Tim Sackett doesn’t think we need a website called Women of HR.
Maybe he is right.
- We have the Equal Pay Act of 1963,
- the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
- Title IX,
- and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
We’re not any closer to seeing the Paycheck Fairness Act come to life, but some say the gender gap in compensation is sorta closing.
Women comprise the majority of HR professionals. We own the function of HR even if we only represent a fraction of HR professionals who are responsible for a budget and have organizational authority to make decisions.
What more could we want?
According to Sackett, HR women don’t need special accommodations and we don’t need a calendar. We’re a majority. We should shut up and appreciate our status.
Except no one here at Women of HR is asking for an accommodation.
I don’t hear my colleagues requesting special treatment or a helping hand. We’re not asking for favors. No one wants something for nothing. We are a self-identified group of women who’ve joined together to talk about Human Resources, leadership, recruiting, and training.
That’s still legal in America, especially since we include men.
What I like about Women of HR is that it’s a unique example of technology, community, and conversation. This site includes HR professionals who are at the beginning of their careers and seasoned HR veterans who are thinking about their second acts. There are women from the recruiting community speaking to women from the technology community. And there are women who love Human Resources and women who hate HR coming together in single space to advance the profession.
Call it Women of HR or call it something else, but it’s unique and kind of revolutionary.
I think it’s also revolutionary that we didn’t crucify Sackett when he suggested that Women of HR wasn’t needed. If this website does anything, it shows that shortsighted opinions on gender and power will be carefully and respectfully considered by the majority. There were no shrill voices. There were no false cries of sensationalism or stereotypically aggressive responses.
There was nothing but good old-fashioned inclusion and debate.
Who says we don’t need that in Human Resources?
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29 Comments
Israel is a Middle Eastern country that declared independence in 1948. Israel is a representative
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Thanks Again. Want more.
Great post, Laurie. I love this one. It pretty much sums things up.
JMM
Great post! I just stumbled onto your blog and I love it!
There is a need for strong, female role models for HR professionals. Real women who have families, a personality, outside interests AND rock the HR profession. I had only met two strong female HR leaders in my 10 years in HR before social media. Now there are too many to count. That’s inspiring!
@Laurie: Oh, I love the explanation, and love the post as a whole! Nope, haven;t had the pleasure of meeting any of you yet, but hopefully someday (and apparently I’ll be doing pushups, so, hey, awesome motivation to stick with my trainer. :))
@Lisa thanks
@Lyn OMG that is hilarious.
@nate thank you
@shene thx
@dennis thanks for your comment
@kelly I have no idea WTF tim was thinking — but as the post sat out there and had my name attached to it, I thought the concept of ‘why we need women of HR’ deserved a thoughtful & serious explanation. So it’s less of a response to Tim and more of a thesis statement. And have you seen Tim in real life? I’ve got $20 on you to win.
This post is the first inkling I’ve had that Tim’s post was anything other than a huge, crazy joke designed to inspire the wimmin into reacting. It was, right? Cause if not I need to re-read that shiz with new eyes.
And Tim, I’ll take you on any day in legit pushups, and I’ll win. 🙂
Great Post Laurie! I am looking forward to getting to know you better this year. Onward sister, Onward =)
Shennee
I’m male, but I support Laurie, gender gap is always there in our lives. It is just not so explicit nowdays.
Laurie,
Looking forward to following. As a male starting out in the HR function a decade ago, I was intimidated by being out numbered. I Aaways felt like I had something to prove. I now understand and appreciate your unconventional, strategic partnership approach that you often write about, regardless of gender.
Nate
This blog rocks. Tim shakes it and Laurie spanks it again! @Lisa, I like the idea of quoting @Charlie’s “Onward, sisters… onward!” We need T-shirts.
Very. Well. Said.
My favorite comment @Charlie – onward, sisters . . . onward! Do we have a new tagline in the making?
@charlie Thx! You are pretty so we like when you come around here. 🙂
@Chris Thanks!
@sabrina that’s nice of you to say. thank you. this site is so good at being relevant.
@tim hush now. we both know you can’t do any kind of push-up.
Look until you women can stop doing those push ups on their knees – you’re still going to get paid 30% less.
Let the crufixion begin…
lol.. OK being quiet now!
Very well written! I appreciate having one place to go to and get various perspectives rather than have to search through many blogs or websites to get a balanced viewpoint. This site has kept me up to speed in a time of not working and provided me with much food for thought in the way I think about our profession! Thanks so much!
Would love to add a nugget of brilliance here but you pretty much nailed it – love it!! Bravo 🙂
i’m not a woman. sometimes i like to pretend that i am, but that’s not really pertinent to this conversation…
i read this blog as much if not more than other HR blogs out there. i am a minority in this profession and anything i can glean from the majority helps me to be more effective in what i do every day.
onward, sisters…onward.
@rachel I like your focus on support. That’s something I really forgot to stress. Good job!
@introvert I love your phrase “great equalizer” to describe the internet. Perfect.
@cindy glad to hear you say so! thanks.
@ryan shut up, dork. and i’ve missed you. xo – laurie
@john that’s really well put — especially about sackett. Ha!
@heather you should contribute! send a note to womenofhr@gmail.com
@shauna xo – i applaud you.
@heena thanks for your support of the site!
@laura LOL, thanks.
Laurie, thanks for this. I feel that the collection of HR blogs shows that the Internet is a great equalizer. Having this particular site provides not only a unique forum, but access to some other terrific content and some insightful interactions. I’ve never been disappointed with a post here, and look forward to the opportunity to think about the specific topic and how it applies in my own life – work and otherwise.
HRi
I love this, Laurie! I like being a part of Women of HR because as someone who is quite young in their career I love being surrounded and supported by so many great minds (female AND male) in the HR community. It’s a great platform for me to learn and speak my mind. Thank you for this post!
I think as long as they are hot, then I’m all for it. 🙂 Happy New Year Laurie
I don’t think about this as just a “women’s site” but more of a site where women write about issues in HR that mostly transcend gender and is just damn good writing…not matter what Sackett says.
Adding this site to my favorites, don’t know how I haven’t stumbled onto it before!
(stands up and applauds enthusiastically) Love. It.
i believe Women of HR doesnt only provide a platform (of course and equal one) to all voice across society to come up and speak their mind, specially if we women find our comfort zone out here…its great than anything else…thats not all, women of HR reflects the voices and inspires the women to come up share real life events n thoughts about life, HR and much more….indeed revolutionary for not crucifying…
Women of HR is one such place i visit dedicatedly each morning i log in…thanks for this space…
My favorite quote: “I think it’s also revolutionary that we didn’t crucify Sackett when he suggested that Women of HR wasn’t needed.”
Very well said! I definitely see the benefit and value that Women of HR brings. While it may be true that we are the dominant force in HR, it’s great to know that we have a forum to collaborate on ideas, share experiences, vent, and build connections with other great HR professionals (male and female). As with anything, debate makes for more interesting conversation. Whatever you do, just keep doing what you’re doing! We all (even Tim, regardless of if he vocalizes it or not) appreciate the camaraderie, support, insights, and inclusion we receive via Women of HR and all of the contributors to the cause.