Issue 33: Today’s Brew: When HR Isn’t a Safe Place—Rebuilding Trust in the System That’s Meant to Protect You
☕ Brewed for Leaders Who Care
Espresso & Empathy — Issue 33
By: Shannon Foster
Founder & Senior Consultant, Martin & Foster Consulting
October 15, 2025
HR is supposed to be the department people turn to when things go wrong. A place for guidance, fairness, and protection.
But for too many employees, it’s become the opposite—a place they fear, avoid, or simply don’t trust.
And when trust in HR breaks down, it doesn’t just damage one relationship—it damages the entire culture.
The Trust Gap
Employees should never have to choose between their integrity and their job security. Yet that’s exactly what happens when HR is perceived as unsafe.
We’ve heard the stories:
“I went to HR in confidence, and it got back to my boss.”
“I spoke up about something unethical, and suddenly I was labeled ‘difficult.’”
“I stayed silent, because speaking up felt too risky.”
When HR’s role shifts from protector of people to defender of the organization, employees stop coming forward. They don’t stop having concerns—they just stop speaking up.
And silence in the workplace comes at a cost: lost trust, ethical compromises, and psychological safety replaced by quiet fear.
When Values Meet Fear
One of the most painful realities in leadership today is how often good people are forced to compromise their values to keep their jobs.
We’ve all seen it—an employee who watches something wrong unfold but says nothing, a manager who enforces a directive they don’t believe in, an HR professional caught between “doing what’s right” and “doing what’s required.”
When fear drives decisions, integrity takes the hit. And over time, that erosion of moral safety becomes just as damaging as any policy violation.
At Martin and Foster Consulting, we believe no one should have to choose between their paycheck and their principles.
What We’re Doing About It
We’ve listened to the stories—and we’re doing something about it.
Coming soon, Martin and Foster Consulting will launch a new service designed specifically for individuals who need HR guidance but don’t feel safe going to HR.
It will provide a confidential, independent space to:
Ask HR-related questions without fear of retaliation.
Get advice on sensitive workplace concerns.
Navigate tough choices with clarity, integrity, and care.
Because when HR loses trust, someone has to rebuild it.
We’ll be polling our readers this week to help name the program. We’d love your input as we design a service that protects what HR should always stand for—fairness, safety, and trust.
Leadership Self-Audit: Are You Creating a Culture of Safety or Silence?
Ask yourself:
Do employees trust that what they share with HR or leadership will remain confidential?
Have I ever unintentionally broken someone’s trust by sharing their concern with the wrong person?
When employees bring forward an issue, do I listen—or do I defend?
Have I created a culture where people feel safe to speak up—or one where silence feels safer?
Do I protect people’s voices as fiercely as I protect the company’s image?
If any of these make you pause, that’s leadership in action. Awareness is where trust begins.
Final Thoughts
HR should never be a place people fear.
When employees can’t trust the system meant to protect them, they turn to silence—and silence erodes integrity one decision at a time.
It’s time to rebuild what was lost. To return HR to its rightful purpose: protecting both people and principles.
Because when people feel safe to speak, organizations have a chance to do what’s right.