THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN PREVENTING LABOR LAWSUITS DUE TO JOB MISCLASSIFICATION

Abstract

The growing incidence of labor lawsuits in Brazil, especially related to job misuse, highlights the need for effective people management practices that ensure legal compliance and protect employee well-being. This article aims to analyze the role of Human Resources (HR) management in preventing labor lawsuits arising from this practice, characterized by the performance of activities other than those stipulated in the contract, without due compensation or formalization. Through a literature review and field research with 210 participants, we sought to investigate the causes, impacts, and frequency of job misuse in the workplace, as well as the perception of HR's role in this context. The results indicated this practice is recurrent, negatively affecting employee motivation and health, and is often not adequately addressed by the responsible department. Ultimately, the study proposed preventive strategies, such as clear role definition, efficient organizational communication, cross-training, and humanized internal policies, reinforcing the importance of HR's strategic and oversight role in promoting fair, healthy, and sustainable labor relations.