Mm I can't speak for the whole HR, but based on my experience, HR ultimately reports to CE and the HR culture is influenced a lot by the senior appointment holders (in all the closed-door meetings). HR also exists to serve the needs of the organisation, and who holds the most decision-making power in the organisation, and who decides the amount of bonus to give to the HR dept? The senior appointment holders of course. Thus, HR will naturally serve the best interests of the senior appointment holders, including the Directors. I'm not justifying the lies and all, but I think this behaviour is no different from agents or recruitment specialists who will do anything to "close the deal" to clock their KPIs. Other times, they see the "lies" as "white lies" to help ppl feel better about the situation, since neither they nor the HR have the power to change anything. That is my 2c