I have never worked at a company where HR has been worth a damn. I have first-hand experience at a previous company when my manager wrote up lie after lie on my annual evaluation. All HR would do is allow a rebuttal. No investigation. No interviews. Just a 'that is the way it is' attitude. (My leaving that job brought me to WM.) They protect the company as they listen to the employee and pretend to be their friend and have their best interests in mind. They follow the orders of leadership.
They are there to protect the company. Period.
With RIFs, they are not the judge or the jury. They are the executioner. They have to be. It is their job. If they don't like doing that part of their job, then maybe they need to find another career.
This was posted by Lou C. Ferr , @MEHW8km-1nbz. Thank you, OP, #GOLD poat