HR Absenteeism is Climbing – Is Burnout a Warning Sign We’re Ignoring?

Burnout and absenteeism is on the rise across UK industries, but surprisingly, it’s HR professionals who are clocking the highest rates.

Recent data from Employment Hero, based on anonymised records from over 105,000 employees between 2020 and 2025, shows that HR and accounting staff have the highest absence rates of any sector. And younger professionals appear to be struggling the most, with absence levels suggesting signs of burnout and disengagement.

When the teams responsible for employee wellbeing are the ones most affected, something’s not working. It’s a signal that shouldn’t be ignored.

The Warning Signs Behind the Stat

Absenteeism isn’t just about time off; it can be an early indicator that something’s not quite working beneath the surface. When absence rates start climbing in HR, it’s rarely random. Often, it reflects broader issues with workload, wellbeing, or team culture. And while it can be easy to treat each case as a one-off, recurring patterns usually suggest something more embedded.

In fact, a 2025 report by Personio found that 38% of HR professionals reported being overwhelmed by excessive workloads, and 41% say they spend most of their time on administrative tasks. When HR is bogged down with reactive, manual work, burnout becomes almost inevitable.

Here are a few common causes of HR absenteeism that may point to underlying challenges:

• Lack of internal support: HR teams are expected to support everyone else, but often have limited space to prioritise their own wellbeing.
• Burnout: A constant cycle of reactive tasks, tight deadlines, and emotional labour with little time to recover.
• Poor communication and unclear expectations: Particularly common among junior or early-career professionals.
• Toxic or dismissive work culture: Including micromanagement, exclusion, or a lack of psychological safety.
• Unrealistic pressure to always “be available”: Especially in hybrid or remote environments where boundaries are harder to maintain.

The Hidden Cost of HR Burnout

When HR teams are overworked, disengaged or frequently absent, the ripple effects go far beyond the department. The business consequences can be serious – and expensive.

And it’s more widespread than you might think: over half (52%) of UK HR professionals report experiencing burnout in the last five years, and a third (34%) have considered leaving the profession entirely.

Here’s what’s at risk:

• Delayed hiring and onboarding: Unfilled roles lead to team strain elsewhere.
• Compliance gaps: Missed policy checks or deadlines.
• Drop in overall employee morale: A burnt-out HR team can’t nurture a healthy workplace culture.
• Higher staff turnover: If HR can’t support others properly, retention suffers.
• Lost productivity and continuity: HR burnout slows down business momentum.

So What Can Be Done – and How Can HR Tech Help?

Tackling absenteeism in HR means addressing its root causes, from burnout to unclear expectations. That starts with protecting HR professionals in the same way they protect everyone else. The good news? With the right combination of strategic action and smart technology, it’s possible to ease the pressure and rebuild a more resilient HR function.

Research shows that 77% of HR professionals believe automation and AI will help ease their workloads, and more than half (56%) of HR leaders say they need more technology to operate effectively. Smart software takes the strain off admin so HR teams can focus on strategy, people, and impact.

Here’s how strategic action, the right tools, and trusted software can work together to support your HR function more effectively:

Strategy	How HR Tech Can Help	Software to Explore
Regularly audit workloads and capacity	Use workforce planning, analytics, and reporting tools to monitor capacity, track absence trends, and forecast needs	Workday, Cezanne HR
Provide wellbeing initiatives designed for HR	Built-in engagement and wellbeing tracking tools help flag burnout risks and promote a healthier workplace	HiBob, Fifteen5
Create peer support or mentorship for early-career professionals	Some platforms offer engagement features and employee directories that support community-building and mentorship	Lattice, HiBob
Automate manual tasks to reduce admin fatigue	Automates tasks like onboarding, leave requests, payroll, and compliance workflows	Deel, Rippling, BambooHR
Encourage flexible working where possible	Self-service portals and absence management tools support autonomy and more flexible ways of working	Employment Hero, IRIS Cascade

High HR absenteeism isn’t just a problem – it’s a message. When HR teams are supported by the right systems and the right software, they’re more empowered to do the work that really matters: caring for people, shaping culture, and driving sustainable performance.

If you’d like help finding HR software tailored to your needs, take our quick quiz to get matched with tools that fit your organisation best.

All facts mentioned are sourced from Personio.