HR managers are ‘the unsung heroes of the office’

unsung-hero.jpg

The role played by HR managers during the pandemic has highlighted how many of them are the unsung heroes of the office, say executive recruiters Walmsley Wilkinson.

Feedback gathered from a range of their clients across various sectors provides a picture of HR departments becoming inundated with tasks and requests from within their businesses.

Taryn Wilkinson, director at Walmsley Wilkinson, said: “Never before have the diverse skills and roles of the HR-People departments become so well respected. The pandemic has stretched them to deal with a range and scale of issues never previously encountered. Leadership teams and the rest of the workforce have relied upon HR to provide the insights and solutions during these unprecedented times.

“They have been presented with many different challenges including mental health and wellbeing, employee engagement and support, furlough, organisational change and restructure, leadership and strategic challenges and the need for HR data in order to make meaningful business decisions, much of which has required immediate action.

“Whilst providing this ‘above and beyond’ support, they have still had to deal with their general HR duties, coupled with also trying to help keep themselves and their own HR departments productive, motivated, engaged and connected at the same time.”

Taryn added: “Providing proactive and reactive HR solutions and services will continue to be demanding into the future, and while some aspects of their roles are more visible than others, they are in many ways the unsung heroes of many organisations. Only now has their real value been seen and understood.

“Thankfully many have had some support in the form of HR software and information systems. These tools can release them from some of the more routine processes by offering employee self-service and providing real-time information for the business. However, let’s not underestimate the hard work, resilience and talent of our HR professionals and the value that they have added during the pandemic.”

Latest data from HR management company e-days shows there was a 70 per cent increase in stress-related leave in HR alone, with the sector ranking third on the list of those suffering most.

Walmsley Wilkinson offers a professional partnership across all executive, management and specialist recruitment needs for all types of organisations in the private and public sector including Private Equity-owned businesses, large corporates and SMEs. 

The company’s services extend across sectors including building technologies, advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, health and social care, professional services and FMCG / distribution.

www.walmsleywilkinson.com

Enjoyed this? Read more from Walmsley Wilkinson Executive Recruitment

Latest news

1

Loom Loft partners with Clicky to support digital growth Boyd Hargreaves and Loom Loft

Loom Loft partners with Clicky to support digital growth

28 Apr 2026

2

Breck reveals £380m development pipeline Bourne Road

Breck reveals £380m development pipeline

27 Apr 2026

3

ICT Reverse hits record £11.8m turnover Sophie Gray ICT Reverse

ICT Reverse hits record £11.8m turnover

27 Apr 2026

4

Royal return for Open Championship to Lancashire Mens Open

Royal return for Open Championship to Lancashire

27 Apr 2026

5

Crowds turn out as Darwen’s state-of-the-art Youth Zone opens in style Darwen Youth Zone launch

Crowds turn out as Darwen’s state-of-the-art Youth Zone opens in style

24 Apr 2026

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements
Sub36 Outdoor Elements Logo1920x1008
Networking
29 Apr 2026

Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements

Outdoor Elements, Pump House Dean Wood, Trapp Lane, Burnley, BB12 7JD

09:00 - 11:00

LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event
Canva - Mag Launch
Networking
19 May 2026

LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event

Colne Market Hall, Lancashire, BB8 0HS

08:30 - 10:30

Funding Summit
Funding Logo Canva Mid
Summit
17 Jun 2026 - 17 Jun 2026

Funding Summit

Village Hotel Blackpool

08:30 - 11:00

Dazzle & Decadence
Dazzle & Decadence TryBooking Header.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
30 Apr 2026

Dazzle & Decadence

Ainsworth Jewellers, 57-59 Darwen St, Blackburn, BB2 2BW

18:00 - 20:00

Manufacturing for Tomorrow Club
Example.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2026

Manufacturing for Tomorrow Club

University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 11:30

Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026
Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026
LBV Hub Social
01 May 2026

Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026

BB1 8NB

17:00 - 23:00

Society1 Open Coworking Day
LBV Hub Networking
06 May 2026 - 06 May 2026

Society1 Open Coworking Day

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 16:00

The AI Lab: E-commerce
LBV Hub Seminars
08 May 2026 - 08 May 2026

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Emergency First Aid at Work
LBV Hub Seminars
08 May 2026 - 08 May 2026

Emergency First Aid at Work

FGH Training, 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Fire Warden Training
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
11 May 2026 - 11 May 2026

Fire Warden Training

Bell Lancaster, Cleveley House Farm, Miller Brow, , Forton, PR3 1DR

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
14 May 2026 - 14 May 2026

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Longridge House, Preston, PR3 2TB

11:30 - 14:15

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026
Spark 2026 newsletter v3-5 (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
18 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026

University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

10:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin