Folks in HR seem to view this as being 'the time when they earn their money'. All seems very transactional & impersonal/numbers driven. From the other side, it feels like they should have been earning their money by providing better service and guidance before now by being closer to managers. That's not to say anyone would have listened.
BTW: I don't blame HR for this situation. They aren't revelling in it - more being encouraged to swing the ax around their heads in a way that doesn't inspire anything other than a feeling you're just a number.