Bridging the ROI Gap
The HR Trends Driving Value in 2026
The HR landscape is shifting fast. Tight budgets, AI disruption, new employee expectations and the demand for measurable ROI are redefining what “effective HR” looks like. This research-backed report distils thousands of data points into four emerging trends every HR leader must act on to unlock performance, boost retention and drive productivity in the year ahead.
The 4 Trends to Watch For in 2026
Emotional capital
The human element now has a number. We break down why happiness, recognition and connection are no longer soft signals, but critical drivers of measurable business value.
Proving ROI
With 67% of HR teams facing budget cuts driven by economic pressures and rising turnover, we examine where HR sees the strongest ROI potential, where measurement still falls short and which metrics will matter.
AI Advancement
We examine HR’s opportunity to champion AI in the workplace, turning uncertainty into enablement by delivering policies, facilitating training and remedying employee fears around role replacement.
Decentralised HR
As HR looks towards managers for more support, nearly half of employees want advancement without a manager title. We explore how HR can free up time while making management a more attractive path.
Methodology
This report is based on quantitative research conducted from a sample of 3,000 UK HR professionals and employees across industries.
The analysis includes:
- Employee sentiment on happiness, recognition, career progression, and workplace support
- HR manager insights on budgets, ROI reporting, AI adoption, manager enablement and organisational priorities
- Comparative trends across demographics and job levels
This methodology ensures a balanced, evidence-based view of the challenges and opportunities shaping the HR landscape in 2026.
