Marvin OnumonuHiBob has released the 2025 HR Health Check report, showing that HR teams are under greater pressure as their role grows.
63% of UK HR professionals said they are leading major workplace changes with shrinking teams, and the same percentage said they have to protect company culture while making decisions that could harm it.
59% reported higher emotional strain compared to last year.
Over half (53%) of senior HR professionals now report directly to the CEO, and 54% feel more empowered to advise or challenge the c-suite on people decisions.
88% said leadership sees HR as vital to the organisation’s success.
63% described HR as the business’s crisis hotline, expected to handle every problem.
61% said that by the time they have helped others with wellbeing, they have little energy left for themselves.
The most emotionally demanding parts of the job are supporting employee wellbeing and burnout (42%), managing constant change (40%), and balancing business and employee needs (36%).
58% of HR leaders expect to work with smaller teams in 2026, while 46% said burnout will be the biggest business risk.
10% work in teams of three or fewer, and 20% are in teams of four to six, though 90% manage others.
47% said improving productivity while managing wellbeing and burnout will be the top focus next year, followed by upskilling for business needs (40%) and using AI for efficiency and decision-making (38%).
Laura Fink, people and culture director at HiBob, said: “It’s been a tough year for HR – expectations are higher than ever, and teams are running lean.
“But we’re also seeing something powerful: HR finally getting the recognition it deserves at the top table. More leaders are turning to HR not just for people operations, but for direction on culture, trust, and performance.”
HR leaders said better technology and data tools (57%), clearer strategy (57%), and more time for long-term work (46%) would help them rebuild.
52% expect artificial intelligence (AI) to take over HR admin by 2026.
42% said HR budgets will grow in the next year.
Fink added: “The data shows how much we’re juggling, but it also highlights how much progress we’ve made.
“When HR has the right tools, clarity, and confidence to lead, we don’t just keep organisations running – we help them thrive.”
Data also showed that 65% of HR leaders believe flexibility and wellbeing will decide who wins the talent race in 2026.
62% said culture will be the biggest advantage, while 61% said trust will matter more than pay in keeping staff loyal.
