The mighty Roman Legions! A force to be reckoned with, conquering vast territories, building roads… and filing PTO requests? Had there been an HR department back then, things may have looked much different! Let’s take an imaginary trip back in time and imagine how HR might have functioned at its heart in Ancient Rome!
Recruitment: “Join The Legions, Get Free Sandals”
Recruitment advertisements for the Roman Legion typically appeared etched onto stone tablets located throughout cities. Enticements included competitive denarius packages, free gladiator games tickets and those stylish leather sandals everyone was talking about!
Onboarding: “Welcome to Legion LXIX – Here Is Your Shield and Benefits Package”
New recruits or “Legionnaires-in-Training,” would receive a grand tour of the barracks and meet with their Centurion (ie direct supervisor), before receiving an information scroll on benefits including dental protection – yes they would ensure you kept most of your teeth during battle!
Performance Reviews: “Maximus, Let’s Explore Your Swordsmanship Goals for 213 AD”
Every Legionnaire would undergo an annual performance review. Criteria could include spear-throwing accuracy, shield-holding endurance and teamwork during turtle formations. Legionnaires achieving beyond expectation might receive additional wine bottles or possibly be excused from fighting duty for one day at the end of it all!
Time-Off Requests: “I Need a Day Off for Saturnalia, Please!”
Legionnaires wishing to take time off for festivals, family gatherings or just recovering from chariot race fatigue would need to fill out a parchment request form and submit it for review and stamp. Approved requests would receive official SPQR seal stamping while any denied requests would most certainly result in harsh action being taken by Centurions with HR authority.
Conflict Resolution: “Mediating Between Gladiators”
Human Resources would find themselves busy mediating disputes among legionnaires: “Someone has taken my gladius!” or, “His lion roared at me first!” would often be complaints made against their colleagues. HR’s role was to ensure amicable solutions were found for disagreements to avoid being taken to the Colosseum as punishments for conflict resolutions.
Training & Development: “Boost Your Chariot Driving Skills!”
Continuous learning would be actively promoted within the Legion; workshops on advanced chariot driving, efficient aqueduct building and effective barbarian communication would become part of its regular programming schedule.
Exit Interviews: “So, Why Are You Departing the Legion?”
Departing Legionnaires should meet with HR upon leaving, whether retiring after years of service, or simply fed up with lack of olive oil in the mess hall. Feedback such as, ‘I feel there are limited growth opportunities after becoming Emperor.” is invaluable information.
Whew! Roman Legions were famous for their strength and discipline; adding an HR department would certainly have brought some bureaucratic comic relief! One thing’s for certain; HR in ancient Rome would never have been dull!
