Breathe HR research suggests growing pressure on HR professionals is affecting both the day-to-day role and the resilience of the function. The survey of 501 UK HR professionals found that 27% say their job is harder than it was two years ago, while one in three (33%) are considering leaving the profession.
HR teams face growing complexity
The findings indicate that many HR professionals are carrying responsibility without matching authority or resource. Nearly two-thirds (63%) said they are held accountable for decisions they have limited authority or budget to control, and the same proportion said the amount of “people work” has grown without HR teams growing alongside it.
Almost seven in ten (69%) said work that falls between HR, legal, IT and operations is increasingly landing on HR teams.
“Organisations must also recognise HR as a strategic engine in the business, not a dumping ground for work that could or should be funnelled elsewhere. In order to carry out their jobs effectively, HRs need clear ownership, adequate resources and effective tools designed to meet their specific needs.”
Bharat Siyani, VP of People & Culture, Breathe HR
Why record-keeping matters
The research also points to potential compliance risks. More than half (51%) of respondents said most people decisions are made outside an HR system or formal record, while 42% said their organisation would struggle to evidence how a people decision was made if challenged at an employment tribunal.
Those results come as Employment Rights Act measures, including extended tribunal time limits and stronger harassment-prevention duties, take effect.
“To manage the increased complexity of HR in the wake of the ERA, teams should prioritise streamlining processes, automating repetitive admin, and tightening record-keeping using reliable digital systems to stay compliant.”
Research note: Censuswide surveyed 501 UK HR professionals aged 18+ between 8 and 14 September 2026. Breathe HR commissioned the research.
Lead image: Photo by Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels.
