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The HR Breakdown: Dr Jo Burrell on Why the Function That Fixes Everything Is Falling Apart

HR isn’t “a bit stressed.” HR isn’t “managing fine.” HR isn’t “designed to be everyone’s emotional shock absorber.”
The latest data finally confirms what every HR human already knows in their bones:

The profession responsible for everyone else’s wellbeing is quietly falling apart.

In this raw, unfiltered, data-driven conversation, we sit down with Dr Jo Burrell — Clinical Psychologist, co-founder of Ultimate Resilience, and one of HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinkers 2025 — to unpack her groundbreaking findings on HR mental wellbeing… and the systemic failures that put HR professionals at clinical levels of depression, anxiety, burnout, and moral injury.

Jo walks us through the research, the human cost, and the emotional labour nobody sees.
Then she introduces an actual solution: HR Supervision — the psychologically informed support model used in clinical professions that could finally make HR sustainable.

If you work in HR, lead HR, or have ever forwarded a problem with the phrase “Can HR just handle this?”, this episode is your reality check.

In This Episode

• The shocking stats from Jo’s HR Mental Wellbeing Report
• Why HR is experiencing clinical distress levels
• The moral injury of delivering decisions you didn’t make
• HR as the organisational “junk drawer”
• Why employees blame HR instead of the actual decision-makers
• The parentified-child → HR professional pipeline
• Why self-care is not — and never will be — the solution
• What HR Supervision is and why it matters
• How to build a psychologically safe workplace when HR is drowning

Dr Jo Burrell on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-burrell-04901a96/

2025 HR Mental Wellbeing Survey Report (Free Download):

📄 Full Show Notes

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If this episode made you feel seen, vindicated, or slightly ragey in a productive way, send it to another HR human who needs it.
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🐘Marion Anderson

🐘Danny Gluch

🐘Cacha Dora

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🎙️ About the Show

The Elephant in the Org drops new episodes every two weeks starting April 2024.
Get ready for even more fearless conversations about leadership, psychological safety, and the future of work.

🎵 Music & Production Credits

🎶 Opening and closing theme music by The Toros
🎙️ Produced by The Fearless PX
✂️ Edited by Marion Anderson

⚠️ Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect any affiliated organizations' official policy or position.