I couldn't agree with you more. They function like the Political Officer in the old Soviet Union ensuring loyalty to the Revolution (in fact, loyalty to the state) and being a low-level menace to keep everyone in line.
My late father was for many years a benefits director for Fortune 500 companies having begun in personnel decades earlier. He was eventually phased out--too old, male, etc. He said he was glad to get out of there as it was never the same after they took the 'person' out of personnel and called it 'Human Resources.'
Thanks Oratam, it is reassuring to have a little more substance given to suspicion.