What not to say when talking to HR?
Asked by: Albertha Sauer | Last update: September 4, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (11 votes)
Like talking about your coworkers, talking about your boss can land you in hot water with HR. It doesn't make any sense to discuss anything that can be mistaken for discrimination in any way.
What not to say during an HR meeting?
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 does HR not want to hear?
General negative words – These include words such as words such as “no”, “can't”, “couldn't”, “didn't”. It really is true that hiring managers do not want to hear the word can't.
How to defend yourself to HR?
- Tell the truth.
- Don't communicate anything to anyone unless it's in writing.
- Preserve all documents and communications; never, ever destroy anything.
- Do not participate in any lies or misrepresentations, even those the company makes that benefit or protect you.
- Remember that HR
Can HR tell your boss what you say?
Although HR professionals—unlike medical professionals, religious functionaries or attorneys—are not subject to any overarching legally mandated duty of confidentiality, they are required by laws regulating the workplace to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of some types of employee information.
HR Is Not Your Friend. Before You Complain At Work, Watch This...
Can HR tell why you were fired?
Federal law doesn't prohibit employers from sharing the reasons for terminating an employee. Some state laws regulate what employers can say about former employees. Check with your state's labor department for restrictions in your location.
What HR information is confidential?
HR professionals are tasked with maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information, both employee-related and corporate. This includes employee data like pay levels and management information such as layoffs or business strategies.
How to fight HR and win?
- Inform yourself. The best thing to do before taking any actions or making decisions is to ensure you have all of the necessary information. ...
- Gather evidence. ...
- Make a formal complaint. ...
- Speak to the head of HR. ...
- Consult your manager. ...
- Reach out to others in the organisation. ...
- Consider outside options.
What can HR legally say about you?
Employers cannot make statements that are malicious in any way. They cannot provide unsolicited information about you or your job performance. They cannot make statements about your beliefs, such as politics or religion, or make statements about your union activities.
Is HR ever on your side?
HR is Not Your Friend
Regardless of how an employer brands its Human Resources department, the reality is, that for many employees, the Human Resources department is not your friend. The Human Resources department isn't necessarily an enemy, but it isn't an advocate either.
What scares HR the most?
- Discrimination & Harassment Issues. HR's goal is to provide every employee with a safe and healthy work environment. ...
- Payroll Processing Errors. ...
- Mismanaging Benefits. ...
- Worker Misclassification. ...
- Losing Top Talent.
Can I be fired for complaining to HR?
You may not be fired for making a complaint (whether to your own HR department or to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) about harassment or discrimination in the workplace; for participating in an investigation of these issues; or for exercising your rights under these laws (by, for example, requesting a ...
What HR likes to hear?
“Interviewers are looking for specificity, creativity, and authenticity,” Raman says. Make sure your answer is truthful and specific to the job and company you're interviewing for—and not the same answer the interviewer has heard three times already.
What is the 80% rule in employment?
The 80% rule states that the selection rate of the protected group should be at least 80% of the selection rate of the non-protected group. In this example, 4.8% of 9.7% is 49.5%. Since 49.5% is less than four-fifths (80%), this group has adverse impact against minority applicants.
How to talk to HR about unfair treatment?
It's always best to have a verbal conversation about a lousy manager when you talk to HR. Sitting down face-to-face will ensure they understand the importance of the issue and how it's affecting your work. If you work remotely and your HR team is far away, schedule a video or audio call to discuss the matter.
How do you politely say no to HR?
I want to express my sincere appreciation for offering me the position of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I have decided to respectfully decline the offer as I have received an offer that better aligns with my career goals and aspirations.
Is everything I say to HR confidential?
Unlike lawyers, therapists, and physicians, HR professionals aren't bound by confidentiality rules in the same sense. This means that disputes between coworkers or employees and their managers aren't always kept behind closed doors—even if the employee asks you not to mention their name or take action.
Does HR fire you or your boss?
Generally, most companies use a combination of a manager and a human resource employee to conduct the termination. One or both persons act as a witness in case the employee being terminated makes a damaging statement or otherwise violates company rules during the termination process.
Can HR secretly record you?
The majority of states require that only one party needs to consent to a recording—whereas 13 states require all-party consent. All-party consent states include: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington.
How do I protect myself in an HR meeting?
Bring Documentation: Provide HR with copies of your documentation, even if you have already emailed it to them. However, ensure you retain the originals or keep copies for your personal records. This will protect you if the documents are misplaced or if there's any dispute about the evidence you have provided.
Is it worth complaining to HR?
However, if your manager is contributing to the toxic environment, you should talk to a senior leader you trust to receive an objective perspective and guidance. And if you are experiencing a situation that goes against company policy or could have legal implications, HR should be your first stop.
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.
Can HR tell you not to talk about something?
The NLRB found that this request violated employees' rights to discuss the terms and conditions of employment with each other. Prohibiting employee discussions of an ongoing investigation is allowed only if the employer can show that it has a legitimate business justification outweighing the employees' rights.
Can HR give my manager my address?
Generally, employers should not disclose your personal contact information without your consent. Exceptions may occur in specific situations, such as emergencies where sharing contact details is necessary for safety or compliance reasons.
Can I talk to HR about quitting?
Step 2: Speak to your boss and/or the HR department
Once you know the legal details (see step 1 or speak to a lawyer), you should go speak to your boss or someone in Human Resources (HR) department before delivering your written letter of resignation.