{"id":15912,"date":"2026-01-08T13:48:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T13:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laundryheap.com/blog\/?p=15912"},"modified":"2026-01-08T13:48:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T13:48:56","slug":"sme-today-hr-experts-predict-2026s-biggest-workplace-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laundryheap.com/blog\/sme-today-hr-experts-predict-2026s-biggest-workplace-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"HR Experts Predict 2026\u2019s Biggest Workplace Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smetoday.co.uk\/hr-recruitment\/hr-experts-predict-2026s-biggest-workplace-trends\/\">recent article published<\/a> on January 5, 2026, <em>SME Today<\/em> featured Laundryheap CHRO Deepika Venugopal on 2026&#8217;s workplace trends. Read the full feature below.<\/strong> (Cover image source: <em>SME Today<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2014and what businesses, particularly SMEs, need to prepare for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/00a033e\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/7\/https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/khyatisundaram\/?originalSubdomain=uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Khyati Sundaram<\/a>, CEO of debiased AI hiring experts,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/664e762\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/8\/https:\/\/www.beapplied.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Applied<\/a>, predicts that \u201c2026 will be the year of the \u2018AI role-volution\u2019\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs 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 \u2013 by up to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/3154b72\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/9\/https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2025\/04\/linkedin-strategic-upskilling-ai-workplace-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">70%<\/a>&nbsp;over the next five years.&nbsp;This will make CVs obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEmployment histories won\u2019t help hiring managers determine candidates\u2019 fit for jobs that look different or didn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phil Coxon, Managing Director at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/52052eb\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/10\/http:\/\/breathehr.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Breathe HR<\/a>, believes that \u201c\u2018Admin fatigue\u2019 will drive an HR reboot in 2026.\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith new workers\u2019 rights placing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/8fed827\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/11\/https:\/\/www.breathehr.com\/en-gb\/blog\/topic\/breathe-news\/85-of-british-sme-bosses-support-right-to-switch-off\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">additional strain on stretched teams<\/a>, those responsible for HR in SMEs risk reaching breaking point. Teams will turn to tech to lighten the load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom 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\u2019s role will evolve to focus on delivering strategic, people-focused initiatives that drive business success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis shift will be most visible among SMEs, who don\u2019t 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&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/8fed827\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/12\/https:\/\/www.breathehr.com\/en-gb\/blog\/topic\/breathe-news\/85-of-british-sme-bosses-support-right-to-switch-off\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">disproportionately impact them.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/1b156a7\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/13\/http:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/deepikavenugopal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Deepika Venugopal<\/a>, Chief Human Resources Officer at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/4fcf6e9\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/14\/http:\/\/laundryheap.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Laundryheap<\/a>, says \u201cborderless mindsets\u201d will help build cultures for global workforces:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLooking ahead to next year, we\u2019ll see the \u2018borderless mindset\u2019 take hold in HR. As a remote team this is second nature for us at Laundryheap, but we\u2019ll see this mindset go global in 2026.&nbsp;Tech advancements will enable HR teams to build borderless cultures that attract, nurture, and develop the best talent from anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs 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 \u2013 designing cultures, facilitating collaboration and supporting employees to deliver their best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/0ab8748\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/15\/https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_in_wendyread_&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=g44yBpfDZMtUbG1T_RDmQ-JL-bOF650d9sd4tj8kKEA&amp;m=RcbQdce20QlyuJamomKd9yrBvN99u2rl3l7wh58wdHYo9pn842AaH6tYQAOm35Ue&amp;s=LpE9aGfiqC-QxvsUPpte0UJ7dyFqRAvSL_ZZDunl238&amp;e=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wendy Read<\/a>, HR Director at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/d9d1152\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/16\/https:\/\/omnygroup.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Omny HR<\/a>&nbsp;and Breathe HR Partner, predicts that 2026 will be the year of \u201creal-time HR\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c2026 will be the year HR moves from reactive to real-time. AI copilots won\u2019t replace HR, they\u2019ll 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 \u2018people telemetry\u2019.&nbsp;HR gets predictive or gets left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExpect AI to take admin so managers can finally lead, ERB compliance to become a board-level pressure, and a pivot from \u2018flexibility\u2019 to genuine autonomy. HR\u2019s biggest shift? Moving from policy makers to architects of sustainable, burnout-proof work cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/ce4ff14\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/17\/https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sophie-forrest-lavery-a3691925\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sophie Forrest-Lavery<\/a>, Founder &amp; CEO of<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/9256809\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/18\/https:\/\/www.theforrestgroup.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Forrest Grou<\/a>p,&nbsp;believes a combination of \u201cworker voice\u201d and \u201ctalent twins\u201d will give HRs a strategic edge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLike many sectors, HR is evolving quicker than ever before and in 2026 UK HR will be reshaped by AI-driven \u201ctalent twins\u201d: 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/c425568\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/19\/https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/niccibirley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nicci Birley<\/a>, co-founder and Director at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailstat.us\/tr\/t2\/19e1c19\/yu8b7m3ot73mv7\/20\/https:\/\/cornerstoneresources.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cornerstone Resources HR Consultancy<\/a>, says culture and leadership will be critical during uncertain times ahead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn 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\u2019t go to plan.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SME Today features Laundryheap CHRO on 2026 workplace trends<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146021946,"featured_media":15915,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[661176135],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-laundryheap-in-the-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Laundryheap CHRO Predicts 2026\u2019s Biggest Workplace Trends<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Leading HR experts, including Laundryheap CHRO share their predictions on the workplace trends set to define 2026, with SME Today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.laundryheap.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15912\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Laundryheap CHRO Predicts 2026\u2019s Biggest Workplace Trends\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Leading HR experts, including Laundryheap CHRO share their predictions on the workplace trends set to define 2026, with SME Today.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.laundryheap.com/blog\/sme-today-hr-experts-predict-2026s-biggest-workplace-trends\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Laundryheap Blog - Laundry &amp; 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