Everybody Hates HR

Your non-judgmental, humorous guide to thriving – not just surviving – in the workplace

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'This is the book I wish I'd had at the start of my career' BOLA SOL

'Everybody Hates HR is essential reading' JAMELIA DONALDSON

'Down to earth, relatable read with lots of practical advice' RENE GERMAIN

"For years, we tried to polish away the “personal” from the professional image and we know that this is the case for many of you reading this in order to make yourself more digestible for the masses. But your differences make your brand. The truth is that authenticity is the new currency of credibility...We haven’t looked back since showing up as women from South London who believe HR can be engaging, empowering, and even a little bit funny."

Everybody hates HR... until they need it.

Whether you're navigating office politics, recovering from a disastrous performance review or wondering if it's finally time to quit, Everybody Hates HR is the witty, honest career companion you'll wish you'd had from day one.

Blending practical advice, laugh-out-loud humour and the no-nonsense wisdom of podcasters Lola and Velisa, this isn't another dry workplace manual. It's your straight-talking guide to:

Navigating workplace drama: From difficult managers and office politics to awkward conversations and microaggressions.
Knowing your worth: Learn how to negotiate your salary, advocate for yourself and get the recognition you deserve.
Building confidence: Overcome imposter syndrome, find your voice and stop second-guessing yourself.
Getting ahead without selling out: Find sponsors and allies, build your personal brand and progress on your own terms.
Taking control of your career: Recognise when it's time to move on and build a working life that works for you.

Packed with relatable stories, expert advice and plenty of laughs, Everybody Hates HR is like having a mentor in your bag, reminding you that you're not alone and you deserve more than simply surviving at work.

Reading Everybody Hates HR feels like getting career advice from friends who actually know what they're talking about. It's warm, clear and thorough, and it finally says out loud the unspoken rules none of us were ever trained for. The section on personal branding is a must: yes, putting yourself out there can feel cringe, but that's exactly what opens doors. And with such a sharp grasp of today's job market, this is the book I wish I'd had at the start of my career.
Bola Sol, financial educator and author of How To Save It and Your Money Life

Lola and Velisa say everybody hates HR until they need HR, and I fear they’re right. Start-up life is the wild wild west, and this book is the guide so many of us needed and never had. Everybody Hates HR is essential reading for professionals and business owners alike, making sense of an incredibly crucial yet undervalued function of business before you find yourself needing it the hard way.
Jamelia Donaldson, founder and CEO

'This was a down to earth, relatable read with lots of practical advice. Everybody Hates HR feels like it is written by my HR Big sisters. I love that it was written by two Black women in HR. Firstly because Black women aren’t so visible in the HR space and secondly because we’re often told HR is a function for the employer and not employees so it was great to hear advice from them to help employees and candidates. The dilemmas made me realise we are all basically living the same lives and their responses gave real HR agony aunt vibes which is just what I needed.'
Rene Germain, author of Black and Great

About Lola Abitogun

Lola Abitogun is a senior HR professional and a co-host of the Everybody Hates HR Podcast. She is also an employment lawyer and the founder a HR consultancy specialising in supporting start-ups and scale-ups. Since establishing the consultancy in 2021, she and her team have worked with over twenty five early-stage companies, helping them design scalable HR infrastructure and build positive and inclusive workplace cultures. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster. Everybody Hates HR is her first book.

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About Velisa Bowlay-Williams

Velisa Bowlay-Williams is an experienced senior HR professional and co-host of the Everybody Hates HR Podcast. She has spent the last eight years specialising in Employee Relations within large tech companies. Velisa is also the creator of the Haus of HR platform, where she breaks down employment law and tribunal cases into short, accessible videos to help employees better understand their rights at work. She is a mother and is passionate about flexible working and supporting parents and carers in the workplace.
Everybody Hates HR is her first book.

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