HR can feel like a one-person island. While you’re supporting everyone else, who supports you? The good news: you’re not alone—far from it. There are more than 280,000 HR managers in the United States alone. Multiply that worldwide, and you get a vast cohort of professionals eager to share hard-won lessons.
The challenge is knowing where they gather.
This guide spotlights ten thriving HR communities—online, in-person, or both—that can accelerate your learning, decision-making, and career growth.
(Need a primer on must-have tools before diving in? Check out these tools for HR professionals from The Human Capital Hub.)
1. In Good Company by HiBob
Modern, global, and unapologetically people-first, In Good Company is the community arm of HiBob’s HCM platform. You’ll learn from a range of leading experts in HR and people management like Leila McKenize-Delis, Jessica Zwaan, and Hebba Youssef, as well as a global network of forward-thinking, people-focused professionals.
Why it stands out
- HiBob’s “In Good Company” global community is organized around six focus areas—Culture & Belonging, AI, Talent, Future of Work, HR Excellence, and C-Suite Strategy—and hosts both regional chapters and live events.
- Regional dinners, happy hours, and panel nights turn online contacts into trusted peers.
- Case studies and how-to guides drawn from its 4,900+ customers and community members discussing how they adapt those ideas.
- The Bob AI Companion helps summarize reviews, give feedback, navigate instantly, and automate tasks.
Join this community to grow as a people-first leader, learn from industry experts, and be part of a global movement redefining work
2. People People Group
Toronto-born People People Group (PPG) blends a Slack workspace with packed event calendars. Think of it as the friendly neighbourhood coffee shop of HR—except the conversations are global.
Why it stands out
- The People People Group community has grown to more than 5,000 HR, recruitment, and operations professionals worldwide.
- Slack channels dive into DEI, compensation, people analytics, and “Ask-Me-Anything” sessions with CPOs.
- An invite-only annual summit caps attendance at 250 to keep networking meaningful.
- A peer-reviewed resource library surfaces slide decks and policy docs vetted by at least three practitioners.
PPG is ideal if you’re a growing HR generalist who values candid discussion without the noise of gigantic forums.
3. CIPD Community
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is the U.K.’s professional body for HR, and its online forums are a goldmine even if you’re not London-based.
Why it stands out
- CIPD now represents more than 160,000 HR professionals worldwide through its global membership network.
- Accredited CPD courses help you maintain or earn credentials while networking.
- A research library stocked with academic studies and policy briefings saves hours of Googling.
- Regional branches host breakfast roundtables on everything from pay transparency to labour law changes.
If compliance keeps you up at night—or you simply crave academically rigorous insights—CIPD delivers both scholarship and community.
4. HR.com Micro-Communities
HR.com feels less like a single forum and more like a federation of niche clubs, each with its own webinars, surveys, and discussion threads.
Why it stands out
- HR.com now connects more than 2 million HR professionals worldwide through its learning and micro-community hubs.
- Live webcasts earn HRCI and SHRM recertification credits—no extra fees.
- AI-powered dashboards benchmark your policies against aggregated member surveys.
- Monthly “think-tanks” turn poll data into downloadable white papers.
When you need deep content plus official credit hours, HR.com offers a buffet of options under one roof.
5. Resources for Humans (Lattice)
Started by performance-management vendor Lattice, Resources for Humans (RfH) has evolved into a process-obsessed Slack hive.
Why it stands out
- 20,000-plus members swap workflows on everything from stay-interviews to 30-60-90 onboarding plans.
- Weekly AMAs with senior CPOs provide free mentoring you’d normally pay for.
- A template gallery offers OKR spreadsheets, engagement-survey calendars, and more.
- The yearly RfH Virtual Conference streams expert talks and case studies to members gratis.
RfH is perfect if your biggest pain point is how to operationalise ideas quickly and cleanly.
6. People Geeks (Culture Amp)
If data drives your HR strategy, the People Geeks community by Culture Amp will feel like home.
Why it stands out
- Quarterly survey benchmarks let you compare engagement scores against thousands of companies.
- Regional “Geeks Up” meet-ups in 20+ cities mix storytelling with workshop time.
- Certification paths teach you how to lead culture-design sessions internally.
- A free newsletter distils research on feedback loops, EX metrics, and manager enablement.
People Geeks excels at translating people analytics into everyday language and action.
7. Hacking HR Global Community
What started as a LinkedIn group is now a worldwide movement. Hacking HR champions experimentation in people strategy, tech, and sustainability.
Why it stands out
- Annual virtual summits attract 140,000+ practitioners across 175 countries.
- Topic channels cover AI ethics, green HR, and skills taxonomies.
- Local city chapters organize pop-up “Hackathons” to solve live HR problems.
If you prefer bold ideas over status-quo maintenance, Hacking HR will keep your brain sparking.
8. r/humanresources Subreddit
Sometimes you just need brutally honest feedback. Enter r/humanresources, Reddit’s no-frills, everything-goes forum.
Why it stands out
- Reddit’s r/humanresources subreddit surpassed 121,000 subscribers, making it one of the largest open HR forums online.
- Anonymity encourages users to share sticky situations—disciplinary misfires, union questions—without risking brand damage.
- A wiki houses crowdsourced policy templates and state-by-state compliance links.
- Up-vote mechanics surface the community-approved best answer fast.
Use r/humanresources as a sounding board, but always cross-check legal advice with qualified counsel.
9. HR Leaders Network
HR Leaders combines daily podcasts with a members-only Slack to keep the conversation rolling.
Why it stands out
- The podcast attracts 200,000 listeners who hear CHROs unpack real case studies.
- Episode follow-up threads in Slack link to slide decks and bonus Q&A.
- A mentor-match program pairs rising HR Managers with seasoned Directors for three-month sprints.
- Peer-reviewed vendor scorecards crowdsource honest software feedback.
If you learn best by listening first and then digging deeper with peers, HR Leaders nails the format.
10. Secret HR Society
Craving a confidential circle? Secret HR Society (SHRS) offers just that—invite-only, executive-level, and strictly off-record.
Why it stands out
- A Slack community of 1,700 members meets the requirement of four-plus years’ HR leadership experience.
- City dinners every six to eight weeks in Berlin, London, and NYC foster high-trust relationships.
- “Red-team” workshops let members pressure-test crisis plans under Chatham House Rule.
- Strict vetting keeps vendors and recruiters out, ensuring conversations stay practitioner focused.
SHRS is where you go when you can’t risk posting sensitive scenarios on public channels.
How to Choose the Right Community
With options galore, use this four-step framework:
- Goal clarity – Are you after benchmarking data, compliance updates, or emotional support?
- Size comfort – Smaller groups foster intimacy; larger ones offer breadth.
- Format fit – Slack real-time chat versus asynchronous forums or in-person chapters.
- Learning style – Do you prefer live events, curated content, or on-demand digests?
Plot these on a quick matrix and shortlist two or three groups to trial for 30 days.
Getting the Most from Your Memberships
- Set micro-objectives. Example: source three onboarding templates this quarter.
- Give before you get. Share a policy doc or answer a peer’s question weekly.
- Track ROI. Log time saved, ideas implemented, or vendors referred.
Treat communities like any other strategic asset: invest, measure, refine.
Conclusion
In a profession that often absorbs everyone else’s stress, community is a force multiplier. Whether you pick HiBob’s AI-enhanced hub or an invite-only dinner circle, embed yourself in at least one public and one private network this month. Your future self—and your organization—will thank you.
