According to a recent study, burnout and stress are most prevalent in larger companies.
According to a study by the HR software company Ciphr, 6.3% of HR professionals never experience stress in their jobs.
A survey of more than 270 UK HR Decision Makers found that the majority (94%) of respondents are affected by stress at work and find one or more aspects of their jobs stressful.
Nearly one-quarter (23%) of HR professionals said they felt stressed and exhausted to the point where they were burnt out. Ciphr reports that this number rose to 35% of HR professionals who work in organisations with over 1,500 employees. This indicates a possible link between the size of an organisation and chronic stress.
The stress caused by excessive workloads is more common in larger organisations. A third of HR professionals managing workforces over 1,500 people feel under pressure, while only a quarter of those working at companies with 50-1,499 workers do.
The most stressful aspect of their job was the workload (cited by 29%), followed by rising costs (26%) and the challenges of employee recruitment and retention (24%).
The respondents also cited recruitment and skill shortages (23%), and attending too many meetings (20%) as other significant stressors.
One in six employees reported anxiety over conflicts at work (18%). Others experienced stress due to misconceptions regarding their HR role on a day-to-day basis (18%).
A large (17%) percentage of respondents also found that employee case management is one of the most stressful aspects of working in Human Resources.
Claire Williams, Chief People and Operations Officer at Ciphr said that, in recent years, there has been much focus on what HR and employers can do to reduce workplace stress. She added that “but conversations rarely discuss the enormous pressures people in HR feel and how stress impacts them”, adding “and even less organisations offer tailored assistance to their HR team.” HR professionals are often so busy focusing on other aspects of the business, that they don’t give their own needs enough attention. It may be assumed that HR professionals are better at dealing with stress than other employees because of their position.
She said: “HR teams are being asked more than ever to do more with less money, navigate employment reforms and laws that are becoming more complex and changing, while still doing their best to meet the demands of the workforce.
The HR professional’s workload will be reduced by adopting new technologies, leveraging efficiency gains, and implementing AI, automation and employee self service across integrated HR systems and platforms such as payroll, benefits, recruitment and engagement tools.
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