Two in three HR professionals in the United Kingdom are planning to leave their current jobs this year, driven strongly by their desire to gain new knowledge and earn more, according to a new report.
Findings from Ciphr’s poll among 300 HR professionals in the UK have revealed that only 35% are planning to stay with their current employer this year.
A bigger 65% are expecting to leave their organisation, with a third of them saying they want to gain new knowledge and skills.
Nearly a quarter (24%) also said they want a higher salary, according to the report.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to grow in their role and gain new knowledge and skillsets to help them reach their potential, and improve their HR capability in the longer term,” said Claire Hawes, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, in a statement.
“Otherwise, who can blame them for considering going to work for another company that will respect and value their vital role?”
Meanwhile, other reasons why HR professionals want to leave their roles include:
- They want a more rewarding / fulfilling job (20%)
- To improve their work-life balance (19%)
- They want a better choice of / more employee benefits (16%)
- They want a less stressful job or more manageable workload (15%)
- They want more job security (15%)
- To reduce their working hours (14%)
- It’s just time to move on (13%)
- Lack of good / effective leadership at their current organisation (13%)
Warning sign for employers
Ciphr’s poll comes with a warning to employers about the broader implications of their HR teams’ exits for their business.
“If people in your HR team are feeling overlooked because they don’t have clearly defined training and development routes. Or maybe they don’t feel adequately rewarded for the skills and experience that they bring, then it’s very likely that other employees in the business are feeling exactly the same way too,” Hawes said.
“And, if you’re not doing what you can to meet their needs and priorities, another organisation will.”
She recognised that not all employers may be able to offer vertical career progression, especially for smaller HR teams.
“But employers must prioritise training and upskilling, and give people the time they need to focus on their own development,” she said.
“Structuring teams in a way that enables cross-specialist learning, secondments to other departments, or more involvement in wider business projects can all be valuable in helping HR professionals gain more commercial awareness and a broader understanding of the organisation.”
Source – https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/benefits/why-uk-hr-leaders-want-to-change-jobs/550549