‘Extreme stress’: HR professionals pushed to the brink of quitting

Almost three in four (73 per cent) HR practitioners contemplated leaving their roles due to “extreme stress”, findings have revealed.

Research unveiled that nearly three in four (74 per cent) HR practitioners reported that their role has become “less about employee wellbeing” and “more about cost management” in the past 12 months, pushing 73 per cent of respondents to consider leaving their role to escape the stress.

In its report, Who Guards the Guards, HiBob collected survey responses from 519 Australian senior HR professionals in October 2025 and uncovered these revelations while exploring the reasons why HR professionals are facing increasing wellbeing concerns.

Impacts on mental health

Its findings also revealed that more than three in four (76 per cent) respondents reported “struggling with extreme levels of stress and declining mental health” because of their work, while 59 per cent said their job has become “much more difficult” because of this stress.

Eighty-one per cent of HR professionals struggled to find a balance between achieving executives’ financial goals and positive employee wellbeing outcomes, it said.

Further, 72 per cent of HR professionals are dealing with declining employee morale, the report found, with three in four (75 per cent) reporting having to “absorb the emotional stress of employees”, without support over the past 12 months.

Failure to disconnect

Despite a legislated right to disconnect, nearly three in four (72 per cent) respondents said they always felt “on call” during their personal hours. An additional 72 per cent of HR professionals report feeling “lonelier” in the past 12 months due to the stress they face at work.

HiBob customer success director Kaitlyn Hannan said the categorical changes made to HR are leading them to suffer a “major mental health crisis”, while expected to support employees.

She said this potential “mass exodus” needs to be addressed as soon as possible, as this turnover can “fundamentally fold their structure”.

Hannan stressed that HR professionals need “tangible resources” and “executive support” to manage their wellbeing amid workplace pressure.

“Executives need to ensure HR professionals can strike the balance they’re promised, equal parts human and resources,” she said.