The reason why HR does not get noticed is that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If you hire drama queens, the HR will be activated regularly.

If everything is going fine, HR is seen as a place to cut cost.

It is like the IT department. If everything is running smoothly, the IT manager will be on the chopping board or the whole operation will be outsourced.

Everybody's job is easy as long I am not the one doing it.