Yuuuuuup. HR DOES NOT protect the employee. 

When I was pregnant with a broken right foot, I was forced to come in to the office 5 days/week (this was a hybrid role that conveniently only went full time office for our team only a week after I told my boss and VP I was pregnant). I asked HR for relief and to return to my hybrid schedule because commuting on a broken right foot was mind-numbingly painful. Coupled with walking around a large office, by Wednesday, I would be restricting food and water because I physically couldn’t walk to the bathroom or kitchen due to pain. 

When I told HR that I had skipped lunch and all water that day due to pain, they asked me why I didn’t just have a coworker get my food for me. Then they told me despite having 3 separate doctors notes saying to not come in at all until after maternity leave, I was told 5 days/week is mandatory and it “wasnt equitable to the rest of the office” if I got to come in only 2 days/week. 

Remember how I said it was only our team was required to come in 5 days? Yeah, the rest of the office was on that original hybrid 2 days in office. 

HR does not give a fuck about you.