKSHOP SY01: [in Syosset, LI]
Hosted by: Portnoy Messinger Pearl & Associates, Inc
EFCA – A Looming Threat to All Employers
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
8:30 am – 11:30 am
 
EFCA (The Employee Free Choice Act) may become law in the first 100 days of President-Elect Obama’s administration. If passed, EFCA will give the labor movement its strongest organizing boost in decades. In a troubled economy, companies may find themselves increasingly susceptible to efforts by unions to entice employees to join.

Does your management team know:
What to do NOW to remain Union Free, even under EFCA?
Card Check Recognition Requirements?
What makes a company vulnerable to a Union campaign?
 
This workshop will give companies solid advice, including practices and policies to implement now in order to have a head start should EFCA become the law of the land. It will also explain what a union can and can not do under current NLRA requirements and NLRB regulations and about the possible increased penalties for employer violations of the Labor Act that EFCA may impose. PMP has over 45 years of experience working with unions and has an exceptional record of keeping a work environment union-free.
 
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:  HR PRACTITIONERS, PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS OWNERS, ACCOUNTANTS, CFOs and CPAs.

 
Cost:  $95 per person,
including Continental Breakfast & handouts

 
Location:  Atrium Theatre

6900 Jericho Turnpike,

Syosset, NY 11791