According to a new study by HR technology platform Personio, over a third of HR professionals (34%) are considering leaving the field within the next 12 months.
The findings provide a glimpse into the growing strain on HR departments who are saddled with administrative duties, increasing responsibilities, and rising employee expectations.
More than half of HR professionals (52%) reported burnout within the last five years. Senior business leaders also recognize burnout as an important issue for HR teams. Many HR professionals are overwhelmed by their work load, and 38 percent of them say it’s excessive. There are concerns that the profession could be losing some of its best talent.
Admin Tasks Hindering HR Effectiveness
The amount of time HR professionals spend on administrative tasks is a major factor in their dissatisfaction. According to the study, 41 percent of HR managers spend most of their time on administrative tasks. They believe that this is a significant contributor to an excessive workload.
At the same, senior leaders and employees are putting forth higher expectations. More than a third of HR professionals (38%) believe that employees are becoming more demanding. And 32 percent expect their responsibilities to continue expanding over the next five year.
The pressure on HR professionals is increasing, making it difficult for them to focus their efforts on strategic goals such as learning and development or improving workplace cultures.
Highly rewarding strategic work
The research found that despite these challenges, HR professionals are rewarded when they focus on strategic initiatives. The survey found that 93 percent of respondents enjoy supporting the learning and development of employees, and 58 % expressed a desire for more involvement in this area. In a similar way, 91 per cent enjoy working with senior leaders on HR and business strategy, while 45 per cent want to increase their involvement.
Lenke Taylor is the Chief People Officer of Personio. She said: “Businesses miss out on the impact that their HR team can make by not investing in tools.” People join the HR function in order to help businesses achieve success through their employees.
HR leaders are in a unique position to match people’s abilities with the needs of an organisation and to create a work environment that is engaging, productive, and rewarding. The reality is that their day-today work is more about paperwork and processes.
This discontent could lead to a spike in turnover of HR staff, at a time that businesses want their teams to perform at their best.
