diff --git a/addons/hr/models/hr.py b/addons/hr/models/hr.py
index d523f6cee96..91ab03edf7e 100644
--- a/addons/hr/models/hr.py
+++ b/addons/hr/models/hr.py
@@ -192,12 +192,20 @@ class Employee(models.Model):
 
     @api.onchange('user_id')
     def _onchange_user(self):
-        self.work_email = self.user_id.email
-        self.name = self.user_id.name
-        self.image = self.user_id.image
+        if self.user_id:
+            self.update(self._sync_user(self.user_id))
+
+    def _sync_user(self, user):
+        return dict(
+            name=user.name,
+            image=user.image,
+            work_email=user.email,
+        )
 
     @api.model
     def create(self, vals):
+        if vals.get('user_id'):
+            vals.update(self._sync_user(self.env['res.users'].browse(vals['user_id'])))
         tools.image_resize_images(vals)
         return super(Employee, self).create(vals)