When Employees Share Their Life Story: The Secret Thoughts of HR Pros

Ah, the moment an employee decides it’s the perfect time to share their entire life saga—with HR. Maybe it starts with, “You won’t believe what happened last weekend…” or "I couldn't make it into work yesterday because of and suddenly you’re 30 minutes deep into tales of dog drama, cousin feuds, and the epic quest for the perfect latte.

Here’s what HR really thinks: “Wow, I didn’t realize I signed up for a therapy session AND a soap opera.”

HR professionals love helping people, but sometimes, their internal monologue sounds like this:

• “Do I have enough coffee for this?”

• “Is this going to end with a request for time off or a pizza party?”

• “Can someone invent an app that gently interrupts life story mode?”

Despite the mental juggling, HR stays polite, nods, and offers empathetic “mm-hm” sounds—because empathy is their superpower. But don’t be surprised if, after the conversation, they take a deep breath, stretch, and wonder how on earth they’ll survive the next episode.

So next time you’re about to launch into your life’s origin story at HR, remember: they care... but maybe save the full saga for your podcast.