The Hidden Pressures Facing HR Leaders & Senior Executives in 2025 — Insights from Across Ireland

Written By Rabia Mirza

A Deep Dive into the Real Challenges Facing HR and People Leaders Across Ireland

At Leadership & HR, we recently conducted a pulse survey with HR Directors, business owners, and C-suite leaders across Ireland to uncover the most pressing HR issues organisations are facing right now.

The volume of responses far exceeded expectations — a strong indication of just how urgent and complex the people challenges are in today’s working world. This blog explores the top concerns raised and provides practical insight for those navigating similar challenges.

The Top HR Concerns Organisations Are Facing

When asked to identify their most critical HR pain points, three themes emerged consistently:

  • Retention of high-performing employees

  • Lack of a clear and consistent HR structure

  • Performance or behavioural issues, across both managers and employees

These are not isolated issues. They are surfacing at every level of the organisation, impacting both day-to-day operations and longer-term strategic planning.

Why Are Employees Really Leaving?

The survey also explored what is driving employee turnover. Responses revealed a recurring pattern:

  • Limited career progression opportunities

  • Uncompetitive salary and benefits

  • Lack of formal HR systems and processes

  • Managers lacking people leadership skills

This signals a broader issue: a misalignment between what employees expect and what organisations are currently equipped to deliver.

How Forward-Thinking Organisations Are Responding

While the challenges are significant, many organisations are beginning to take proactive steps. Among the most common initiatives:

  • Leadership development and executive coaching

  • Enhanced wellbeing and mental health support

  • Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

  • Career development programmes

These are encouraging signs, but without a broader, long-term people strategy, such initiatives risk being reactive rather than transformative.

Turnover Drivers: The Push and Pull Factors

Voluntary turnover is being driven by a mix of internal frustrations and external opportunities. The most cited reasons for leaving include:

  • Higher pay elsewhere

  • Lack of advancement or development opportunities

  • Poor workplace relationships

  • Role misalignment or unclear expectations

In short, retention is about far more than compensation. It is about clarity, connection, and career progression.

Performance Challenges: Where It Breaks Down

When performance issues arise, respondents pointed to specific problem areas:

  • Missed deadlines and deliverables

  • Low accountability across teams

  • Difficulty following instructions

  • Inability to meet role expectations

Without a structured performance management approach, these issues can persist — and spread — across teams.

Where HR Needs More Structure

Survey participants consistently highlighted the following areas where more robust HR frameworks are needed:

  • Performance management

  • Recruitment and selection processes

  • Contracts, compliance, and documentation

  • Offboarding and exit strategies

A strong HR infrastructure is not just administrative. It is the backbone of sustainable growth and leadership credibility.

Diversity & Inclusion: Progress, But Gaps Remain

While many organisations are supporting gender and cultural diversity, most respondents admitted they still lack a formal D&I strategy.
A meaningful approach to inclusion must go beyond token policies — it should be embedded in leadership behaviour, strategy, and culture.

Final Thoughts

This survey provides a powerful snapshot of where HR leaders and business owners are today: under pressure, seeking answers, and ready for change.

The key themes — retention, structure, and leadership capability — should be at the centre of every organisation’s people strategy in 2025 and beyond.

At Leadership & HR, we work closely with senior leaders to help resolve root causes, retain top performers, and elevate internal credibility, all without stepping on toes.

📩 If your organisation is facing similar challenges, feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to share insights or explore ways to support your team.


#HRLeadership #EmployeeRetention #PeopleStrategy #DiversityAndInclusion #IrishBusiness #OrganisationalDevelopment

Rabia Mirza
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