For anyone who has run into difficulty in a workplace, (and that’s pretty much all of us) those two letters – HR – can seem rather ominous. But HR, or Human Resources, or People and Culture departments, as they are now often called, have a wider scope than just harassment and bullying claims. We spoke to three HR managers about the myths and misconceptions, the impact of the #MeToo movement and how to get the most out of Human Resources where you work.

“The idea that we will ultimately side with the business in a dispute is, in my experience, something I don’t find to be true,” says Leonie Kerley, director, HR practitioner and facilitator with over 24 years’ experience in the industry. “Most HR professionals I have worked with (including myself) have a strong ethical balance between supporting the organisation’s policies and processes and acting as an employee advocate as well.”