Thread by @UnusedPotential

Live Tweeting "Demystifying HR" by @annthurium #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Today we will cover "What are some times when involving HR can be good, and what are your rights under the law?" #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium HR started at the beginning of the 19th century with "Welfare women". It's always been women-coded work. Originally about protecting workers, but capitalism consumes everything and now it's about protecting companies. #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Let's dive into the experience of HR people:

People fall into HR often because they don't feel they can work in their field. There is a lot of issues with race and gender there. #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium You can't be friends with co-workers because you may have to fire them. It's a lot like being security. #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Cultivating a good relationship with HR can help you get things done. Especially good if you plan to move into management at your company #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium When to talk to HR:

- Do you want a situation to be confidential? DON'T TAKE IT TO HR

They will tell your manager. HR is there to solve problems #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium - Do you have a solution in mind?

HR can drive towards solutions, but it can be really hard for them to drive outcomes they don't know #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium You can talk to HR when you lowkey want to tell them that your manager did something uncool. They give an example from their past when their manager said exactly the wrong thing. They asked HR for assistance in phrasing feedback #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium In highkey situations like harassment, talk to a lawyer. Start with your lawyer rather than HR. HR won't act on your behalf #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium If you want to transfer, maybe talking to HR is a good idea. They have a better idea of what opportunities there are, and transferring is better than losing someone. #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium These are some outcomes you might want to talk to HR about. There are factors that influence the outcomes. First up: whiteness.

Whiteness is the default in HR, and bias is the default in whiteness.

Trusting your white HR person to back you up is risky ass move #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Have receipts, document incidents, be specific, don't editorialize. Cover WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY.

Collect evidence of your success and of behavior that effects you #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Does your executive leadership care? HR reports to them, and if execs don't care, HR won't either. Be careful in these situations #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Tilde is discussing some of the laws covering HR. These are federal only, and they are not a lawyer.

You have less protection at small companies.

Family leave > 50 employees

Sex/Race discrimination > 15 employees

Age discrimination > 20 employees

#WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Be careful when working at startups #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium You can't be prohibited from discussing pay with your co-workers. TALK ABOUT PAY. [ed- pay information disparity only benefits companies and bias].

The same law says you can unionize and gives protection. NPM just got fined for violating this. #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium Enroll in short-term disability insurance. FMLA will protect your job, but it only kicks in after a while. It's better to get some pay than none #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium File for unemployment insurance - you qualify even if you quit for being harassed, or they fire you. In both cases, the company should have done a better job, and you have earned the protection #WSC2019Conf

@annthurium This is only the surface of your rights and protections under the law. It's important also to do the work of learning and teaching.

Check out techworkerscoalition.org <--- resources for organizing, unionizing, and legal protection #WSC2019Conf