Sage: Workload is increasing for HR leaders, but 98% still enjoy their job

Working in HR is getting harder, according to a global report from Sage, which shared that HR leaders are more stressed and burnt out than they were this time last year. 

The report, titled ‘The Changing Face of HR’, used a pool of more than 1,000 HR leaders from a range of different sectors across the globe. In doing so, it found the top three factors keeping HR executives up at night: the amount of work (80%), employee morale and burnout (79%), and limited budgets (79%).

What’s more, 80% of respondents believe that the role of HR leaders will be drastically impacted by AI, with 77% expressing they expect it to revolutionize ways of working within their business. 

But the rise in AI is likely to cause an increase in work, with 71% of respondents stating AI will create more jobs, and with 91% seeing an increase in current responsibilities in their role.

In today’s HR landscape, AI has emerged as a beacon of hope for HR leaders, offering solutions to challenges such as declining staff morale, excessive workloads leading to widespread burnout, and tight financial constraints. Ultimately, it’s providing a pathway toward cultivating a more productive and engaged workforce,” says Amanda Cusdin, Chief People Officer at Sage. 

“There is a school of thought that suggests AI will drastically decrease the number of jobs available. However, this new Sage research finds that HR professionals feel the opposite, with almost three-quarters believing that the implementation of AI in HR tasks will create more employment opportunities.”

Cusdin continues to explain that HR leaders recognize that AI can free up critical time to focus on key goals, such as employee engagement and talent development by automating repetitive chores and optimizing processes.

Organizations can, therefore, be empowered by AI-driven insights, to assist leaders when making better informed decisions.

Businesses must not overlook AI and automation

The study also found a clear gap between small businesses (57%) and medium businesses (80%) in terms of automation levels, which suggests that smaller businesses should prioritize investing in HR technology – particularly to keep up with competitors.

Otherwise, Cusdin says that smaller firms may “miss out” on realizing the potential of automation due to limited funds and technical skills. Larger businesses, on the other hand, are more likely to possess the resources to adopt sophisticated AI solutions. 

“HR leaders also understand that while AI has the potential to be revolutionary, employees need to be properly trained and educated in order to fully capitalize on its capabilities,” Cusdin adds.

Investing in upskilling and training efforts will guarantee that organizations stay competitive in an increasingly digital landscape, while also providing HR professionals with the necessary expertise to utilize AI solutions.”

Despite the challenges that HR leaders are facing – including rising work levels and increased stress and burnout – 98% still enjoy their job. A further 97% express that they believe that HR brings a lot to the company, and making them excited about its future.

Concluding, Cusdin identifies that although AI will create a clear shift in the way HR operations are approached, it offers a viable way to deal with common issues including workload, morale, burnout, and financial limitations.