Supporting employees is what HR professionals most like about their jobs
Supporting employees, helping to grow the business, and improving workplace productivity are the top three reasons why people in HR most like their jobs, according to a new poll by HR software and eLearning content provider Ciphr.
Supporting employees has been named as the top reason for why people like working in HR, according to new research by HR software and eLearning content provider Ciphr.
Half (50%) of the 300 people professionals polled agreed that supporting employees was a key element in enjoying their jobs, while a further 47% cited hiring new employees and growing the business as their favourite aspect.
Helping to improve workplace productivity and efficiency, and working with nice colleagues, are also important factors for two-fifths of respondents (selected by 40% and 39% respectively).
Other popular aspects of the job are those that prioritise making work better, like supporting good employment practices and ensuring legal compliance (37%), solving problems (36%), and helping to create a good working culture (34%).
Ciphr’s findings suggest that most HR professionals enjoy the important work they do. When asked to share which aspects, if any, they liked most about working in HR, only one person opted for ‘none’. While some parts of the role may be more enjoyable than others, 90% of respondents could name three or more favourite things about their job (on average, they picked six).
For around a third of those surveyed, what they like most is the sense of achievement and job satisfaction that their work provides (35%), as well as a good work-life balance (33%). A similar number (32%) enjoy knowing that their work contributes to business success.
The top 10 reasons why people in HR most like their jobs:
- Supporting / helping employees: 50% of HR professionals surveyed
- Hiring new employees / growing the business: 47%
- Helping to improve workplace productivity / efficiency: 40%
- The people they work with: 39%
- Supporting good employment practices / ensuring legal compliance: 37%
- Solving problems: 36%
- It gives them job satisfaction / sense of achievement: 35%
- Helping to create a positive and inclusive working culture: 34%
- Good work-life balance: 33%
- Supporting business success: 32%
The full results are available at: https://www.ciphr.com/press-releases/supporting-employees-is-what-hr-professionals-most-like-about-their-jobs
Claire Williams, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, comments: “I truly believe that company performance is a direct reflection of its peoples’ performance. You can have the best strategy, products, or technology but without engaged, high-performing people, success is never sustainable. And HR sits at the heart of this shaping cultures, enabling leadership, and driving the right talent strategies to unlock potential.
“What has always excited me is the unique position that HR holds in organisations. They have a front-row seat to seeing the tangible impact of influencing and supporting people to perform at their best. Whether it’s developing leaders, improving employee engagement, or driving strategic workforce planning, every initiative has a direct link to business outcomes.
“HR isn’t just about policies and processes. It’s about unlocking human potential to drive lasting business success, and that’s why I love it.”
Ciphr’s director of people, Karen Lough, adds: “With my background in learning and development (L&D), it’s the real impact we can make on people’s work lives and long-term growth that I love. There’s something incredibly powerful about how a single learning moment, a new skill, or a well-timed coaching conversation can shift someone’s perspective, boost their confidence, or even change the trajectory of their career.
“Knowing that what I do can help someone feel more capable, inspired, or supported in their role is what drives me every day. It has nothing to do with training or ticking boxes it’s about empowering people, unlocking potential, and making work a more fulfilling place to be. Whether it’s helping someone navigate a challenge, grow into a new role, or simply feel heard and valued, those small moments add up to something big. For me, that’s the most rewarding part of working in HR and L&D.”
To discover what the rest of the Ciphr people team enjoy most about working in HR and L&D, please visit https://www.ciphr.com/infographics/top-10-reasons-why-people-like-working-in-hr.
Ciphr is the go-to HR and payroll software and solutions partner for medium and large organisations in the UK. Its integrated HR, payroll, benefits, learning and recruitment software, services and content provide invaluable insights to HR teams, helping to inform their people strategy and grow and develop their organisations. Based in Reading, Ciphr is on a mission to amplify the voice and value of HR through intelligent people data solutions that help HR be heard in the boardroom and across the business.
For more information, please visit www.ciphr.com.