Absolutely it's not the case for most companies. However, having spoken to the initial advisors and asked who the person is who signed their name, I've found more often than not, they are the decision makers

( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 8 Jul 2010, 23:41, 1 reply)

there is a fundamental difference between "policy makers" and "decision makers" in both private and public sectors.
and a very important difference it is.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 8 Jul 2010, 23:47, closed)

Sorry B69 I forgot you need it spelt out for you. By decision makers I was implying those who have ultimate power and are able to create and change policy whenever they want to.
I won't forget this again.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Fri 9 Jul 2010, 0:05, closed)

I don't need it spelt out to me.
I am 40 YOA (i.e. I have been in employment for 24 years off and on), the director of 2 companies and majority shareholder in 3 (all fairly new ventures and not making huge amounts of wonga yet).
I may not know more than everyone on this particular subject but i would suggest that it is more my area of specialty than yours.
you don't seem to understand/realise that policy comes from HR/LEGAL/DIRECTORS not Supervisors.
Policy Makers ultimately decide the parameters within which Decision Makers get to operate, based upon the framework that Companies House allows them to operate within. a legally defined framework.
At best Supervisors are Decision Makers. They work within the Structure handed down to them by the Policy Makers.
at worst Supervisors are glorified Policy Monkies.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Fri 9 Jul 2010, 0:20, closed)

Just a theory, but maybe
you've worked or been part of companies that are small enough to have the same people doing multiple jobs. HR never decides policies beyond hiring or employee relations. As has been mentioned in a previous reply, HR exists to hire/fire, and be completely unable to tell you how much vacation time you've accumulated. This seems to be pretty standard in English speaking countries.

Legal tends to be responsible for determining whether a policy is, in fact, legal. They are also sometimes responsible for non-marketing PR (i.e. spin control).

Neither of these departments determine policy. Not unless key people from them also hold other positions, or whoever setup the company doesn't understand what these department labels mean.

If your long experience indicates otherwise, be advised that you've been part of a series of non-standard organizations and your impressions are different than the realities of the majority of people that work for companies larger than a food kiosk.
(Ejaculantern was caught desecrating pumpkins on, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 8:54, closed)

If I might stick my oar in again with my own example
I am a decision maker because I make decisions about what action is taken on individual cases. I must make those decisions in accordance with the law and with the organisation's policy, neither of which I determine.

The policy makers for my work do not see individual cases and may not actually have the skills or equipment to make the decisions. If you ring the JobCentre you won't get Iain Duncan Smith making a decision on your benefits.

A call centre supervisor may be a decision maker and may have more discretion and leeway than a normal operator, but they are unlikely to be a policy maker and won't be able to change the rules.
( in vino veritas, Fri 9 Jul 2010, 1:03, closed)