She struggled to focus her vision on it, as if seeing it would somehow make this conversation credible. Kathy shook her head and held the receiver at a distance. “We have a sexual harassment problem here … ” he continued. She didn’t say it aloud, but Kathy gave him points for realizing the hour this supervisor was a quick study. No one calls with good news at that hour. Her telephone had rung just after 3:00 a.m., and she had experienced escalating panic as she reached for the receiver. It was hours before her alarm would sound, but Kathy Davis was awake. The characters and organization, however, have been invented to provide context for sharing the survey data and not intended to represent any specific people or organization.

All the events in the story - the incidents, questions, challenges and successes - were reported by survey respondents. The survey results were used to establish the events in a typical HR professional’s day some license has been taken in the number and order of events for dramatic effect, and to show the breadth of HR’s responsibility. The narrative is based on the 874 responses to the “Day in the Life of HR” survey, mailed to 2,000 subscribers and posted on Workforce Online. The story you’re about to read is true - in spirit. “Well, what worked for “Dragnet” works for us, too. I f you’re old enough to remember the television series “Dragnet,” you no doubt remember the portentous opening: Underscored by the memorable theme music, star Jack Webb advised viewers that “The story you are about to see is true.

Life in the Orient by Kathy Davis