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Clueless@Work
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3.7 after 9 votes
Sara White and Laurie Ruettimann have started at new project called Clueless@love where they intend to dispense love advice. They promise not to make worse and that "it's better than nothing."
Their website states their qualifications as follows:
Sarah White is the sassy, geeky, never apologetic girl behind I’m So Corporate, a website dedicated to those who are interested in HR, technology, and social media. Sarah is anything but corporate in real life and loves flip-flops, jeans and t-shirts. Sarah married her high school sweetheart and has two children who are brilliant, adorable, and will take over the world.
Laurie Ruettimann is the bossy, brazen voice behind Punk Rock HR. When she isn’t helping you fix your career, she’s busy eating potato chips and dreaming about starting an animal rescue. Laurie met her husband at work because she was just too busy to date.
Somewhere else they say something to the effect that in HR, they've seen it all so they are uniquely positioned to share their thoughts and wisdom on relationships, love and sex.
I don't know either Sarah or Laurie, but I enjoy both of their antics and think they are bright, have interesting things to say and are a lot of fun.
But. You knew the BUT was coming. The last thing someone in recruiting or Human Resources should be doing at work is dispensing advice on relationships, sex and love.
In most companies, that information is relegated to the break-room or where the smokers huddle together at least 25 feet from the entrance to the building. It's called gossip, and usually comes with a heavy dose of morality or lack thereof and always plenty of drama.
This is not the job of a Human Resources Director. Unless you are in the therapy and/or pornography industry, it is probably not in the job description of anyone else in your company either.
Discussing your or someone else's sex life at work can also be considered sexual harassment if it is unwelcome and pervasive.
But most of all, it will completely undermine your credibility.
So while I wish Sarah and Laurie a great time, giving love and sex advice is not a function of either a professional recruiter or a human resources executive.
Their website states their qualifications as follows:
Sarah White is the sassy, geeky, never apologetic girl behind I’m So Corporate, a website dedicated to those who are interested in HR, technology, and social media. Sarah is anything but corporate in real life and loves flip-flops, jeans and t-shirts. Sarah married her high school sweetheart and has two children who are brilliant, adorable, and will take over the world.
Laurie Ruettimann is the bossy, brazen voice behind Punk Rock HR. When she isn’t helping you fix your career, she’s busy eating potato chips and dreaming about starting an animal rescue. Laurie met her husband at work because she was just too busy to date.
Somewhere else they say something to the effect that in HR, they've seen it all so they are uniquely positioned to share their thoughts and wisdom on relationships, love and sex.
I don't know either Sarah or Laurie, but I enjoy both of their antics and think they are bright, have interesting things to say and are a lot of fun.
But. You knew the BUT was coming. The last thing someone in recruiting or Human Resources should be doing at work is dispensing advice on relationships, sex and love.
In most companies, that information is relegated to the break-room or where the smokers huddle together at least 25 feet from the entrance to the building. It's called gossip, and usually comes with a heavy dose of morality or lack thereof and always plenty of drama.
This is not the job of a Human Resources Director. Unless you are in the therapy and/or pornography industry, it is probably not in the job description of anyone else in your company either.
Discussing your or someone else's sex life at work can also be considered sexual harassment if it is unwelcome and pervasive.
But most of all, it will completely undermine your credibility.
So while I wish Sarah and Laurie a great time, giving love and sex advice is not a function of either a professional recruiter or a human resources executive.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amitai Givertz on -
Well said.
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Permalink Reply by laurie ruettimann on
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Thanks for your comments. I had this discussion on my blog, Punk Rock HR, and I have been advised both publicly and privately from therapists and MDs and PhD psychologists. I'm only sorry you didn't contact me directly.
We know that true HR professionals are focused on work. I am a strategic HR professional with the SPHR designation and a resume that rivals no other. Beyond my professional life, I have experience writing an advice column called Ask The Blondes (2007-2008). I am a decent woman. I am now paid to write for AOL and The Conference Board. I write a blog, too. Because I find joy in trying new things, Clueless @ Love was born.
I am a feminist. As a rule, I will not be told that I cannot exercise my opinion in a corporate or personal environment. I know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate. I am an educated woman. There is a time and a place for everything. If you work in HR, you don't need to be reminded to keep your shit in line with state and federal guidelines. Most HR colleagues aren't stupid. It demeans the profession to even pretend that what Sarah and I will do will have any impact on recruiters or HR professionals.
Thanks for your concerns, but HR professionals know the difference between work and entertainment. In fact, we had a very robust discussion around the professional boundaries of HR and the entertainment value of the HR function.
http://www.hrhappyhour.net/blog/?p=371
What we're doing clearly fall in the line of entertainment. Let's pull the stick out of our asses.
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Permalink Reply by Heather Bussing on -
There are a few problems with characterizing Clueless@love as entertainment only.
First, people's relationship troubles and blunders are not really "entertainment." It's too easy to end up making fun of people. You don't seem like that kind of person.
If you are really out there to help people work through these issues, then citing your HR qualifications makes my point exactly. This is not the role of HR.
The boundaries of HR's role are often confusing and blurred because people come to work with all their emotional baggage and relationship issues. There is plenty of evidence that being heart-broken, and even not getting laid enough, affects job performance. We can probably agree that HR should not be handing out vibrators and condoms. (Although it would make an interesting immodest proposal. And they are much preferable to "sticks")
While it is easy to declare that educated HR professionals know how to "keep their shit in line with state and federal guidelines," I see good intentions and the desire to help people end up in the courtroom all the time.
The best words that a good recruiter, HR director, or even attorney, can say to someone who needs advice on relationships, love and sex is "Call your therapist." Too often that doesn't happen.
I'm glad you are having fun. I'm delighted that you are robustly discussing the professional boundaries of HR. That's all I'm doing here by saying "Don't try this at work, kids."
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Permalink Reply by Peter Ceccarelli on -
"I am a strategic HR professional with the SPHR designation and a resume that rivals no other"..............and this means what? We have enough ego on this site already. It causes problems. I don't think your statement is relevant to your topic in general. But it is entertaining!
laurie ruettimann said:Thanks for your comments. I had this discussion on my blog, Punk Rock HR, and I have been advised both publicly and privately from therapists and MDs and PhD psychologists. I'm only sorry you didn't contact me directly.
We know that true HR professionals are focused on work. I am a strategic HR professional with the SPHR designation and a resume that rivals no other. Beyond my professional life, I have experience writing an advice column called Ask The Blondes (2007-2008). I am a decent woman. I am now paid to write for AOL and The Conference Board. I write a blog, too. Because I find joy in trying new things, Clueless @ Love was born.
I am a feminist. As a rule, I will not be told that I cannot exercise my opinion in a corporate or personal environment. I know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate. I am an educated woman. There is a time and a place for everything. If you work in HR, you don't need to be reminded to keep your shit in line with state and federal guidelines. Most HR colleagues aren't stupid. It demeans the profession to even pretend that what Sarah and I will do will have any impact on recruiters or HR professionals.
Thanks for your concerns, but HR professionals know the difference between work and entertainment. In fact, we had a very robust discussion around the professional boundaries of HR and the entertainment value of the HR function.
http://www.hrhappyhour.net/blog/?p=371
What we're doing clearly fall in the line of entertainment. Let's pull the stick out of our asses.
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Permalink Reply by Amitai Givertz on
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Entertainment, sex and workplace issues often leads us places where we would rather not go, however hard we resist the horror of it all. Remember Abner Louima, the NYPD detainee sodomized with a broomstick? Sometimes it takes an extreme example of what "entertainment at work" can lead to to highlight the problems of trivializing important subject matter, and even the use of "casual vernacular," I might add.
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Ling on -
I say, more power to whatever direction anyone wants to take.
The future is always dynamic and always in motion...and you'll only find out if something works....if you have the courage of your convictions.
It never stopped Penelope Trunk.
Best of skill in your endeavor!
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Permalink Reply by Sarah White on -
Heather,
I appreciate that you clearly state that you don't know us. Because you don't.
I let Laurie do the nice, kind response. I will do the "I'm really tired after a conference and will only speak the truth of what I really felt after seeing your post"
Clueless at love is a side project of 2 women that in all reality is only related to HR because we happen to both also blog in the HR realm. It is not a project designed to dispense advice "from an HR Director" and isn't being billed as that. In fact the premise has been being tossed around because of the relationships we have in our REAL LIFE with friends and family that seem to turn to us frequently.
If you would like to write an educated post about me and my lack of credibility on something you aren't overly familiar with, please feel free to contact me directly. Something you didn't even attempt to do before writing this.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah White on
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An insane comparison to 2 ladies who are going to blog and share articles on issues like work/life balance, handling the struggles with 1 spouse that travels frequently, etc. Get real. Amitai Givertz said:Entertainment, sex and workplace issues often leads us places where we would rather not go, however hard we resist the horror of it all. Remember Abner Louima, the NYPD detainee sodomized with a broomstick? Sometimes it takes an extreme example of what "entertainment at work" can lead to to highlight the problems of trivializing important subject matter, and even the use of "casual vernacular," I might add.
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Permalink Reply by Amitai Givertz on
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Sarah, my reference to poor Mr. Louima was not a comparison between two ladies blogging but in reply to Laurie's suggestion that we "pull the stick out of our asses," bearing in mind that "What we're doing clearly falls in the line of entertainment" was how the NYPD officers justified the assault among themselves.
Knowing the "difference between appropriate and inappropriate" is all relative to which end of the stick you get, don't you think?
Whatever, its hardly worth popping a blood vessel over. If I wish you every success in your new venture that doesn't change my agreeing more with Heather's POV than with Laurie's faux-punk.
Thanks for engaging.
Sarah White said:An insane comparison to 2 ladies who are going to blog and share articles on issues like work/life balance, handling the struggles with 1 spouse that travels frequently, etc. Get real. Amitai Givertz said:Entertainment, sex and workplace issues often leads us places where we would rather not go, however hard we resist the horror of it all. Remember Abner Louima, the NYPD detainee sodomized with a broomstick? Sometimes it takes an extreme example of what "entertainment at work" can lead to to highlight the problems of trivializing important subject matter, and even the use of "casual vernacular," I might add.
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Sarah, don't speak too soon. I think our work on Clueless@Love can change the world. The haters can doubt us, but we can ease the racial tensions that have existed in the NYPD since before we were born.
I would also like to say that I have a special interest in Clueless@Love covering water policy issues on the African continent. If we're not busy, we can tackle the Israeli/Palestinian conflict because Mahmoud Abbas isn't seeking reelection in 2010. I'm wondering if Clueless @ Love can help the Obama administration drive a wedge between Hamas and the Palestinian people? Oh yeah, we need to talk about West Bank settlement issues, too.
I can't wait to tackle all those important issues. I'm glad I used to work in HR. Thank goodness there are some smart recruiters out there who are looking out for dumb HR women who might confuse labor law, marital therapy, and a podcast.
Sarah White said:An insane comparison to 2 ladies who are going to blog and share articles on issues like work/life balance, handling the struggles with 1 spouse that travels frequently, etc. Get real. Amitai Givertz said:Entertainment, sex and workplace issues often leads us places where we would rather not go, however hard we resist the horror of it all. Remember Abner Louima, the NYPD detainee sodomized with a broomstick? Sometimes it takes an extreme example of what "entertainment at work" can lead to to highlight the problems of trivializing important subject matter, and even the use of "casual vernacular," I might add.
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Permalink Reply by Amitai Givertz on
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Karen, my remarks weren't personal at all. They are a commentary on the post and thread. Nothing more, nothing less.
KarenM said:Wait a sec, does this mean, that if I like fishing, I can't write about fishing when I am not discussing recruiting, because in my job life I am a recruiter?????
Fer Real?
And serious, the "faux-punk" comment really not cool!
Laurie and Sarah, both have proven success and respect in this industry.. no, I am not personal friends of them, but have had the opportunity of seeing their careers develop impressively over the past couple of years - and to me this just sounds like a bunch of sour grapes.. intended to what?
seriously, this let's discredit others so that we can look more amazing is getting to be quite boorish.
Yeah, and it is often easy to tell someone to get over "it" (loosely taken out of context), when they aren't the one having to get over "it"..
Sarah also makes a GREAT point.. Quite often it is those who yell the loudest about someone, are also those Who NEVER take the Time out to even Get to know those Same people at whom they are disparaging..
Sorry, for jumping in this.. but see, I am still kinda Sore over the beating that i took not too long ago! and this is REALLY Ridiculous..
Two gals on their off time, having fun, discussing personal life.. not work life, and this is a BAD thing,.. fer REAL.. guess some people just don't know how to dissociate real life from work.. I tend to respectfully believe that Normal Sane individuals can recognize that..
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Permalink Reply by Sarah White on
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Amitai -
I think my challenge with you is the fact that you are taking was Heather is saying as fact about what we are doing and where we are going with this. The site isn't even officially live, we are doing our behinds the scene prep work etc.
It is NOT targeted to HR people in any way shape or form and never was designed as a portal to tell recruiting/hr pro's how to distribute advice. Our HR Happy Hour show was built on the premise that WHEN we WERE in HR Leadership Roles, people did come to us for personal advice. We weren't dishing out answers, but it doesn't mean that people didn't do it. That is an HR show and that is why we were discussing the intermixing of personal and professional when it comes to work today since we spend so much time there. It is no different than if we were doing a radio interview with the University and we discussed the challenges faced by Professors or Advisors when it come to people divulging too much info.
As for the Faux-PunkRock comment, people grow up, evolve and change. I would wager that you don't know all that much about Laurie's background outside of her "professional" bio (and I KNOW you know little to nothing about mine).
All of the comments about the NYC police department - really? get over it. Laurie saying get a stick out of your A** is NOT promoting sexual abuse by law enforcement. The connection was for nothing more than shock value on your behalf and I find it really insulting honestly.
Again, we aren't pushing Clueless at Love on HR. We both happen to be in HR and have FRIENDS who are as well that we have asked some suggestions from as we build the website out. But we have also asked our FRIENDS who are in Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Theater, Radio, Television and every other media.
Amitai Givertz said:Sarah, my reference to poor Mr. Louima was not a comparison between two ladies blogging but in reply to Laurie's suggestion that we "pull the stick out of our asses," bearing in mind that "What we're doing clearly falls in the line of entertainment" was how the NYPD officers justified the assault among themselves.
Knowing the "difference between appropriate and inappropriate" is all relative to which end of the stick you get, don't you think?
Whatever, its hardly worth popping a blood vessel over. If I wish you every success in your new venture that doesn't change my agreeing more with Heather's POV than with Laurie's faux-punk.
Thanks for engaging.
Sarah White said:An insane comparison to 2 ladies who are going to blog and share articles on issues like work/life balance, handling the struggles with 1 spouse that travels frequently, etc. Get real. Amitai Givertz said:Entertainment, sex and workplace issues often leads us places where we would rather not go, however hard we resist the horror of it all. Remember Abner Louima, the NYPD detainee sodomized with a broomstick? Sometimes it takes an extreme example of what "entertainment at work" can lead to to highlight the problems of trivializing important subject matter, and even the use of "casual vernacular," I might add.
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