diff --git a/addons/hr/models/hr_employee.py b/addons/hr/models/hr_employee.py
index 386fe5d9fda..f36757482f5 100644
--- a/addons/hr/models/hr_employee.py
+++ b/addons/hr/models/hr_employee.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ class HrEmployeePrivate(models.Model):
             self.message_unsubscribe(self.address_home_id.ids)
             if vals['address_home_id']:
                 self._message_subscribe([vals['address_home_id']])
-        if vals.get('user_id'):
+        if 'user_id' in vals:
             # Update the profile pictures with user, except if provided 
             vals.update(self._sync_user(self.env['res.users'].browse(vals['user_id']),
                                         (bool(self.image_1920))))
diff --git a/addons/hr/tests/test_hr_employee.py b/addons/hr/tests/test_hr_employee.py
index ed9b813b99e..b0f74bd187f 100644
--- a/addons/hr/tests/test_hr_employee.py
+++ b/addons/hr/tests/test_hr_employee.py
@@ -181,3 +181,31 @@ class TestHrEmployee(TestHrCommon):
             'partner_id': partner.id,
         })
         self.assertFalse(self.env['res.users'].search([('login', '=', 'test_user')]).employee_id)
+
+    def test_employee_update_work_contact_id(self):
+        """
+            Check that the `work_contact_id` information is no longer
+            updated when an employee's `user_id` is removed.
+        """
+        user = self.env['res.users'].create({
+            'name': 'Test',
+            'login': 'test',
+            'email': 'test@example.com',
+        })
+        employee_A, employee_B = self.env['hr.employee'].create([
+            {
+                'name': 'Employee A',
+                'user_id': user.id,
+                'work_email': 'employee_A@example.com',
+            },
+            {
+                'name': 'Employee B',
+                'user_id': False,
+                'work_email': 'employee_B@example.com',
+            }
+        ])
+        employee_A.user_id = False
+        employee_B.user_id = user.id
+        employee_B.work_email = 'new_email@example.com'
+        self.assertEqual(employee_A.work_email, 'employee_A@example.com')
+        self.assertEqual(employee_B.work_email, 'new_email@example.com')