HR - "THE ALWAYS UPRIGHT LADDER"

#HR - "THE ALWAYS UPRIGHT LADDER"

"#HR?????!"?

This word still #echoes in the depths of my mind. A modest word bearing convoluted human emotions uttered by a resource I hired from a campus drive.?

?I knew he would be a great asset to the company, but unbeknownst to me, he also taught me a lesson.?

?"Mr. Ravi, you would have to move on to another candidate as his code of conduct at the college is not admirable." The placement officer said in his mail.?

?But I didn't move on. No, not until I saw it for myself.??

?I dialed his number. For some reason, the call did not go through. That was the case for the next two days.?

?On the third day, the call connected.?

?A middle-aged woman picked up the call and answered it, a weariness evident in her voice. I introduced myself and told her about my unsuccessful attempts at connecting with her son regarding the internship.?

?"???! ????? ????????????????. ???????? ??? ???? ????????? ??????????."??

?The weariness made way for hope. She sounded like someone seeing the open world for the first time after living in claustrophobic spaces for too long.?

?"???? ??… College ? ????? ??? ?????? ??????????. ????? phone ????? ????????? ?????????."?

?Now, the hope faltered and subsided into fear. Her voice sounded accusatory.?

?"?????????????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ?????. ????? ????? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????, ????????? ?????? ??????????? ??????!"?

?"??, ????? ??????? ???? ????? phone ???????????????, ???? ??????? ????????."?

?Her weariness, the one she was familiar with, once again set in.?

?"???????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????????. ??????? ????? ?????????? ????? ???? ???? ??????????????? ????."?

?I was caught unaware.??

?"??? ??, ????? ???? phone ???? ?????????."?

?I ended the call. Now my drive to help this student was irresistible.?

?I was expecting a call from the boy that same evening. But it was only after a day that I received a call.?

?The boy greeted me.?

?"????????, ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????, ??? ??????" I asked him, a bit flustered.?

?I sensed hesitation in his voice. I didn't have to guess where I felt that before.?

?"??? ??????? ???? ????, ???????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ????. ???? ??? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???????????? ?????????."?

?Now, I was determined to get him a job and a good salary. I told him about the internship. The boy continued to talk.?

?"????, ???? ??????? ????? ???????????? ???? ??????? ??????????? ?????????. ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????????. ????? ??? ??? ???? ????????, ????."?

?He pleaded but not in a self-dep re cat ing way but with a firm resolution.??

?"?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????. ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????? ????? ????????."?

?I guaranteed that he would have a permanent job open once he finished college and ended the call.?

?Everything went smoothly, and as promised, he joined the company as an employee.?

?From that day onwards, he addressed me as "?????."?

?I felt the warm hues of fulfillment color my thoughts and give meaning to my role as an HR. I felt happy to have been the ladder to not only a person but also the family who depended on him.?

?Days passed, and he never ceased to address me as "?????" every time he talked with me.?

?After two years, he got an offer from a public company with a good package and grade. I was very exultant at this news. He went on to serve his notice period.?

?As fate would have it, there was a delay in his relieving process, and the date was not finalized. He wanted an early relieving date, and I was not given the authority to give him what he wanted.?

?He came to my place. Looked me in the eyes. And the words that came out of his mouth were something that would always keep ringing in my ears.?

?The boy who used to call me "?????", in that instant, uttered:?

?"Hey Ravi, ????? relieving date ??????????"?

?It was not an accusation. In fact, it was not even spoken out of anger. He asked for something that was rightly his and nothing more than that.?

?Yet the transition from "?????" to "Hey Ravi" did sting all the same.?

?I'm not denouncing him for this change. I still see myself as the ladder on which he stepped and climbed to the next level of his life.??

?I would still be upright, not just for him but for anyone who seeks my help, even though they push me down once they've climbed to a safe spot higher from where they started.?

?As an HR, I would still be the hand that lifts people up because that's who I am.?

?Never doubt what you do for even a second despite the other person not being thankful for it. You keep doing your duty.?

?I expect more of these learnings in the coming year as well. Life always has this ebb and flow and only when it's that way, we will become better versions of ourselves.??

?I'm starting a fresh year as an HR who would never back down to support people who need it the most because that's my identity.??

?You should also stay true to yourself and keep doing what you do best this year as well.?

I wish everyone a very #HappyNewYear2023.?