HR attracts very gossipy people.

FWIW Some coworkers and I reported a coworker who'd threatened us with violence, told us they were bring a gun to work, had been depressed for months etc. The coworker had even sent us threatening emails. Ended up getting sued for libel!!! The union went after us as well.

You can't trust anyone and there aren't whistleblower protections.

OP, document everything. Send email to HR stating what happened. Make sure you mentioned (or attach email from HR if you still have it) the promise that the review will be kept confidential. Let them know that it was leaked to the person and raise your concerns about your safety. This way you will create a record in case if something happens later. Consult employment lawyers to see if there are any remedies. Stay safe!

HR has been pretty awful everywhere I have worked. When I got out of college I wish someone had explained to me that, despite their yacking, HR does not care about me. They care about the company. You are on your own and should get to know some lawyers.

Stay safe, OP. The worst I've ever had was getting my career derailed at one company when I stupidly applied for a position through our internal mobility program; which only serves to make everyone think you hate your job, you think your current boss is lousy and you are surely are looking outside the company as well. How naive I was!

But if something bad happens to an employee because HR isn't doing their job, how is HR protecting the company? Doesn't it make the company more vulnerable to lawsuits?

Anonymous wrote:In 25 years, I've met one HR person who I felt was competent and trustworthy. One. The majority I've experienced are the biggest gossips, and frankly, are ragingly incompetent. On more than one occasion, I've had to correct information they share regarding how our benefits work. Like basic information about how 401k matching works, how leave is accrued, etc.

Better than me, I haven't met any lol; like you though, I've had to correct them on explaining my benefits to me; um, you're the HR professional yet I'm technically doing your job for myself?!?!

A friend once told me that HR is the most useless dept in any organization...I'm starting to agree with him.

I work in HR. We have a different structure, where I consult, but don't work as a Business Partner.

It saddens me to read this. Yes, HR professionals don't have a great reputation. But there are some, like myself, who truly want the best for the employee, and will coach, consult, engage, with your interests in mind to achieve the best outcome for all.

You have received good advice OP. And excuse my divergence from your question. I just shake my head when I read stories like yours, and HR lets people down.

Because you don't know this person well, you don't know what is going to trigger any violent actions on their part. You don't know what his real intentions where or what his violent trigger will be.

This is the point where you make sure you have curtains/blinds, where you don't want to your car alone, where you let your friends know you're worried, where you don't post where you're going to be at on facebook, etc.