Is HR a High Burnout Job?

HR professionals do their best to help people in a time of need. But balancing the demands of a role that prioritizes employees’ well-being with an equally demanding workload can create stress and frustration, especially when the department feels under-resourced.

Is HR a High Burnout Job?

While responsibilities vary by company, there are some common challenges that all HR departments face. Managing people and talent, supporting business strategy working from home, keeping up with new employment laws and trends, and juggling ongoing projects are among the biggest challenges for human resources teams.

Post-pandemic challenges have added a layer of complexity to the already challenging world of HR. For example, during the pandemic, HR teams were tasked with transitioning employees into remote working, ensuring frontline employees’ safety and compliance, addressing employee questions about COVID-19, and helping coworkers manage family, child care, and other personal obligations while at work.

In addition, HR pros may find it difficult to recognize their impact on the organization. It’s hard to quantify how much a successful open enrollment or a quarter without any retroactive payroll adjustments have improved the bottom line. However, the department’s efforts shouldn’t be ignored.

While every business is unique, a holistic approach to employee wellness can protect against burnout. Companies should promote a culture that encourages everyone, including HR staff, to practice healthy work-life balance and take regular breaks. They should also equip HR with the tools they need to do their jobs, such as accessible and intuitive software. This includes the ability to track and monitor their progress in meaningful ways—not just a simple tally of completed tasks or metrics.