I recently had a run-in with an HR idiot.
I do contract IT stuff (systems architecture), and was the only contractor on a team of about 50.
HR got their panties in a twist over some stupid thing that they now thought all employees needed to do. I wasn't required to, as I was a contractor.
Needless to say, the HR "policy champion" got all pissy about it and said she didn't care if I was a contractor or not, I had to do it.
I said "no". She said "yes". I laughed. So, she went to accounting and put a freeze on my invoices until I'd done what she wanted.
When I found out, I went to the project manager, told him I was leaving to go work on another contract (gotta love being in demand!), and expect to be paid ASAP, thanks for everything, and then packed up and left.
He was stunned. 2 hours after I'd left he called me saying that my invoices were processed, the cheques were ready, and they'd "sorted things out" with the HR *****... please come back.
Being a bit of a confrontational egomaniac myself (only when warranted), with no fear of losing the contract, I said I wasn't coming back until she came over to my office in person and apologized for being a *****.
An hour later, she showed up, with the PM.
Never really had a run-in with her again.
