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#1 Posted : 09 April 2008 13:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By HWilson

I am a bit perplexed!

The company I work for is currently restructuring into an alliance partnership with what used to be our Client, ie so we are all 'alliance partners'. All the management structures are being restructured, including the H&S dept.

I am currently a 'SHE Advisor' and the guy I work with is a 'SHE Manager' (although we do the same job) we have both been offered slightly different jobs in the new alliance both with the title 'H&S Officer'.

It doesn't bother me what I am called so I didn't really notice the title as I have been offered 'day to day' running along with responsibility for HSE performance, governance and helping to create an alliance management system (sounds like two jobs to me but never mind that for the moment!) I think the SHE Manager has been offered just the 'day to day' part but with a wider geographical area.

He has an issue with the word 'Officer' seemingly because of some liability issue or the fact that if you 'office' you can't 'advise' (excuse the grammer but I'm trying to explain what I mean - probably quite badly). I don't think it is an ego issue, but he does seem genuinely concerned about something but he can't seem to explain what!

So my question is this, is there any historical/ethical/legal reason why an H&S Person should be an Advisor rather than an Officer?

Incidentally, the two Officers are going to be managed by an Advisor who is managed by the Manager, so rather than some conspiracy theory I think they just ran out of titles!

Anybody's opinion would be much appreciated.

H
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#2 Posted : 09 April 2008 14:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By ITK
Whats in a name?

However when I think of the word "officer" I think of some bureaucrat with a clip board.

Other than that theres no legal reason (AFAIK)you can't be called officer even if you advise (which you undoubtably do).

I would say its slighly different however to be called "manager" if you dont manage staff or budgets.
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#3 Posted : 09 April 2008 15:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
In the good (!) old days, H & S was the H & S Officer's problem. Now, the H & S Advisor should be giving technical assistance to the managers so that they can manage H & S as just another part of their job.

It might depend on the cultures of the two organisation being merged but the job title could be important.

Paul
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#4 Posted : 09 April 2008 16:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By John D Crosby
Hi
Being once an officer when there was no other title and having several changes since may I share with you some of my experience. When in my first post as an officer the rest of the company H&S teams wanted to change to Adviser to show that managers had the responsibility even though the role was essentially advisory. We in fact kept the term officer as we had operational duties in emergencies. Then I moved companies and had the title Adviser - same job different title. Then I was made a manager - same job but my boss thought it would give me more credibility to be called a manager. In my last job I was a manager as I managed a team but the basic job was still the same. If your colleague is worried about the term officer carrying some responsibility then what about Manager - doesn't this imply even more responsibility? I don't think you or your colleague should worry about the title. The success of the job depends on your ability to influence people and although titles may play some part it is a relatively minor part.

Anyway regardless of title most people refer to us as safety officers.

Take care
John C
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#5 Posted : 09 April 2008 20:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Pete48
HW, the term "officer" does have legal implications if the post is determined to be an "officer" of the company. (e.g. Director, Co Sec sort of stuff)
This may what your colleague is thinking about. However, I don't think from the little information you have given that there is any chance that the post would be determined as such. Therefore, I agree with others that a title is a title and it tells you more about the organisational perception of support services than anything else.
I was once a Safety Systems Manager, it wasn't long before I was known as the SS!! Mind you still better than being the Goldrington Operations Director:)
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#6 Posted : 10 April 2008 11:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By HWilson

Thank you for those interesting opinions, all confirmed my thought that if you know what your job role is and how much you are being paid for it the semantics in the title are fairly irrevelant.

I am looking forward to the new job role, whatever my title is!

H



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