Less than half of HR professionals would recommend their employer: report

More than a quarter also considering leaving their jobs

Less than half of HR professionals would recommend their employer: report

Less than half of HR professionals are willing to recommend their employer to others, as many of them don't feel supported enough at work, according to a new report.

New research from HR software provider Ciphr, which polled 300 HR decision makers in the United Kingdom, revealed that only 42% would recommend their employer to others.

Less than half of the respondents also said their organisation considers people as their greatest asset (42%) and it fully supports employees' mental health and wellbeing (37%).

"They have a unique viewpoint of the organisation, including what steps are being taken to make it an enjoyable place to work and the level of genuine buy-in and commitment from the C-suite," Claire Williams, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, said.

"And, if that's not reflective of the wider messaging, it could drive HR professionals to want to look for an employer that is more people-centric and action-orientated."

In fact, the report found that 28% of HR professionals have thought of leaving their current job.

"While HR professionals typically want to work with a company to make things better – to 'enact change' – if, realistically, they don't have the backing of the employer to do so, who can blame them for considering going to work for another company that will respect and value their vital role?" Williams said.

Low satisfaction at work

The findings come as the report also discovered that less than half of employees are receiving support from their employers.

Only 48% said they get regular and ongoing training for their role, and only 42% received a satisfactory pay rise within the last year.

Less than four in 10 also said they are satisfied with where they are in their career (37%) and they are happy with their salary (34%).

Despite this, a majority are saying they find their current job fulfilling and engaging (64%), and they feel valued and appreciated for their work (56%).

Source: Ciphr

Burnout for HR

Meanwhile, Williams said their findings indicate that HR professionals aren't exempt from burnout, with 37% of them feeling overworked.

"It underscores the critical need for organisations to ensure a better work/life balance and implement support systems that provide further support and training for those in HR, who are frequently required to take on the emotional burden of the wider workforce," Williams said.

"This can include supporting people through mental health issues, bereavement, and low morale – just a few of a huge range of personal issues that can really take a toll on HR teams."

To address the widespread issues faced by HR professionals, Williams suggested ensuring that objectives are aligned to company-wide strategic goals.

"[It also includes] integrating the HR team more with different departments and management teams by joining meetings and anchor days; sending out regular updates to the business on HR activities and successes, explaining how HR initiatives are positively impacting the business; and optimising management information, and reporting to enable more strategic use of your people data," Williams said.