A quarter of HR professionals are so dissatisfied with the job they wouldn’t want their children following in their footsteps, a new survey has shown.

According to recruitment and talent management consultancy Hudson, 32% of those surveyed cited better opportunities in other professions as the main reason for their reluctance, and one in four believed their children could earn higher financial rewards elsewhere or enjoy a better work-life balance (28% and 23% respectively).

Andy Rogerson, chief executive of Hudson UK, called the findings “disturbing”, advising employers to improve communication and adopt a more flexible approach to empower staff.

The findings are at odds with a recent survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) where the professional body found that, when asked: ‘If you could start your career again from the beginning, would you still opt for HR?’, 81% of respondents said ‘yes’.

Speaking exclusively to HRZone.co.uk, Vanessa Robinson, head of operations, research and policy, said: “Reasons given by respondents to this largely positive response related mostly to variety, challenge, interest and enjoyment, and the view that HR is at the heart of the business and offers an opportunity to make a difference.”