HR

There’s growing pressure in HR – and it’s not easing any time soon. 64% of HR professionals say they’re experiencing near-constant stress. Budgets are tight. Workloads keep growing. And the pace of change is relentless – legislative, cultural, technological. The HR function is stretched, often seen as a cost centre rather than a strategic driver, and yet still expected to hold the organisation together.

That reality came through clearly at a recent We Do Group event, where our CEO Sally joined a room full of passionate HR leaders to talk about change, culture and communication – and how the pressure on HR is rising, even as expectations grow.

We know that HR can rise to the challenge – with communication as a strong and strategic ally.

Change is happening – whether you’re ready or not

Change is already happening – the question is whether it’s happening to you or with you. And whether it’s planned or reactive, it always ends up at HR’s door.

Right now, leaders are being asked to guide people through uncharted territory – AI, instability, uncertainty. That calls for a different kind of leadership. Not just confident decision-makers, but emotionally intelligent, authentic ones. HR has a powerful role to play in helping those leaders listen better, connect more deeply, and create the safety their people need. But HR can’t do it alone.

That’s where communication comes in – as an expert partner in guiding people through change. While the destination might stay the same, how we get there will keep shifting. Comms helps teams stay connected to the golden thread of purpose and values along the way.

Done well, communication can unite rather than divide. It can shape trust, bring clarity and give people something solid to hold onto, even when the path is uncertain.

Repositioning HR: From compliance to culture

HR needs a rebrand. It’s still too often positioned as a back-office function – focused on policy, compliance and admin. But HR is culture and separating the two no longer makes sense. Every day, we see HR teams being asked to drive culture – to lead on engagement, inclusion, wellbeing and values – without always being given the recognition, resource or influence that should come with it.

If we’re serious about people and culture being a business priority, we have to start treating it like one. That means:

• Stop reporting on outputs. Start talking about impact.
• Don’t just ask for budget – show the cost of not investing in people and culture.
• Use storytelling to land what data alone can’t.
• Move the conversation on from hybrid vs office – and focus instead on proximity, connection and leadership that truly listens.

It also means tightening the loop between HR and internal comms. Because how you say things can be just as important as what you say – especially in moments of change.

People are listening – even when you think they’re not

In a hyper-connected world, everything you say internally can and will be seen externally. Employees are customers. Suppliers are stakeholders. Very few messages stay internal these days and that makes transparency non-negotiable.

If you only communicate when things are going well, you’ll lose trust when things aren’t. Hard news doesn’t damage trust – poor communication does. When it’s time for tough decisions like redundancy during difficult economic times, your people should have already been on the journey to understand the context, not hear it for the first time on the day of an announcement.

It’s much easier to get a message right the first time than to try and rebuild trust after it’s broken.

What HR needs now

The HR function looks different in every business – but the pressure is felt everywhere. Whether you’re flying the flag for culture in the boardroom or delivering the tactical day-to-day, you deserve better tools, stronger influence and genuine partnership.

Change is happening either to you or with you. The difference often comes down to whether comms is working with HR – or working in parallel.

At Something Big, we understand HR. We know the pressure you’re under – and the passion and potential that drives you. We’re here to support you with communication that’s commercially minded, consistent and comprehensive, right when you need it most. Let’s talk about your people and culture challenges – and how we can tackle them together.

If you work in HR and you’re looking for insight, connection and fresh thinking, you’re not alone. Our Work Wonders community is built for people like you – passionate about people and culture, and ready to share ideas, challenges and support. Join us and be part of a growing network of HR and comms professionals making change happen.