Coaching service launches to support exhausted HR professionals

A new coaching service has launched to help support emotionally exhausted HR professionals amid a growing burnout crisis.

Specialist coaching has launched by HR consultant and coach Karen Robinson, of KR 4 HR and helps HR professionals who are facing burnout, emotional exhaustion and a loss of confidence.

While HR teams are expected to care for the wellbeing of everyone else, many are quietly struggling under the weight of increasing workloads, complex employee relations issues, organisational change, toxic workplace cultures and constant emotional pressure.

The result is burnout, anxiety, emotional exhaustion and talented HR professionals questioning whether they can continue in a career they once loved.

The launch comes as new research paints a worrying picture of the profession's wellbeing.

According to research by Evolving HR and Ultimate Resilience, the HR profession is facing unprecedented levels of psychological strain:

· More than 95% of HR professionals report struggling with stress and overwhelm.

· 90% say they feel lonely and isolated in their role.

· 75% have taken sickness absence in the last 12 months due to stress.

· 53% feel underappreciated by their organisation.

· 64% want to leave their current employer.

· 42% are considering leaving HR altogether.

· 74% report symptoms of anxiety and depression—around 2.5 times higher than the general population.

· 87% believe the support available to them is insufficient.

Karen (pictured) said: “HR professionals are expected to be resilient, impartial and endlessly supportive. They’re often the people everyone turns to during redundancies, disciplinary hearings, grievances, safeguarding concerns, workplace conflict and organisational crises. Yet when they’re struggling themselves, there’s rarely anyone looking after them.”

She added: “We’ve become incredibly good at talking about employee wellbeing, but we’ve forgotten about the people responsible for protecting everyone else’s wellbeing. HR professionals absorb the emotional impact of difficult conversations every single day, often without a safe space to process what they’re carrying. It’s no surprise that so many are exhausted.”

She added: “The question I hear repeatedly is, ‘Who supports HR?’ For too long, the answer has been ‘No one.’ My mission is to change that.”

The service is aimed at HR Advisors, HR Business Partners, HR Managers, Heads of HR and HR Directors across the UK who are feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained or simply need an independent, confidential space to think, reflect and grow.

Karen believes that organisations also have a responsibility to recognise the emotional demands placed on HR.

"If organisations genuinely want healthy workplaces, they must start by supporting the people who spend every day supporting everyone else. Looking after HR isn't a luxury, it's fundamental to building resilient organisations."