Power Abuse in The Workplace: Lessons for HR

80% are just fine, 15% skirt the edges, and 5% are evil.

The latter 20% explain why compliance is such a big thing in HR.

Anyone who follows my show closely knows I am interested in understanding the impact of power. I spoke with Dr. Catherine Connelly who is an expert in HR and in Canada's temporary foreign worker (TFW) program. The TFW program, arguably, represents one of the greatest power imbalances in any Canadian workplace.

So what can HR learn from this power imbalance? Unsurprisngly, a lot:

😇 The TFW program demonstrates why compliance exists. Most of us are fine, but some are not and it's for the latter that compliance rules exist.

👺 It would be naive of HR not to be alert to rogue managers.

😥 When an employee with low organizational power complains, it may have taken a lot of bravery for them to come forward. If you dismiss them, they may never speak up again - and you will have missed an opportunity to learn.

😱 Some senior leaders are shocked to find out what is happening on the front lines. Organizations need good people processes to ensure this doesn't happen.

The temporary foreign worker program is not tied directly to many of us in HR. But it provides inside into what can happen when there are unchecked power imbalances.

It's a sober learning opportunity - check it out!

Find Dr. Connelly's Book Enduring Work: Experiences with Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Find Dr. Connelly in any of the following places

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-connelly-57b70762/

https://connellyresearch.com/

https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/connell

Find me, as always on LinkedIn or at https://thehrhub.ca