Flirting with the HR Girl

Chapter 61

Sailing through the post-rush hour traffic, they made their way to the Midrivers store in plenty of time. Jennifer checked out her potentially new digs and was relieved the drive wasn't too long from her own apartment. It would be worth it to move up and get her tuition reimbursement. She looked around the store which was newer than hers but just as quirky. She could see the associates and managers interacting and knew that it would be a fun place to be. When they reached the executive office, the assistant was younger and looked just as flustered as Blanche did most days. She told them to go on into the store manager's office.

"Jennifer, this is Stephanie," Cynthia said introducing Jennifer to the store manager.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jennifer said suddenly nervous, but she got a warm vibe from Stephanie that she never got off Todd. The store manager was in a bright pink suit and her hair was swept back. She was about Cynthia's age but had a lightness about her that lifted the mood of the room. "Thank you for taking the time to interview me."

"Anytime," Stephanie said sitting behind the desk and indicating for Jennifer to sit across from her. "I'm looking forward to meeting someone that Cynthia speaks so highly of."

"Yes, that is true," Cynthia said but she smiled and didn't sit down. "I will be across the hall. Jennifer, you will be doing a phone interview with my boss next."

"Great," Jennifer said before she could stop herself.

Once the door was closed, Stephanie asked "So tell me, Jennifer, why do you want to be the HR manager at the Midrivers store?"

"Well, I've learned a lot from Cynthia over the last year and a half and I know that the most important thing an HR manager can do in the store is to take care of its people," Jennifer started and was surprised with how easily and eloquently she was able to explain herself.

"That's exactly right," Stephanie said, flashing another radiant smile.

The interview went smoothly from there and Jennifer felt elated when she got out. She was shuffled across the hall to the current HR manager's office where she met Barb, who would be retiring to be with her grandchildren. She dutifully complimented the photos of her adorable grandchildren before she was placed on a conference call with Cynthia's boss, Valerie. The questions from her were harder than the store manager, but she also didn't bring up Austin. Jennifer wasn't sure if Cynthia had told her about her lapse in judgment. The hardest question Valerie asked her was 'What would you do if the store manager asked you to go against company policy?'"

"As I have learned in the past month, standing up to the store manager may be the hardest job in the store," Jennifer said thinking as she talked. "But what I know is that HR has to be the integrity in the store, and we have to be the one that anyone can rely on to do what is right. So, I would tell the store manager I'm not going against company policy, and I would also tell you as my boss."

"Excellent answer," Valerie said sounding as if she was taking notes. "Now what would you do if I told you to go against company policy?"

Jennifer paused for a moment to think. She hoped that she would not be working for a woman who would tell her to go against company policy. She almost said that but decided it wasn't the answer that was needed.

"I would then do an investigation, taking notes of times and places to keep a record of when you told me to go against company policy. I would build a case and I would go to your boss with all of the facts and state why you told me to do this and why I wouldn't do it."

"Even better answer," Valerie said sounding impressed.

She asked Jennifer to step out of the office while Cynthia and she talked. Jennifer felt good about her answers but now was nervous again standing out in the tiny hall waiting for their decision. She could hear Stephanie talking and laughing in her office but wasn't sure if she was in on the conversation. She went out into the office and saw the assistant trying to help a manager with the copier.