The work of people professionals has unique and difficult challenges such as managing conflict, undertaking redundancy and restructuring. People professionals are often the ‘face’ of such activities or programmes, even if they are not the decision makers. HR work may also involve advising on or supporting employees through difficult emotional or personal situations such as health issues or bereavement. It often requires people professionals to carefully balance the complex (and sometimes conflicting) needs of stakeholders, employees, organisations and people managers. Such work can be highly demanding, especially emotionally.  

Although HR is often seen as playing an important role in ensuring the wellbeing of employees within an organisation, the complexity and demands of the HR role requires people professionals to also take care of their own mental health.  

This guide provides information on how to manage your own wellbeing when working in HR.

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Mental health and burnout

What influences our wellbeing and mental health?

There are a range of individual and organisational factors that can influence wellbeing and mental health in all roles, not just HR. Individual factors include personality, housing, family or relationship issues and lifestyle. Organisational factors such as job design, job demands, workplace relationships, working hours, level of autonomy and organisational culture have also all been found to influence employee health and wellbeing.

The importance of self-care

Key to personal wellbeing and good mental health is self-care. Self-care is the deliberate practice of looking after your own physical, emotional and mental health, so that you can be healthy and live and work effectively. Self-care is any activity that that can help you to be at your best – and includes small changes to daily routines. Physical and mental health are closely related and so self-care can often have an impact on both.

Prevention: Supporting positive mental health and avoiding risk in HR work

In addition to self-care activities and those fundamental elements of good health, there are other steps that people professionals can take to ensure that they are prioritising their mental health, as well as reducing their risk of stress and burnout.

Dealing with difficult HR situations

Within HR work, there will inevitably be times when people professionals may find themselves managing difficult situations or programmes of work. This could include change programmes such as restructuring, hearing grievances, or dealing with bullying and harassment.

Top tips for HR wellbeing and mental health

Additional resources

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