@doctormo

True for me. Manager of my site leaves company for another job 1 month before I retire. Said mgr would normally communicate to HR information regarding benefits retiring employee is entitled to (in my case accrued vacation pay and a severance payout worth $15,000) per contract. At the time of my retirement, still no mgr on site, leaving me to deal with HR myself. Weeks of disinterest from HR. Go to my union. Union places strategic call to company exec. HR now interested. Coughs up $.