Do you need an IT department?

[Brimstone]

As I'm moving and making a decision on energy provider soon, thats Octopus off the list. The boss sounds like a complete blowhard who has no idea that yes, he does have HR and IT people, he just doesn't call them that.

You're basing that decision on a crap bbc report that more than likely missquoted him...?

 

I'd try a subscription to Which, you may then get a real picture of this company.

[LeMarchand]

His distaste for "command and control", top-down management structures is born of experience

 

I'll bet this distaste for a top down structure doesn't extend to wages.

[TechMonkey]

As I'm moving and making a decision on energy provider soon, thats Octopus off the list. The boss sounds like a complete blowhard who has no idea that yes, he does have HR and IT people, he just doesn't call them that.

 

No offence, but seems a bit of an over reaction especially as most of us have decided it is junk journalism. The guys is very knowledgeable about his industry and peripheral industries, and the company has done really well. Check out some of his posts or videos he has done with people, such as this one

[jmak]

They're one of the most innovative energy supply companies, both in technology and product design. Customer Satisfaction is high and prices are low. My dealings have been at least as good as any other supplier I've dealt with.

 

Examples of innovation:

"Agile" tariffs - including making the API available so that you can link it with solar and home battery to buy at the cheapest rate and sell back at peak times

Car to grid trials, including leasing the cars at beneficial rates and a special tariff

A "Tesla" tariff which requires you to have home solar, a Tesla car and a Tesla powerwall to essentially trial creating a distributed virtual power generation company

 

And at the same time, their basic prices are at the very least competitive. I only ended up with them because co-op energy outsourced their contracts, but haven't felt any need to change.

 

Maybe that's what the boss means by enabling creativity in the workforce. All of the people I've spoken to in the last year seem to have been working from home, so maybe a conventional IT department doesn't exist, but they definitely have people working on IT.

[paulkerton]

You're basing that decision on a crap bbc report that more than likely missquoted him...?

 

I'd try a subscription to Which, you may then get a real picture of this company.

Perhaps, but I fancied Bulb more anyway

 

"The question we asked ourselves was 'Are companies with big HR departments, you know, full of happier people are they more productive?' and well the answer is usually no."

 

That's a direct quote from him, and I'm sorry but I find it pretty blowhard.

The idea you don't need HR in 2021 is absolute bum gravy and bibble, and all it will take is an harrassment case in his business to find that out.

 

No offence, but seems a bit of an over reaction especially as most of us have decided it is junk journalism. The guys is very knowledgeable about his industry and peripheral industries, and the company has done really well. Check out some of his posts or videos he has done with people, such as this one

 

Perhaps an overreaction, I admit.

 

Unfortunately, I can't see the response the CEO has put here as I'm not interested in signing up, but I'm sure that'll give clarity on whether it is junk journalism or an accurate reflection.

https://www.hrgrapevine.com/content/article/2021-02-24-ceo-of-billion-pound-firm-says-he-theres-no-hr-department

Edited February 24, 2021 by paulkerton

[Lonix]

Company formed in 2015 - meaning their old equipment would be 6 years old.

 

Give it 5 years.

[TechMonkey]

That's a direct quote from him, and I'm sorry but I find it pretty blowhard.

The idea you don't need HR in 2021 is absolute bum gravy and bibble, and all it will take is an harrassment case in his business to find that out.

 

Out of interest, can I ask why that statement makes him a blowhard? Are companies with big HR departments happier or more productive?

Could you expand on why not having an HR department is bum gravy? In the article he says managers have the proper training. I've found managers, not knowing what they are talking about and going of half cocked and making up legal reasons or policies is the biggest cause of HR issues. When I did union stuff the trainer said we were already more prepared than most managers we would face as we had had some training. If there was a harassment case and it was dealt with properly by a manager why would an HR department be needed?

[mb2k01]

I saw the title of this thread and was just going to post....

Answer: No. We just need a "Assign blame, forget to thank or don't empower to make genuine decisions" Team

[Roberto]

I tweeted at Octopus to ask about this, pointing out that as a customer, “no IT department” makes me worry about my data, and got a reply from their account and from his account. They don’t have an “IT Department”, they have a “Tech Team” led by a CTO.

 

Wonder if they don’t have a “HR department“ because they have a “people team” too? All credit to them for a swift and informative reply though.

[nicholab]

Most schools don’t have HR department and they have happy staff.

 

It very interesting now working for a company with an HR department.

[ThatBoringBloke]

My school doesn't have an IT department. They have me, me alone, and only me. If I break, the school breaks. Good job I have everything erm... 'documented'!

[caffrey]

Sounds like we need a new moniker for what we do in schools then because I certainly do more than "IT". I never really like "Information Technology" anyway

[Ditto]

I tweeted at Octopus to ask about this, pointing out that as a customer, “no IT department” makes me worry about my data, and got a reply from their account and from his account. They don’t have an “IT Department”, they have a “Tech Team” led by a CTO.

 

Wonder if they don’t have a “HR department“ because they have a “people team” too? All credit to them for a swift and informative reply though.

I'm not surprised. Just confirms how p*nts the original piece of journalism was! I do wish UK journalism was thoroughly shaken-up to to proper impartial investigative reporting - I have a feeling there is a huge amount of serious topics out there to investigate and report on.

[StevieM]

My school doesn't have an IT department. They have me, me alone, and only me. If I break, the school breaks. Good job I have everything erm... 'documented'!

......

[localzuk]

Most schools don’t have HR department and they have happy staff.

It very interesting now working for a company with an HR department.

 

All schools have a HR dept. Its either in house or outsourced. LEA schools use the LEA HR dept. Academies/MATs either have a HR person or team, or an outsourced one they use.

[stevejp]

I'm not surprised. Just confirms how p*nts the original piece of journalism was! I do wish UK journalism was thoroughly shaken-up to to proper impartial investigative reporting - I have a feeling there is a huge amount of serious topics out there to investigate and report on.

 

Most of them are all too busy kow-towing to their owners’ political views (of either side - added for frog reasons...) to do any proper journalism.