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by lb1lf 866 days ago
Cynically speaking, HR is an abstraction layer between management and employees, sorry, 'resources'.

When I worked for a huge engineering multinational years ago, it showed time and time again that people went into HR with the best of intentions, but most were as time ground on disillusioned upon finding they were not, after all, employed to help other employees.

The good ones mostly left, the poor ones thrived. Sigh.

(That being said, I do believe HR has a purpose, ensuring (at least in theory) professional, correct and consistent treatment of employees.

Just don't make the mistake of believing they are on your side; they are not.
2 comments
lukan 866 days ago
"When I worked for a huge engineering multinational years ago"

I never was in a huge company, but in a small company, I found they can be nice and on the human side.

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swores 866 days ago
Well, HR staff are people like any other department, so as with all people there's always potential for asshole behaviour even in a company that generally encourages HR to be employee-friendly, and potential for someone to do a nice thing that's technically against HR policy in a shitty company. Not to mention that the abstracted layer above - whether the company has employee-friendly or employee-hostile policies when it comes to HR team - is also ultimately down to people with the same potential for good and bad.

"HR work for the company not for you, don't trust them" is a reasonable general rule considering the average HR department especially in large companies, but it's not a guarantee that all HR people, or even all HR teams' policies will be evil.

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lb1lf 866 days ago
Agreed; I believe the tipping point is where the company becomes so large that you no longer know, or at least are familiar with the people you're working with.

I expect you are much more inclined to try to find a workable solution if the case at hand is Dave in accounting whose kid attends the same soccer practice your kid does than if he's just employee #628481.

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Scarblac 866 days ago
The company gets the best bang for their buck if employees are reasonably happy, healthy and productive. So most of the time your interests and the company's should be aligned.
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