HR Bad Practices: The Town Hall Meeting

[@gonzinigonz]

We had one of these a few years back. It should of been called the shareholders meeting, all they spoke about was money.

[@razberik8320]

I quite recently attended town hall meeting, which was the first one since creation of our new R&D team (the old team in different country was all fired due to cost savings). I was expecting to learn something interesting about the products we manufacture (scientific instruments). I was listening to the management and they were speaking mainly about moneys, revenues, margins ... Then I got an idea in Q&A section, raised my hand and proceed: "Gentlemen, from all of you, if we walk downstairs into lab, how many of you are able to start instruments and perform an analysis on instrument?" A moment of silence, dozens of pairs of eyes on me, some colleagues "you are finished" in their faces and then 2 out of 7 managers raised their hands "I can do analysis". Priceless. When I quit my job for this company (which is going to be soon) I will use this type to question in such a situations. Yes, Town Hall meetings are Shareholders meeting talking about moneys, revenues, margins...

[@SummaGirl1347]

Town Halls only serve to demonstrate how out of touch Executive Staff is from the rank and file personnel. They are antagonizing morale-killers. But, they continue to be popular because the C-Suite staff like to be seen to be "responsive".

[@Gunflame69]

Town Hall meetings for large corporations are basically an useless waste of time. They are just a one way information dump that noone below director level really cares (an even most directors might not care)

[@Seneca384]

My experience of Town Hall meetings is quite negative. This is almost a form of internal marketing when the company boosts itself and achievements even if they have neglected rewarding the majority of their employees. This plays into issues of equity divergence and encourages counter productive behaviors and the belief that the company is disassociated with the real world.

[@NelloreNagesh]

well said

[@alexsenko9050]

Hi Tom! Thank you for your interesting thoughts and valuable experience. Up today there are a huge number of such meetings, kick off strategy meetings, execution discussions, etc. In my humble opinion, such meetings are necessary, in general. To know something new directly, to hear and see your bosses, to ask a guestion, etc. How do you think? Maybe something needs to be done to make these meetings seem truthful and honest?

[@mattybbg6850]

Its just virtue signalling 'look at us, we engage with the proletariat, aren't we wonderful' most of whats covered in the town halls could be sent out as a video at worst and bulleted email at best. Utter waste of time.