HR in the frame

Desperate scenes over at the National Gallery this week, where an indefinite strike has been called by the PCS union. It’s bad news for everyone, not least rain-sodden tourists, and we wish all sides a speedy and happy resolution.

But throughout London’s galleries truly dreadful HR atrocities abound. Our team of investigative reporters have found shocking evidence that best practice is not being followed in many of our major cultural institutions.

That evidence is here for all to behold: but be warned, as the following images could disturb HR professionals of a sensitive disposition.

Our first shocking scene is evidently an interview. It looks like the manager on the left is rejecting the application of the woman on the right, presumably because of her pregnancy. Has he never read the 2010 Equality Act?

Equally disturbing is the fact the interview is clearly taking place in a bedroom. Not even Hollywood casting directors get away with this nonsense nowadays.

Elsewhere at the National, we discovered this model of Father Christmas. It’s clearly been left out since last December. Besides evidencing sloppy management of the working environment, it doesn’t tick the right diversity boxes. Poor show again.

It’s bad enough seeing a naked person in the office. But the utilisation of child labour in this manner has been illegal since the 1878 Factory Act. Truly shocking.

This picture is from the Courtauld Institute. We’re guessing it’s of their reception. The availability of alcohol is disappointing. Once again good diversity practice is against it. Can’t say that the expression makes the receptionist a poster girl for employee engagement, either.

Back at the National, an employee obviously wearing earphones. This is never good for team dynamics and is a potential health and safety disaster if a fire alarm goes off.

We surmise this is the queue for the staff toilets at Tate Britain. If staff output is restricted by poor facilities management, productivity increases are doomed.

Also from the Tate, here’s a shot of three clearly stressed individuals. Better book a resilience or mindfulness course for these fellows, Tate HR folk.

Back at the National, a man pretending to be of a different ethnicity. A flagrant attempt to cheat diversity quotients, we reckon.

Finally, a man caught sleeping on the job. Hopefully that’s HR at the door, ready to facilitate an OH analysis. And that woman next to him could do with repairing the wardrobe malfunction – don’t recall that being acceptable in any of the dress-down Friday protocols we’ve seen.

About the author

Andrew Baird

Andrew is the CEO of HRville. He is also Employer Brand Director of Blackbridge Communications, Editorial Director of Professionals in Law and an associate of The Smarty Train. Previously, he was the MD of TCS Advertising.