Salary dissatisfaction, lack of appreciation and poor work-life balance are the biggest frustrations in corporate America, according to the nation’s human resources experts.
A new survey of 1,000 HR professionals reveals the biggest challenges facing the workforce today, as well as the problems HR problem solvers are feeling in their departments.
29 percent of respondents said low pay was the most common reason for employee dissatisfaction with their company, followed by lack of appreciation (26%), lack of work-life balance (25%) and dissatisfaction with benefits (23%).
According to the survey, the most common issues facing HR departments are related to poor communication (44%), rule violations (40%), toxic negativity (38%), and gossip (37%).
Training and upskilling talent (39%) and finding the right talent (36%) top the list of HR challenges. Meanwhile, 31% of HR professionals frequently deal with workplace etiquette issues, and 20% frequently mediate romance-related disputes.
The report, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by iSolved for HR Professional Day on September 26, also found that only 9% of HR professionals complete their to-do list each day.
Nearly half (42%) of respondents work in off-hours, while 28% feel overwhelmed by their workload, estimating they would need to outsource 31% of their tasks to manage effectively.
To mitigate this, more than three-quarters of HR professionals surveyed (77%) said it is important that they are trained to use AI (artificial intelligence) in their jobs.
Of those whose companies have already adopted AI, 81% said it is being used in their HR department's workflow. And on average, 34% of HR tasks are handled by AI.
Seeing how it frees up space for other important matters, eight in 10 (81%) of people who use AI to streamline and automate everyday tasks reported an increased efficiency of interpersonal relationships.
“In the ever-evolving landscape of HR, efficiency is key,” said Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer at iSolved. “It's imperative that HR leaders advocate on behalf of their departments for advanced tools and resources that empower HR professionals to truly support workers. This study has shown that HR roles are incredibly challenging, especially when it comes to resolving interpersonal issues. Providing HR departments with better tools and resources will allow them to be fully present so they can better handle sensitive challenges.”
The stories from the survey revealed some of the problems America looks to HR to solve and these range from the expected to the sad and the downright bizarre. In fact, 41% of HR professionals surveyed said that many of the interpersonal issues they are tasked with solving are ones that would shock the average person.
One respondent reported having to put a stop to his colleague’s strange rituals in the office, while there were several cases where employees brought unconventional pets, such as snakes or large reptiles, into the office without prior permission.
Other paranormal events included stalking incidents, dealing with an interviewee's angry mother, and reports of ghosts being possessed in the workplace, which led to requests for an exorcism at the office.
Given these challenges, 30% of HR professionals feel mentally exhausted, 24% are burnt out, and 34% are considering a career change.
“The adoption of AI advancements and better resources can reduce pressure on an already stressed HR department, leading to improved productivity and happiness within companies,” Mosher said.
Finally, when asked what they want the rest of corporate America to know about HR professionals, 57% said they simply want everyone to know that “we're human too. We have feelings and we have tough days at work, just like everyone else.”
The Biggest Frustrations of Corporate America
- Dissatisfaction with salary 29%
- Lack of appreciation 26%
- Poor work-life balance 25%
- Lack of career advancement opportunities 24%
- Dissatisfaction with benefits 23%
- Lack of support from leaders 19%
- Low morale 17%
- Dissatisfaction with paid leave 17%
- Lack of support from managers 16%
- Unrealistic expectations from customers 16%
- Staying profitable in a competitive industry 16%
- Lack of transparency in leadership 15%
- Lack of communication at work 15%
- Failure to evolve as workplaces by adopting new ideas and systems 14%
- Bad values/culture 10%
Survey Methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 U.S. HR professionals; the survey was conducted by iSolved and administered online by Talker Research between July 26 and August 6, 2024.
