Kenneth, the Page

One of the few shows that I watch on television is 30 Rock and I looked forward to a new season of clever writing and off the wall humor as I sat down to watch the season premier last month. 

Maybe it was having just come from a certification prep session, but throughout the episode, the lack of basic HR knowledge seemed to be shouting at me. 

The season began with Jack Donaghy at lunch telling the staff their new corporate mission statement was to “get in touch with the real America.”  There was no strategic planning – just the initiative to show head writer Liz Lemon to find new talent.  Liz and show producer Pete began bungling through the recruitment process to find “the right person” for TGS with Tracy Jordan.  I wondered why they didn’t have HR help them. Surely the network has an HR department.

Just a few minutes into the show, Kenneth , everyone’s favorite Page, came to see Jack with his timesheet and the new policy that “pages cannot work more than 16 hours in a day.” Budget cuts were being made and pages could no longer collect any overtime.  “But Mr. Donaghy, I always work more than 16 hours in a day – it’s not right that I not get overtime” “I can’t lie on my timesheet!”  Jack told him he could only record 16 hours a day and to lie on his timesheet. 

I found myself talking to the television. “Kenneth – go see your HR Manager! Jack can’t do that – haven’t you all heard of the Fair Labor Standards Act? Where is your HR Manager?”  

The same budget restraints resulted in the Payroll Department being downsized to one worker and an envelope stuffing machine. It was no surprise when issues with payroll resulted in checks being distributed incorrectly.  Kenneth, who was already upset that his salary was being reduced, mistakenly received Jack’s bonus check which contained “lots of zeros” and he confronted Jack again. Jack ignored his concerns and Kenneth organized a “page strike” with picket lines outside the studio. HR was no where to be found.  

In the midst of recruiting talent, payroll errors, FLSA violations and striking employees, Jenna, one of the stars of TGS with Tracy Jordan, was in desperate need of someone who knew something about Employee Development.  I was speaking out loud again “Where is your HR Manager?”

Then it occurred to me – if fictionalized NBC network on 30 Rock had an HR Manager to keep everyone out of trouble, Jack, Liz, and crew would not be nearly as funny.  So much of what an HR professional does is not noticed unless it is left undone.  Our job is to keep the Jack Donaghys and Liz Lemons of our worlds out of trouble.  As important as it is, the fact that we do it well can sometimes make us feel invisible.  Next time you are feeling like your work is unseen, watch this year’s season premier of 30 Rock and imagine it is your office without you. Laugh and realize your value!