It depends on the type of industry; we can divide our industries into two parts:
Manufacturing Sector
1. Manufacturing Sector (mechanical/electrical/electronics/pharma) - mostly labor-oriented and dominated industry.
Service Sector
2. Service sector (IT/ITES/KPO/BPO/Broking firms/Research Firms/Banking/Insurance/Hospitality/Airlines, etc.)
HR personnel have their true requirements in point 1 companies, where there are huge problems like labor issues, staff problems, union-level issues, strikes, etc.
In point 2 companies, HR personnel seem to be there just for enjoyment. In my five years of career in the software industry, I have never found anybody working hard or late after 6 PM. They only come well-dressed, especially with a lot to eat. They always spend over an hour in the canteen during lunch break, again for tea break, and then again for a snack break – a total of three hours wasted. They spend an hour strolling around the cubicles, making jokes about people. They don't have challenging jobs as everyone is well-educated. Appraisal time is also smooth for them; they just look at the employee's face. If they find them smart and good-looking, they proceed with the appraisal. If not, there are no worries since professionals never confront or blame HR. There is no responsibility or tension – they just come to the office, eat, gossip, and leave at 6.00 sharp, pretending they are managing the organization.
In the manufacturing sector, union workers start showing their strength from the beginning of the day. If HR says one word, the union responds with ten slangs. Union workers know how to handle HR personnel very well. The pressure is immense; people directly use slangs towards HR. Even during strikes, mobs attack HR personnel outside the company premises, making the life of HR personnel a living hell.
Regards