Interesting.
Before I would not have believed you, but now I feel like I could write a book on the atrocities commited by Human Resources folks.
A friend of mine was forced to retire early because of harrassment from her "fellow" HR co-workers. As to the lawyers, we had a corporate attorney in our office several years ago who thought he was a comedian. He'd go around the office teasing young women about their "redneck" roots, loudly announcing that all women belonged at home barefoot, pregnant, etc., and saying some of the most stereotypically racist stuff imaginable. I'm not a very PC person myself, but he was really over the top and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I cannot stand HR departments I always think individual department should cover this I know in a big organisation it can be difficult but HR people do not appreciate individual job situations.