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AIBU?

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Original poster

HR: there to prevent employment tribunals, not support workers

87 replies

DonaldTrumpsTwitterFeed · 02/07/2025 06:10

As it says!

AIBU to think that most HR functions provide more support to those causing problems than those on the recording end? I’m talking everything from poor-performance to bullying. Mostly it seems to be aimed at avoiding employment tribunals and unfair dismissal claims!

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 02/07/2025 06:30

Well, yes, that’s what they are paid to do. Why would you think otherwise?

WhereAreWeNow · 02/07/2025 06:30

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 02/07/2025 06:23

If you want representation for your best interests at a meeting as a worker you bring a trade union representative where possible. HR are there for the interests of the business they support so no I wouldn't be relying on a HR person to fight my case for me.

Same. I expect my union to fight my corner.

devildeepbluesea · 02/07/2025 06:28

Of course that’s the purpose of HR. But as a senior HR professional I have found that a great deal of this involves telling senior managers that they can’t treat employees how they’d like and that they need to adhere to the law. IME treating employees fairly is by far the best way to mitigate the threat of ETs.

RobinHeartella · 02/07/2025 06:25

It's the law that protects the employee. By making sure that the employer obeys the law, they're indirectly protecting employees to some extent. But if you're being bullied, just run. For things like that, where it'll be hard to prove either way, it's easier for them to make out the employee is in the wrong. That's my experience anyway

Jane958 · 02/07/2025 06:25

In the days when I was an employee we had a Personnel Department, usually called the Anti-Personnel Department :-) You were happiest when you didn't hear from them and they seemed to be run by a scary middle-aged secretary.

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 02/07/2025 06:23

If you want representation for your best interests at a meeting as a worker you bring a trade union representative where possible. HR are there for the interests of the business they support so no I wouldn't be relying on a HR person to fight my case for me.

Jennps · 02/07/2025 06:21

Yes, isn’t it obvious. They are employed by the employer to protect them.

And there’s nothing wrong with that either.

IDontHateRainbows · 02/07/2025 06:20

HR person here. Yes, I'd agree that we are often there to mitigate legal risk for the employer. The role/ function is much broader than that though.

If you want support as an employee, join a union.

Magenta82 · 02/07/2025 06:17

How is this news? Did you think they were people your employer paid to support you out of the goodness of their hearts?

SundayFundayz · 02/07/2025 06:14

HR is there to do so much more than that, but of course avoidance of tribunals is key - how that’s done depends on the company. A decent company will be avoiding tribunals but providing decent manager training and enduring that all processes and policies are fair. That helps both sides of a dispute.

whynotmereally · 02/07/2025 06:13

They are supposed to ensure things are done legally but ultimately their job is to protect the company not individual employees.

JustTalkToThem · 02/07/2025 06:12

Of course HR is there to protect the company and not the workers. Thats why companies pay them. HR is not your friend.