>pet projects by HR can significantly impact the quality of life of every employee at the company, cause people not to join the company or quit the company, and so on

Reminds me of the time I almost rage quit when HR's pet project was to implement a "baking roster" for the purposes of "team building".

Like... No effing way am I spending time baking shit just because you want a supply of freshly baked goods to eat? I'm a software engineer damnit.

Made my blood boil for sure.