According to a recent report from the CIPD entitled The People Profession in 2018: UK and Ireland - HR professionals are happy and fulfilled in their work.

Almost 1,000 HR, L&D and OD professionals across the UK and Ireland were surveyed to assess the current state of the profession.  It found that 70% of respondents said their work makes them happy and 67% felt energised. Most of those working in this area feel confident exercising their judgment and 64% are of the opinion that their job gives them the opportunity to fully express themselves as a professional, giving them a sense of purpose and a meaningful career.

Over two-fifths of respondents said they regularly challenged the purpose of the jobs they were asked to carry out and felt they could propose alternatives. They based their decisions on a several factors - with 76% citing personal experience, 55% organisational data and 49% intuition.

But the research does draw attention to the fact that there is room for improvement. The professionals could be more confident in showing courage and challenging unethical practices – 28% feel there is a controversy between their professional judgment and what is expected of them, resulting in a compromise of their ethical values. Nearly a third of the respondents stated that managers in their organisation often participate in behaviour that they consider to be unethical.

The report also showed that it was important to possess the right skills, with 38% saying they could cope with more challenging duties but with16% thinking they lacked the skills required for their current role – with this increasing to 22% among those with less than six years’ experience.

Research advisor at the CIPD - Louisa Baczor - stated:

“A career in the people profession is about working with people, bringing them into the right jobs and helping them reach their potential at work. But it’s also about applying expertise in people, work and change to ensure that work is a force for good for everyone. It’s great to see so many people professionals experiencing meaning in their work and feeling confident to stand up for what they believe in. The future of the profession is exciting and will require capabilities in managing new organisational models, the supply of skills, the shaping of jobs and improving people management and organisational cultures. But the skills mismatches and ethical conflicts highlighted by the survey show that there’s no room for complacency. Continuing professional development is the key to keeping our own skills current, so we can innovate and adapt as professionals, and champion better work and working lives in all that we do.”

CIPD Chief Executive - Peter Cheese - said:

“The role of HR is becoming increasingly vital as the world of work evolves and organisations and people need to adapt. People professionals have the opportunity to shape these developments by bringing their unique insight, skills and practice to create a future of work where organisations, their people, and the communities they’re part of can all thrive. Having confidence in our own professional judgment is crucial to making better decisions in the workplace. Even though it might challenge some of the norms or expectations, having the self-assurance with knowledge, insights and evidence, to make good and fair judgments is key to helping our profession build trust and credibility, and help us stay at the fore of business development and change.”