As 2026 begins, HR leaders are bracing for a period of rapid transformation shaped by AI, evolving employment rights, and increasingly global ways of working. From the rise of AI-driven role redesign and real-time people analytics to borderless cultures and renewed focus on leadership and wellbeing, the coming year promises a fundamental shift in how work is organised and managed. Here, leading HR experts share their predictions on the workplace trends set to define 2026—and what businesses, particularly SMEs, need to prepare for now.
“As AI agents enter workplaces, automate certain tasks, and free up staff to focus on higher-value work, roles and responsibilities will evolve faster than ever. The skills workers need will change as a result – by up to 70% over the next five years. This will make CVs obsolete.
“Employment histories won’t help hiring managers determine candidates’ fit for jobs that look different or didn’t previously exist. Instead, skills tests will be used to identify talent with the transferable skills needed to succeed in evolved roles. This will open the doors for career switchers to seize new and more meaningful opportunities in 2026.”
Phil Coxon, Managing Director at Breathe HR, believes that “‘Admin fatigue’ will drive an HR reboot in 2026.”…
“With new workers’ rights placing additional strain on stretched teams, those responsible for HR in SMEs risk reaching breaking point. Teams will turn to tech to lighten the load.
“From shift scheduling platforms to AI chatbots capable of answering everyday HR queries, automation will take the pressure off of time-intensive admin. With more time available, HR’s role will evolve to focus on delivering strategic, people-focused initiatives that drive business success.
“This shift will be most visible among SMEs, who don’t always have dedicated in-house HR or the resources of larger organisations. Over three in five (63%) SME bosses say implementing the Employment Rights Bill will disproportionately impact them.”
Deepika Venugopal, Chief Human Resources Officer at Laundryheap, says “borderless mindsets” will help build cultures for global workforces:
“Looking ahead to next year, we’ll see the ‘borderless mindset’ take hold in HR. As a remote team this is second nature for us at Laundryheap, but we’ll see this mindset go global in 2026. Tech advancements will enable HR teams to build borderless cultures that attract, nurture, and develop the best talent from anywhere in the world.
“As teams work increasingly asynchronously, companies will invest in their digital environments and develop communications strategies to help global working feel seamless across time zones. HR will cement its strategic position as the force enabling these global workforces – designing cultures, facilitating collaboration and supporting employees to deliver their best.”
Wendy Read, HR Director at Omny HR and Breathe HR Partner, predicts that 2026 will be the year of “real-time HR”:
“2026 will be the year HR moves from reactive to real-time. AI copilots won’t replace HR, they’ll expose the gaps. Expect a surge in ethical ERB frameworks, burnout-monitoring tools that flag risks before people hit crisis, and a shift from annual engagement surveys to continuous ‘people telemetry’. HR gets predictive or gets left behind.”
“Expect AI to take admin so managers can finally lead, ERB compliance to become a board-level pressure, and a pivot from ‘flexibility’ to genuine autonomy. HR’s biggest shift? Moving from policy makers to architects of sustainable, burnout-proof work cultures.”
Sophie Forrest-Lavery, Founder & CEO of Forrest Group, believes a combination of “worker voice” and “talent twins” will give HRs a strategic edge:
“Like many sectors, HR is evolving quicker than ever before and in 2026 UK HR will be reshaped by AI-driven “talent twins”: live digital replicas modelling employee performance, wellbeing and risk. Combined with ERB-driven worker voice mandates and predictive compliance engines, HR shifts from reactive admin to anticipatory governance. Businesses that combine predictive wellbeing tech with genuine worker voice will gain a new decisive talent and productivity edge.”
Nicci Birley, co-founder and Director at Cornerstone Resources HR Consultancy, says culture and leadership will be critical during uncertain times ahead:
“In an environment of increasing change and conflict, we believe that culture and leadership will be critical for workplaces in 2026. In uncertain times, people need clarity, need to feel a connection to the why of what they do. Workplaces should encourage creativity, build resilience and growth, offer continuous healthy feedback, have courageous conversations, celebrate wins and learn (and not be afraid) when things don’t go to plan.”