What not to say HR?

Asked by: Mathilde Legros  |  Last update: February 4, 2026
Score: 5/5 (61 votes)

When talking to HR, avoid venting, making personal life disclosures (unless job-related), complaining about non-illegal issues, using accusatory language, or lying; instead, focus on facts, specific illegal conduct (like discrimination/harassment), and potential solutions, as HR's role is protecting the company, not solving everyday frustrations or giving personal advice.

What to say and not say to HR?

The general rule is don't bring your everyday complaints to HR. They're not there to make your job better or easier and they might fire you simply because they don't want to hear it. This is usually legal.

What words scare human resources?

10 Words That Worry HR

  • Discrimination. As you might know, discrimination worries HR teams, juniors and seniors alike. ...
  • Harassment. Harassment complaints create concern because they indicate employees might feel unsafe or disrespected at work. ...
  • Termination. ...
  • Overtime. ...
  • Resignation. ...
  • Burnout. ...
  • Investigation. ...
  • Non-Compliance.

What words should you avoid in HR?

Legal and sensitive terms: “harassment,” “discrimination,” “lawsuit,” “retaliation.” These words trigger legal and compliance concerns because they suggest unresolved, serious workplace issues. HR hears these and often shifts conversation toward escalation and investigation rather than hiring HireQuotient.

What not to say in HR investigation?

“I'm not sure, but…” Speculating or making assumptions can muddle the facts, leading to misunderstandings. Stick to what you know. “It's always been done this way”: This defense can imply resistance to change or justify inappropriate behavior based on tradition, which doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

5 Red Flags in Your Job, leave on time peacefully.

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What will HR fire you for?

Incompetence, including lack of productivity or poor quality of work. Insubordination and related issues such as dishonesty or breaking company rules. Attendance issues, such as frequent absences or chronic tardiness. Theft or other criminal behavior including revealing trade secrets.

What is the biggest red flag at work?

The biggest red flags at work often signal a toxic culture and poor leadership, with high turnover, communication breakdowns, lack of trust, blame culture, and unrealistic expectations being major indicators that employees are undervalued, leading to burnout and instability. These issues create an environment where people feel unappreciated, micromanaged, or unsupported, making it difficult to thrive and often prompting good employees to leave.
 

What scares HR the most?

What scares HR most are issues that lead to legal action, financial penalties, reputational damage, and poor employee morale, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage/hour violations (overtime), non-compliance with laws (like FMLA/COBRA), and high employee turnover, alongside internal nightmares like toxic cultures, mismanaged investigations, and inadequate policies that expose the company to risk. 

How to fight HR and win?

Broach your situation in terms of hypotheticals vs. specifics, and gauge HR's reaction. Try to talk to an HR team member who shows fairness, empathy and ethics. If the company retaliates against you lodging a complaint, make a note and contact an employment lawyer, because that's illegal.

What are the 7 sins of HR professional?

"Human Capital Consultant | People & Change… If the 7 Deadly sins, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride, are practices that are usually best avoided in daily life. There are 7 Deadly HR sins that must be avoided at work for a better workplace, culture & environment.

What are the 5 C's of HR?

The 5 C's of Employee Engagement in HR have been observed to directly influence productivity, innovation, and customer satisfaction. To foster a more engaged workforce, HR leaders can leverage the 5 C's framework: Communication, Connection, Culture, Contribution, and Career Development.

What complaints does HR take seriously?

Handling workplace complaints is essential for maintaining a productive, legally compliant, and respectful work environment. California's strict labor laws require employers to take employee complaints seriously, whether they involve harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other workplace issues.

What are triggering words?

Trigger words and phrases are those that cause a listener to feel strong emotions because of previous experiences. While the phrase is used in a number of different ways, we're using it here as many people now do, to refer to words or phrases that trigger memories and emotions from traumatic events.

How to make HR take you seriously?

HR can best handle the situation when they have clear evidence and understand the severity of the issue. HR will take the issues more seriously when there's evidence rather than just anecdotes and verbal complaints. Make copies of any documentation to back up your case, as HR will likely want a copy for records.

What is the 3 month rule in a job?

The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where both employer and employee assess fit, acting as a trial to see if the role and person align before full commitment, often involving learning goals (like a 30-60-90 day plan) and performance reviews, allowing either party to end employment more easily, notes Talent Management Institute (TMI), Frontline Source Group, Indeed.com, and Talent Management Institute (TMI). It's a crucial time for onboarding, understanding expectations, and demonstrating capability, setting the foundation for future growth, says Talent Management Institute (TMI), inTulsa Talent, and Talent Management Institute (TMI). 

What are the 5 P's in HR?

The 5 Ps of HR, often from Randall Schuler's model, provide a strategic framework for aligning HR with business goals, encompassing Purpose (why), Principles (values/rules), Processes (how work gets done), People (the workforce), and Performance (results), creating a holistic approach to talent management and organizational success. Another variation includes Policies, Programs, Practices, Processes, and Philosophy, focusing on the interconnectedness of HR activities.
 

What are signs of quiet firing?

Examples of quiet firing may include:

  • Giving an employee fewer and fewer responsibilities over time.
  • Excluding an employee from key meetings and projects.
  • Giving an employee less desirable duties.
  • Having an employee report to an office that is further away.

How to outsmart your toxic boss?

In short, collect evidence of your hard work and accomplishments no matter what you have to do. Toxic bosses will try to paint you as inefficient, lazy, or unethical, but if you consistently perform well and have a record of your accomplishments, you take away their power to harm your reputation.

What is the rule number 1 boss?

1: Rule number one: The boss is always right. 2: Rule number two: If the boss is wrong refer to rule number one.

What are the 7 types of harassment?

7 Types of Workplace Harassment and Effective Prevention Measures

  • Discriminatory harassment: ...
  • Personal harassment: ...
  • Power harassment: ...
  • Cyberbullying: ...
  • Retaliation harassment: ...
  • Sexual harassment: ...
  • Verbal harassment:

What are the 4 C's of HR?

The Role of the 4C Model in Strategic HRM

Commitment, competence, congruence, and cost-effectiveness are the core outcomes that guide HR policies towards fostering a productive and harmonious work environment. Commitment ensures that employees are emotionally invested in the company's goals.

Can HR fire you for anything?

California Is an “At-Will” State

California obeys “at-will” employment laws. This means that all employers have the right to terminate employees at will, for almost any reason, or for no reason at all. This does not, however, mean that an employer can fire someone out of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

What is the #1 reason people get fired?

The #1 reason employees get fired is often cited as poor work performance or incompetence, encompassing failure to meet standards, low productivity, or poor quality work, but issues like misconduct, attendance problems (lateness/absenteeism), insubordination, violating company policies, and attitude problems (not being a team player, toxicity) are also primary drivers, often overlapping with performance. 

What color makes you stand out in an interview?

Some people feel like they have instant power and boldness when they wear black as well as appear more confident. Blue is a great color to wear to an interview. It simply portrays confidence and demonstrates to the interviewer that you are confident in what you do.

What are the signs of a bad employer?

8 Signs of a Bad Company to Work For

  • You are not given an opportunity to interview with your future manager.
  • The job responsibilities are unclear.
  • The company is disrespectful or unprofessional.
  • The company has a bad reputation.
  • There is a pattern of people leaving the department.
  • People are talking behind each other's back.