[type_Ben_struct]

This is not exclusive to the US and should be common sense.

Except where legally required (e.g. government provided attorney) it should come as no surprise that people are loyal to whoever pays them.

HR are paid by the company, and thus they will act in the interests of said company.

[hnlurker22]

That doesn't mean that this is common knowledge. Specially when HR acts like they're your friend. Many employees are deceived even though it's common sense to you

[sirspacey]

During onboarding, many HR teams say they are the employee’s advocate on a variety of issues. They are most emphatically not.

Most of the people working in HR that I’ve met (and I’ve met hundreds working in the industry) sincerely believe that valuing people and treating them well is the best way for a company to succeed financially. They are advocates within the organization for it, including on difficult issues like DEI and harassment/abuse.

That makes this issue especially pernicious. Sincere, well-intentioned people are very effective gaslighters, especially when they are surprised themselves to find they have been “given orders” when a true crisis occurs.

[JohnFen]

Do many really get deceived by this? That would be like thinking a company is being honest when they say "we're a big family here".

[darth_avocado]

> That doesn't mean that this is common knowledge

At this point, it really is. It's unfortunate too many people consider companies, their bosses and HR as their "friends". Only your friends are your "friends" and that too, not always.