A recent post by a software professional sparked a widespread debate within India’s tech community, as it warned fellow developers to be extremely cautious when dealing with human resources departments. Shared on the subreddit Developers India, the post stripped away the corporate facade to reveal what many believe is the true purpose of HR—not to support employees, but to serve the interests of the company.
The user explained that at some point in every professional’s journey, they will encounter the seemingly friendly and empathetic face of HR. This department is trained to appear supportive and trustworthy, often using comforting language about employee welfare and prioritizing well-being. However, beneath that polished exterior lies a different agenda. Their actual role is not to form meaningful connections or advocate for personal growth but to manage resources—just like office chairs, workstations, and, yes, employees.
The developer emphasized that it’s easy to mistake HR’s friendliness for genuine concern. They may come across as empathetic listeners or approachable advisors, but this is often a performance designed to gain the employee’s trust. Once a staff member opens up or discloses sensitive information, that’s usually when the shift occurs. What seemed like support quickly turns into surveillance or damage control—almost like a switch has been flipped.
While the post clarified that not every HR professional is manipulative or harmful, it stressed a hard truth: their allegiance is to the employer. Their job is to ensure the company’s image and interests remain protected at all times. This means employees should avoid oversharing, should never assume confidentiality, and must maintain a professional tone at all times. Every important conversation should be documented. Employees were urged to always communicate through official channels, ideally via email, to create a clear paper trail.
Redditors React
Many horror stories of various people dealing with the HR department emerged in the comment section. Several developers responded by sharing their own unsettling experiences. One mentioned how HR professionals often act like they’re there to support, but in reality, they inform managers about everything discussed in private. Instead of taking responsibility for initiating difficult conversations, they push employees to arrange meetings with their supervisors, knowing full well those requests may be ignored. In some cases, HR even holds separate meetings with managers beforehand to form opinions about employees before ever speaking to them directly.
“Even when you share your concerns with HR, she will ask you to set up a joint meeting with the manager instead of setting it up by herself…because she knows that manager won’t accept the invite. Before setting up a meeting with you, she will set up a meeting with your manager. And will judge and blame you based on the manager’s comments…” claimed one commenter.
One user quipped, “HRs saanp hote hai bro esp Indian HRs. Rule to remember.” (Indian HR are snakes.)
Others recounted how the HR representative pretended to be understanding in the initial meeting, only to use the second meeting to shift blame back to the employee. The message was clear: HR’s loyalty lies with leadership, not staff.
To navigate this landscape, professionals were advised to stay alert and cautious. Speak only when necessary. Avoid treating colleagues—especially those from HR—as friends. Request all promises in writing. And most importantly, don’t assume empathy equals support.