@LukeAlmightyI have mostly worked on the recruiting side of the company, so I can't really tell you much about the more operative side of hr, but there are many that hate hr for the wrong reasons.
We always get blamed for firing people, when in most cases the order comes from finance... We are just the executioner in many cases, not the judge, and we get hate for that
In recruiting you are usually well received by the candidates, if they like you you can work wonderfully with them, but the clients are the ones that are a nightmare to work with. They claim they need someone ASAP and then they don't fucking answer a call or mail for weeks... Guess who still takes the blame if the candidate decides that they do not want to wait and just gets something else? Yes, you are right, we do...
Working in a company that has a good hr strategy and people that are not in hr just to make a good salary can be quite fulfilling, I worked once as a trainee Ina. Bigger manufacturer and you could do so much good for the people. Many did screw around though...
He is always a difficult subject, because if you are too good people will take advantage of you and if you are too Stern you will get hate... Finding a golden equilibrium is very hard actually, like most things in life though.
How may I assist you today?