Over a third (34%) of HR professionals considering leaving the industry within the next year, according to new research from HR technology platform Personio.
The findings offers a look into the increasing strain on HR departments, which are burdened with administrative tasks, growing responsibilities and rising employee demands.
Over half (52%) of HR professionals reported experiencing burnout in the past five years, with 43 percent of senior business leaders recognising burnout as a significant issue in HR teams. Many HR professionals feel overwhelmed by their workload, with 38 percent saying it is excessive. This has led to concerns about a potential exodus from the profession.
Admin Tasks Hindering HR Effectiveness
One of the key factors in the dissatisfaction among HR professionals is the amount of time spent on administrative work. The study revealed that 41 percent of HR professionals dedicate the majority of their weekly time to admin tasks, which they see as a major contributor to excessive workloads.
At the same time, expectations from employees and senior leaders are increasing. Over a third (38%) of HR professionals believe employees have become more demanding, and 32 percent anticipate that their responsibilities will continue to expand over the next five years.
This growing pressure is making it harder for HR professionals to focus on strategic priorities, such as supporting learning and development or improving workplace culture.
Strategic Work Seen as Highly Rewarding
Despite these challenges, the research noted that HR professionals find their work rewarding when it focuses on strategic initiatives. Among those surveyed, 93 percent said they enjoy supporting employee learning and development, and 58 percent expressed a desire to do more of this in their roles. Similarly, 91 percent enjoy working on HR and business strategies with senior leadership, with 45 percent wanting to increase their involvement in such activities.
Lenke Taylor, Chief People Officer at Personio, said, “Businesses are missing out on the real impact their HR teams can have by not investing in the tools they need. People enter the HR function to help businesses succeed through their people.
“HR leaders are uniquely positioned to align people’s skills with organisational needs and foster organisational environments that are engaging, productive and rewarding places to work. However, the reality of their current day-to-day jobs is often more focused on paperwork and process.
“This discontent means businesses could face a challenging spike in HR turnover, just at a time when they want their teams performing at their best.”
