HR burnout is at an all-time high, with leaders struggling to keep up with compliance, payroll, and admin work. For mid-sized businesses,HR outsourcing solutionsoffer a proven path to reduce workload, cut costs, and free up capacity for strategic initiatives. Here’s what CHROs need to know to move from burnout to business impact.
“I’m spending so much time putting out compliance fires that I can’t focus on our talent strategy.”
We hear this all the time from HR leaders.
And the data backs it up: According to the2025 Global Leadership Forecast, 71% of leaders report significantly higher stress since stepping into leadership roles—and nearly one in six is facing burnout. That’s not just a personal challenge. It’s an organizational risk.
At Corban OneSource, we believe burnout isn’t inevitable. It’s preventable. But first, we need to get honest about what’s really driving it.
For CHROs and their teams, burnout isn’t just about long hours. It’s about misaligned priorities.
Executives expect HR to deliver workforce strategy, retention plans, and culture initiatives. But most HR departments are consumed by tasks like:
- Managing multi-state payroll compliance
- Answering basic benefits questions
- Filing unemployment claims
- Reconciling insurance bills
- Tracking time-off and onboarding workflows
In fact,45% of businessesreport losing nearly a full workday each week to HR administrative tasks. That’s 8+ hours not spent on talent development, leadership training, or culture-building.
The Organizational Cost of Admin Overload
When your HR leaders are buried in busywork, you don’t just lose productivity—you lose momentum.
- Turnover increasesas employees feel unsupported
- Engagement dropswhen HR can’t focus on culture
- Leadership development stalls
- Top talent leavesdue to inconsistent employee experiences
The Shift: Outsource Admin, Reclaim Strategy
Smart HR leaders aren’t trying to do more—they’re doing less of the wrong work.
By outsourcing administrative functions like payroll, benefits administration, and compliance management, CHROs are freeing up hours (and headcount) to focus on what actually drives growth.
Here’s what we’ve seen firsthand at Corban:
- Mid-sized companies cut HR operating costs by 20–40% (source)
- Compliance violations decrease by 60% or more
- CHROs regain 10–15 hours per week for strategic initiatives
- Employee satisfaction rises with improved responsiveness and accuracy
What HR Functions Should You Outsource First?
- Payroll processing
- Benefits administration
- Regulatory compliance (FMLA, ACA, ERISA, ADA)
- Onboarding and time-off tracking
Done right, HR outsourcing doesn’t remove your HR function—it multiplies its impact.
The Takeaway: Strategic Capacity Is a Choice
Burnout is real. But it’s not inevitable.
If your HR team is stuck in reactive mode, there’s a better way forward. Outsourcing the right HR functions gives you back the time, clarity, and capacity to lead with purpose.
You don’t need more hours in the day. You need fewer distractions from the work that matters most.
Ready to Take HR Off Your Plate?
Corban OneSource helps growing organizations with 75–6,000 employees simplify HR through customized outsourcing solutions. From payroll to compliance, we handle the complexity—so your team can focus on strategy, not survival.
📞 Schedule a 15-minute consultwith our team to explore what you could reclaim by outsourcing.
👉Contact Us →
