I’m not big on secrets, but let’s chat about the lowdown that HR folks usually have. In the HR circle, there are always a few things we’re told to hush about.

These are the secrets that only we as HR pros have:

1. Spotting folks in the office about to exit. Others might catch wind, but HR usually has the inside track on everyone’s moves.
2. Knowing who’s moving up the ladder, and not necessarily because they earned it.
3. Figuring out how much you’ll get in your next raise. Yep, we already know, but don’t slack off – we don’t want it looking pre-decided.
4. Understanding why some departments get more resources than others. Sadly, we can’t spill the beans – it would mess things up!
5. Getting a sneak peek at your annual bonus 6-12 months in advance. Budgets need planning, after all.
6. Anticipating changes to your benefits 4-8 months before they kick in.
7. Knowing who might go off the deep end at work. Can’t tell you for privacy reasons…

There are probably more secrets, but they’re not just HR-exclusive. Consider this: We might tweak our metrics, but guess what? Every other department does it too! In a corporate world driven by politics and metrics for resources, the numbers won’t always be squeaky clean. What makes HR unique is our stash of substantial secrets and the duty to keep them locked up. One common pitfall for new HR folks is sharing these secrets to make friends – it usually backfires.

So, yes, HR’s got secrets – you knew it, and I’m just confirming. Let’s keep moving, though, because I’m not spilling the beans on the details!