Double standards

If you think about the phrasing of the title “Human Resources”, it makes sense that they are not your friends.

Let’s look at the definition of the word resource:

resource /rē′sôrs″, -zôrs″, rĭ-sôrs′, -zôrs′/

noun

1. Something that is available for use or that can be used for support or help. “The local library is a valuable resource.”
2. An available supply, especially of money, that can be drawn on when needed.

Those definitions describe disposable commodities; easily replaceable. The adjective “human” simply refines what type of disposable and replaceable commodities that the department deals with.

If you want someone to be your advocate your best interests at a job, you’ll need to hire a lawyer. In the meantime, make sure you take notes, and follow everything up with an email (bcc your personal email a copy of each correspondence).

If your state allows one-party consent, you can even record conversations; be very aware that despite being legal, it will likely get you fired with prejudice if anybody finds out you’ve been recording them without their knowledge.

Where I'm working they rebranded HR to ✨"People & Culture"✨ so I don't know what you mean. With that name, they simply must have our best interests in mind instead of always siding with the higher ranking individual.

Most functional HR departments actually do have the workers best interests at heart, because protecting the company and not screwing over workers usually has a ton of overlap. But HR does a lot more than handle workplace disputes.