So, HR Is Making You Miserable? HR Automation Can Help! 

Synopsis: HR are the bridge between companies and employees. As they strive to balance the human element with business goals—a delicate tightrope walk—heavy workloads and inefficient processes often leave little room for empathy and innovation. No wonder, as a New York Times story highlights, many HR professionals feel unappreciated and say the job is becoming increasingly stressful and frustrating. Read on to discover the benefits of HR automation and how it can help ease this distress!

As rewarding as the HR field can be, it is also challenging and demanding. Soaring hiring and retention costs, shifts from Covid-19 like remote and hybrid work, and phenomena such as the ‘Great Resignation’ and ‘Quiet Quitting’ have added new layers of complexity.  

Add to that ever-changing labor laws, a growing focus on employee well-being, and ethical considerations. Despite the challenges, functional and business goals must still be met. 

No doubt, there’s a lot to handle and deliver!  

Although 57% of surveyed HR leaders say they love what they do, 95% find HR overwhelming. A startling 84% regularly feel stressed, while 81% reported feeling burnt out.  

Source: The Sage Study 

Unpacking HR’s Role and Drawback of Legacy Systems 

Well, HR professionals wear many hats. They’re talent hunters, building a capable workforce, and attentive recordkeepers, making sure the staff clocks in and out on time. They’re also number-crunching headcount planners, signing off on paychecks. 

Furthermore, they don the roles of performance monitors, tracking employee KPIs and time off, and communications champions, keeping everyone informed. 

And, of course, they’re the custodians of company policies and procedures—the face of management, ensuring the workforce stays productive and compliant. 

But that’s not all.  

HR also turns into event planners for Fun Fridays, employee birthdays, and team-building activities. They create recognition and reward programs and, when needed, handle conflicts and grievances. 

Most importantly, they help shape employees’ careers through learning and development initiatives, all while creating a positive and motivating environment. 

HR professionals play three roles: storyteller, strategy interpreter, strategic facilitator. 

—Dave Ulrich, Author and Co-Founder of The RBL Group  

But can you imagine the sheer volume of data, paperwork, and processes involved in managing HR? Or the time, effort, and expertise required to keep everything running smoothly? 

Strikingly, traditional HR relies heavily on manual workflows for many tasks. Legacy systems and siloed processes add complexity and disconnection, leading to unwanted delays and errors (costs too!). 
 

And this also brings us to our key question: How is HR automation a pragmatic (and effective) solution?

What is HR Automation?
HR automation involves using software to handle mundane, repetitive, and time-sensitive tasks in human resources. With digital workflows and technology doing the heavy lifting, HR employees can prioritize their work and focus on more strategic tasks. Above all, they can break free from monotony and stress.

HR Automation: Supporting and Enabling HR Teams 

The HR department manages the entire employee lifecycle—from the moment they’re hired to the time they move on. Hence, far from just a cog in the wheel, HR teams are the fulcrum of a well-functioning workplaces, with their work spanning across all levels and departments.

As HR professionals, we’re champions of enabling others. But we must remember to empower effectively, we must empower ourselves.  

— Erick van Vulpen, Founder and Dean of AIHR

Typically, administrative duties and red tape procedures consume most of their time and energy. This often leads to what could be called ‘Zombie mode’—functioning, but dispirited.  

Notably, many of these processes are routine, repetitive, and rule-driven—making them ideal candidates for automation. Workflows and tasks across recruitment, onboarding, payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, employee engagement, performance management, and training and development can be automated with ease.  

More on how automation enables and assists HR staff next! 

Ways HR Automation Eases Work & Stress in Human Resources

AI and automation tools empower HR teams to focus on what truly matters.  Whether you’re an HR leader, team member, or organizational head, these insights will prove valuable. 

1. Automating HR Reduces Mundane, Load, and Stress  

Manual tasks like data entry, reconciliations, scheduling, and reporting are time-stealers that keep you tied up. With automated workflows, get more done in less time—and without the stress.  

How? 

• Tedious Tasks Gone: No more getting bogged down with boring and repetitive everyday tasks. Shed that ‘Zombie mode’.   

• Improved Accuracy: Fewer manual errors mean fewer headaches. High Accuracy means fewer reworks and faster task completion.  

• Peace of Mind: Concentrate on meaningful work which makes you feel more productive and efficient i.e. greater job satisfaction! 

2. Drive Superior HR Outcomes and Impact via Automation  

Automation optimizes core processes, driving better ROI across the board. This enables HR teams to deliver superior outcomes—faster and more effectively. 

How? 

• Faster Hiring Cycles: Automatic candidate screening and automated onboarding save days and weeks on selection and hiring.   

• Informed Decisions:  Data and predictive analytics provide actionable insights into workforce planning and productivity. Avoid staffing shortages and mitigate cost escalation risks. 

• Robust Compliance: Automated HR systems ensure accurate processes and up-to-date records, helping keep up with evolving regulations and facilitating audits. 

Contact us for custom-built HR automation solutions carefully crafted to help streamline your HR operations for greater efficiency and measurable outcomes!  Download our FREE guide, Automation, AI, and HR Teams for key insights and real use cases.  

3. Fulfil People-Centric Side of the Role  

Process-centric tasks, especially time-intensive admin work, often dominate HR’s daily routine. By automating workflows, HR can focus on people-centric activities, embracing the essence of their role and achieving greater job satisfaction.  

How? 

• Consistent Engagement: Allows more time for team building. Regular communication and personal touch uplift employee morale and promote cohesiveness and trust.  

• Support Career Growth: Redirect energy towards training and development activities. There are several administrative tasks associated with these programs that can be automated.  

• Employee Interactions: There’s more scope for face-to-face interactions, which helps handle employee grievances and conflicts with the attention they deserve. 

4. Avoid Burnout; Enjoy Better Work-Life Balance 

Multitasking, long hours, and constant deadlines can lead to burnout—HR professionals are humans too! By automating repetitive tasks, HR teams not only enhance productivity but also reclaim valuable time for personal growth, hobbies, and family. It’s a win-win!   

How? 

• Work Smarter, Not Harder: Automation handles repetitive tasks like payroll, benefits administration, and leave tracking. 

• Flexible Schedules: Streamlined workflows lead to better time management and allow HR to do what needs to be done first.  

• Improved Mental Health: Reduced stress levels mean a happier, healthier work environment. That also helps in the personal sphere! 

HR topped the list of functions with the highest turnover globally, with a rate of 15% over the last 12 months. The overall average was 11%, meaning HR’s turnover was over 35% higher than the average on a proportional basis.  

Source: 2022 LinkedIn Insights  

5. Focus on Strategic HR and Become More Valuable 

HR is increasingly taking on a more strategic role. Automation allows HR professionals to dedicate themselves to high-impact initiatives, positioning them as valuable assets that directly drive organizational growth.  

How? 

• Align HR with Business Goals: Drive initiatives that attract top talent and improve retention and engagement. Boost employer brand. 

• Change Management: Focus on transforming workplace culture and boosting productivity. It helps everyone align with the company’s evolution.  

• Increased Value: Drive growth as a trusted partner and advisor to leadership. 

The potential impact of technology and generative AI is enormous. We are in the messy beginnings, where we are tremendously excited about the efficiencies and impact this could have. And it will change the role. Over time, the administrative side will likely become easier or more automated. 

—Wendy Miller, Chief People Officer for North America, McKinsey | Source: Mckinsey.com 

Key Takeaway 

Technology is redefining the work environment. As the role of HR evolves and workplaces modernize, adaptation is essential—whether you’re an organization, HR leader, manager, or executive. Automation liberates HR from routine, time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on high-impact activities that deliver lasting value to organizations, employees, and themselves. And also achieve a better work-life balance!