The many hats I wear: A day in the life of HR

One question I get asked from time to time is: “What does HR actually do all day?”

The official answer is Human Resources (HR).

The realistic answer? Recruiter. Coach. Trainer. Payroll, benefits and reward specialist. Event organiser. Charity committee lead. Culture champion. Performance coach. Talent developer. Data detective. Strategic planner. Professional plate-spinner. Occasional counsellor… and, on particularly busy days, a magician who’s somehow expected to make diary clashes, difficult conversations and a mountain of emails disappear.

Working in HR for an insurance broker with 75 employees means no two days are ever the same. In fact, if I start the day with a perfectly planned to-do list, there’s a good chance it’ll bear very little resemblance to my day by lunchtime.

And honestly? That’s exactly why I love it.

We have a genuinely open culture where people support one another, celebrate success, aren’t afraid to ask questions, and genuinely care about each other. It means my role is about so much more than policies and paperwork, it’s about people.

So, for anyone who’s ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in HR, here’s a glimpse at some of the many hats I wear.

The Recruiter and Future Talent Hat

Finding great people is one of the most exciting parts of my role.

Whether I’m writing job adverts, interviewing candidates, onboarding new starters, supporting our apprenticeship programme or organising work experience placements, I have the privilege of helping people take the next step in their careers.

It’s a bit like online dating, except both parties are trying to make a good impression and, thankfully, nobody gets ghosted. Hopefully.

One of the most rewarding parts is seeing someone walk through our doors on their very first day and watching them grow in confidence, develop new skills and become a valued member of the Macbeth team. Whether they’re an apprentice, a work experience student or a new recruit, it’s a privilege to be part of the beginning of their journey.

The Listener, Coach and Problem Solver Hat

A huge part of my role is simply being there for people.

Sometimes people need advice.

Sometimes managers need guidance.

Sometimes people just need someone to listen while they work through a situation.

And occasionally they need confirmation that the email they’re about to send at 4:59pm is definitely one to save as a draft.

Every workplace has challenges, and no two situations are the same. My role is to help navigate those challenges fairly, professionally and with empathy. Some days I feel like a coach. Other days I feel like a detective piecing together a story that has somehow acquired more versions than a Netflix true-crime documentary.

The Trainer Hat

One part of my role that often happens behind the scenes is supporting and developing our managers.

From recruitment and performance management to difficult conversations, wellbeing and employment law updates, I help provide the knowledge and confidence they need to lead their teams effectively.

After all, most people become managers because they’re brilliant at their jobs, not because they spent their childhood dreaming about conducting return-to-work meetings.

The Payroll, Benefits and Reward Hat

Every month I make sure everyone gets paid correctly and on time.

Simple enough, right?

Well… behind every payslip is a lot of checking, processing, pensions, payroll changes, benefits administration and ensuring everything is accurate.

It’s one of those responsibilities where perfection is the expectation, because nobody wants to discover their payslip has become a work of fiction.

Alongside payroll, I also manage our employee benefits and reward offering, helping people understand what’s available and continually looking at ways we can improve what we offer.
After all, while culture is incredibly important, nobody has ever accepted a job offer purely because we have a good variety of crisps.

The Wellbeing and Culture Hat

Creating a positive workplace doesn’t happen by accident.

Supporting wellbeing, recognising achievements, encouraging collaboration and helping maintain the fantastic culture we have here are all parts of my role that I genuinely enjoy. People perform at their best when they feel supported, valued and listened to.

Whilst I can’t make Monday mornings disappear, I can help make sure people feel supported when they arrive.

The Data Detective Hat

HR isn’t all conversations and coffee chats.

A big part of my role involves analysing employee surveys, engagement feedback, wellbeing data and absence trends.

When we ask for your feedback, we genuinely want to hear it.

I spend time looking for patterns, understanding themes, and working with managers and the leadership team to turn your feedback into meaningful action.

And yes… I genuinely get excited by a good survey response rate.

The Charity Champion Hat

One of the hats I’m most proud to wear is leading our Charity Committee.

Alongside my HR responsibilities, I work with employees across the business to drive fundraising events, volunteer days and initiatives that support our partnership charity.

It’s one of my favourite parts because it brings together everything that’s great about our business. Teamwork, generosity and people coming together to make a difference.

It also proves that one person saying, “I’ve got an idea…” can somehow result in the entire business baking cakes, climbing mountains or volunteering in the community.

The Behind-the-Scenes Hat

Some of the biggest parts of HR are also the least visible.

Reviewing policies, keeping up with ever-changing employment law, continuously developing my own knowledge, planning people initiatives, supporting business strategy and protecting confidential information.

Much of this work happens quietly in the background, but it’s essential to ensuring we continue to support both our employees and the business.

The world of HR never stands still and neither do I.

The Juggler Hat

Perhaps the biggest hat of all is the juggler hat.

On any given day I could be interviewing a candidate, supporting an employee, coaching a manager, delivering training, processing payroll, analysing engagement survey results, reviewing policies, discussing benefits, planning a charity initiative, building relationships across the business, contributing to strategic people plans… and somehow still trying to drink the same cup of cold coffee for the twentieth time.

The challenge isn’t doing one of those things. It’s doing all of them before lunch.

So… What Does HR Actually Do?

The truth is…

A little bit of everything. Some days are planned. Most aren’t. Every day is different, every conversation is unique, and every challenge teaches me something new.

That’s exactly what makes this role so rewarding.

I genuinely feel privileged to work alongside such fantastic people and to play a part in creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and able to do their best work.

So the next time you see me walking around the office looking slightly busy, there’s a good chance I’m simply changing hats again.