HR having access to HR data

Q. Should people in HR have access to data belonging to others in HR?

Human Resource professionals are after all people just like you and me. They are as likely to have prejudices, preferences and political agendas as their colleagues from any other department across the organization. Infact data suggests that people working within the Human Resources function are as likely to jump jobs, as their counterparts from any other department.

So my answer is a 'YES' for all kinds of data pertaining to their juniors only. It would NOT be prudent to let HR professionals have access to highly sensitive data such as compensation, performance rating, etc. pertaining to their peers and superiors within the same HR function.