Top HR Challenges for Businesses in Kent and How to Solve Them

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by Rebecca Lister | 21st Mar 2025

Kent’s business landscape is thriving, but HR challenges continue to grow. Employee wellbeing issues, rising turnover rates, and workplace disputes are among the top concerns for businesses in the region. Companies face increasing costs due to absenteeism, recruitment, and legal disputes, making effective HR strategies crucial.

Kent has seen significant business growth over the last decade. According to the Kent Analytics December 2024 Statistical Bulletin, there are now over 64,500 enterprises operating in Kent, making it a thriving hub for businesses of all sizes.

Kent offers businesses excellent connectivity to London and Europe, with competitive operating costs and a pool of highly skilled individuals. ‘The Garden of England’ can be a great place to start up, grow and locate a business. However, as organisations grow, so do their HR challenges.

Running a business—whether in Kent or beyond—comes with common HR problems that can impact employee experience, engagement, and productivity. From recruitment processes to workforce management, employers must navigate HR issues effectively to sustain a strong company culture. We explore our top three HR challenges businesses in Kent face and how they can address them.

1 – Employee Health and Wellbeing

Ensuring employee wellbeing is crucial for business success. Employee health plays a vital role in performance, and high levels of absenteeism due to stress, burnout, or illness can affect productivity and increase operational costs. A lack of employee engagement or declining employee morale can lead to workplace issues, affecting the entire organisation.

Employers should take proactive steps to manage employee wellness and wellbeing. Implementing effective absence management policies, offering flexible work arrangements, and providing mental health support can help mitigate the risks associated with employee burnout. Additionally, HR leaders should develop a structured HR strategy that prioritises employee needs and promotes a supportive workplace culture.

45% of employees in the South East (including Kent) report experiencing work-related stress, burnout, or mental health concerns in the past year. (Source: CIPD Health & Wellbeing Report 2024)

2 – Retaining Employees

Employee retention is one of the most common HR challenges businesses face, particularly in Kent, where its proximity to London makes it easier for employees to seek opportunities elsewhere.

High employee turnover leads to increased recruitment and training costs, making it essential for businesses to create strategies that enhance employee satisfaction and reduce attrition. A strong company culture, career development opportunities, and a well-structured employee onboarding process can all contribute to higher retention rates.

Encouraging internal talent growth, investing in leadership development, and addressing skills gaps can help organisations retain top performers while attracting prospective employees. Businesses should also explore HR transformation strategies that align with evolving workforce expectations, particularly in an era of hybrid working and remote work.

28% of employees in Kent are considering a job move in 2024, with higher salaries in London being a key factor. (Source: Kent Business Report 2024)

3 – Workplace Disputes and Conflict Resolution

With HR trends and employment laws constantly evolving, businesses in Kent often struggle to stay on top of their HR management responsibilities. Unresolved workplace disputes can lead to legal issues, costly litigation, and a decline in employee morale. Poor conflict resolution can also harm relationships between managers, employees, and teams.

HR professionals should develop clear policies to handle disputes effectively. Transparent performance management systems, clear HR policies, and workplace training programs can help businesses mitigate significant challenges before they escalate.

Having a strong HR presence in place ensures that both HR professionals and managers are well-equipped to handle complex workforce management concerns.

Poor conflict resolution leads to 50% higher voluntary turnover rates, negatively impacting business stability. (Source: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development – CIPD)

Dealing with HR Challenges

Knowing how to deal with human resource challenges, like those explored above, can help your business to prosper and limit employment risks and associated costs.

Our external HR services in Kent could help guide your company through whatever employment issues you are facing.

For more information around how our HR consultants in Kent could help, read our article Why would you need a HR Consultancy?

How Eclipse HR can Help

Here at Eclipse HR, we provide consultancy and HR support for a range of services for business. As a local firm ourselves, with offices throughout Kent in Canterbury, Maidstone and Tenterden, we are honoured to work with businesses around the county.

Our team is highly experienced and equipped to understand your company needs and offer tailored solutions. With over 30 years of HR experience across both private and public sectors, including:

• Education
• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Professional services
• SMEs and Start Ups

From recruitment processes to HR strategy development, we are here to support your business in overcoming HR challenges. Whether you’re looking for assistance with hiring, employee training, performance management, or workplace policies, we can help you build a resilient, people-focused organisation.

For more information on how we could help you with the top HR Challenges for Businesses in Kent, please feel free to explore our website to learn more about the HR services we provide in Kent; or get in touch to speak to a member of our team today!