Be Careful When Speaking to Human Resources

Here are three things to keep in mind when speaking to human resources.

Hi, my name is Doug Lipsky, and I am an employment lawyer.

First, remember that human resources is not your friend. Human resources exists to protect the company. While they may act as a resource for employees, their primary responsibility is to the employer.

Second, despite what human resources may say, they cannot guarantee that what you tell them will remain confidential. Whether you are reporting a complaint or responding to an investigation, the information you provide may need to be shared with others in order to investigate the issue.

Third, anything you tell human resources may potentially be used later when the company is making employment decisions. For example, information shared with HR could be considered when deciding whether to fire, promote, demote, or give raises or bonuses.

For that reason, it is important to be thoughtful about what you share and how you communicate when dealing with human resources.

If you like what you hear, give it a thumbs up. Thanks so much.