u/YuliyaVolkova

I will be competing at the Union Hall (ศูนย์การค้า ยูเนี่ยน มอลล์) in Bangkok in December.

There is a nice looking and priced hotel - C U Inn Bangkok - which looks not that far from the venue, but google maps shows 24 minutes walking time due to an awkward crossing of the big road.

I would appreciate if a local could advise me if there is really no faster way of getting from A to B, or google maps is bullshitting me and another shorter way is possible.

​First a bit of context: I'm a Jr. HRBP for a global corporate in financial services. I report to the regional HoHR, and work with MDs and managers across ~7 countries.

​All of the BeNeLux management including the MD resigned all at once 3 weeks ago, leaving to a competitior, and I and my boss are working day in and day out on a smart reorg with the regional CEO, which he expressly asked for my help with. Never in my life have I been so invested because a) what an exciting part of the job (!) and b) a real opportunity for positive change.

​Now here comes the story: The CEO is about to appoint a new MD via internal promotion. Fair candidate, all seems alright. The CEO has also been mostly (apart from a few minor incidents) listening to our steering for the past 3 weeks, which we considered a success because the responsibility and influence HR holds in this org is close to 0, despite great skill and abilities.

​I push all I can in the most inventive ways to get the new MD off to a great start, coaching both him and the CEO through these changes, lining up and adjusting the strategy. The CEO asks for my opinion on decisions, I advise, all looks promising.

​In my most recent conversation with the CEO, he expresses the idea to promote an internal candidate for one of the vacant management positions, because "he wanted his manager's position when he was first hired into the organisation." I ask the CEO if he is sure the guy is the right fit for the role, if he is a good performer, if he is a good people manager, and if he's sure that aligns with the overall vision and the guy's ambitions. The CEO responds that he doesn't have a clue. I warn him, laying out the rationale + reminding that the guy voiced recently he'd like to reduce his working hours, and is a good friend of the employees who have just left to a competitior, and we know is probably already engaged in conversations. I obviously advise to hold off on that promotion and rather think it through first. The CEO nods along.

​Fast forward 3 days when the new MD appointment is finally announced, the CEO calls my manager to confirm that exact promotion of the above guy I advised against and he nodded along to, with a 50% salary increase. Mind the EU Pay Transparency Directive, org. instability, all kinds fo risks, my boss actively saying to the CEO "this is crazy," and all of the world's rationale, the CEO says "nothing to discuss." My manager calls me, we are both fuming.

​How insanely frustrating when an organisation absolutely lacks any appetite for HR solutions, because I kid you not, I know exactly what problems they will have in exactly 6 months.

​What do they need HR for if they themselves know better and make the right decisions???