Here to review some workplace trends for 2026 that will determine how we operate and approach business in the coming months? As the year draws to a close, it helps to take a contemplative look at the future of HR and work culture in 2026, to understand how to prepare for the changes that are undoubtedly on their way.
The workplace has evolved in many different ways this year, with the transformation definable as fast-paced and geared towards efficiency. Many of the changes introduced into the workplace have resulted in equally determined resistance from employees, leading to a decline in the goodwill at work. The top priorities for 2026 appear to largely suggest a continuation of the trends that have taken shape this year, but employees are hoping for a more nuanced approach to replace the aggressive strategies we’ve witnessed so far. Will our work culture see improvements in 2026?
The new year is almost upon us, and as far as workplace trends go, these practices are set to determine the state of your workplace in 2026. (Image: Freepik)
Reviewing Workplace Trends That Will Take the Lead in 2026: What Does the Future of HR Look Like?
From DEI practices making a quick exit from the workplace to employees making a disgruntled return to it due to a rising number of RTO policies, 2025 has been a year of drastic change. The trend of extended layoffs has also hit workplaces hard, with employees particularly perplexed by the arrival of AI and the realities of the threat the technology poses to them. The year regularly found itself devolving into debates over the legitimacy of the claims surrounding the capabilities of AI, with considerable back and forth on whether it is truly revolutionary or a mere excuse to undergo mass reorganization efforts.
Telling signs of these incoming changes were evident towards the end of 2024, giving many employers time to plan for the alterations with their HR teams. This is why we return to studying the trends once more, in an attempt to get ahead of the curve. The future of the workplace in 2026 certainly looks bleak, all things considered, but with workers trying to reclaim stability and find clarity in such uncertain times, there is hope for collaboration between employers and employees.
Let’s look at a list of some workplace trends that are expected to stay strong in 2026.
AI-Based Changes and Automation Goals Are Here to Stay
Regardless of how we collectively feel about the moral and sociological impact of artificial intelligence, the technology is here to stay. The eventual impact of the technology in the coming year may not be as significant as tech leaders will have us believe, but these tools are expected to make some measured adjustments to the workplace.
Many business leaders have expressed a desire to replace workers with AI to a degree, and a concentrated effort can be expected in 2026. Despite this, studies like those from Yale suggest that not all jobs will be replaced. Some Fortune 500 businesses may even backtrack on their heavy usage. Ultimately, the importance of keeping pace with AI technology and developing the necessary skills to navigate it is imperative for both employers and employees. Alternatively, people skills that cannot be replaced by AI tools could also grow in value.
The technology may find success in a bubble, but its active presence in the workplace is undeniable. Even employers who are disinterested in AI technology will likely have to give it some thought and explore how shadow AI use might be reshaping their operations. For this technology to be either adapted or avoided, training, supervision, and active regulations will be necessary to temper the workplace culture in 2026.
Proactive Care As An Employee Benefit Could Gain Steam as a Workplace Priority in 2026
Top employers are expected to provide some degree of healthcare support for employees, but the rising costs of healthcare have many employers reconsidering the assistance they can provide. With the cost of living simultaneously on the rise, employees will feel more inclined to rely on employers with sturdy healthcare benefits, making it a key factor for retention.
While the nature and degree of healthcare benefits provided by employers could change, proactive healthcare could easily become one of the top HR priorities in 2026. Supporting employee well-being and ensuring preventive, early intervention could bring down the costs of late-stage support, and also help employees become more productive members of the workforce.
Prepare for The Rise of “Meritocracy” Over Other Employment Traits
Businesses like Amazon have attempted to rewrite their culture this year, emphasising meritocracy as the leading factor in finding success at work. It is evident that many organizations have begun tightening the reins of their employees, evaluating their performance on a stricter basis than ever before. From revising evaluation criteria to incorporating AI usage, there has been a significant shift in how employee performance is assessed. This workplace trend is expected to extend into 2026.
The shift is also apparent in how hiring is being conducted. College degrees have declined in importance this year, with businesses no longer putting their faith in them while hiring. On one hand, this has left young graduates without work experience, struggling to get hired. On the other hand, trends suggest that many are looking for alternative paths to finding the skills they need to seek employment. Palantir’s recent fellowship is an example of this shift.
Job seekers will have to pay closer attention to the skills and qualifications being demanded by recruiters in their industry to understand how to increase their employability. HR teams and recruiters will also have to review their hiring methods and job postings.
Hiring Will Grow More Complex with Pay Transparency and Evolving Job Descriptions
Speaking of recruiters, the nature of hiring is also changing. Ghost job postings are on the rise, and employees are growing unwilling to apply for jobs that suggest AI hiring methods or showcase a lack of transparency on pay. Regulations on pay transparency have been slow to come, but there is a stark shift needed in the kind of job descriptions that companies set out to find the right candidate.
With AI literacy growing in importance, recruiters also have to take note of the exact skills they want in their employees as vague descriptions will not help land on the right talent. Human labor will continue to dominate the workplace next year, and businesses have the arduous task of reflecting on the nature of the candidates they need to fill their seats as workers, sifting through the ranks of applicants looking for remote or hybrid roles.
Hiring will grow more complex in 2026, which means that businesses either have to focus on perfect retention or re-evaluate their hiring strategies right now.
While DEI Disappears, Inclusivity Leads the Way as a Top HR Priority for 2026
One might have assumed that the future of HR would be free of all mentions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity, but the concept continues to reshape how businesses operate. In 2025, businesses pursuing DEI objectives face considerable challenges in their attempts, and as a result, many brands, from Target to Mattel, have dropped all DEI investments from their strategy. Despite this, there have been continued legal battles fought over DEI and reverse-DEI accusations, showcasing how these principles extend beyond a workplace trend.
The work culture in 2026 may not be shaped around direct expressions of DEI policies, but inclusivity goals have found their way back to the forefront of the conversation. Unsurprisingly, employees want to feel accepted and welcome into their workplaces, and work with employers who can guarantee their physical and psychological safety. Inclusivity and anti-discriminatory practices are a large part of this requirement, and many businesses have recommitted to eliminating hostilities within their workplaces.
The workplace culture in 2026 will be shaped by further evolutions of inclusivity, where HR teams will be required to outline policies and actions that ensure that no hostilities are allowed to thrive. Political conversations may not be welcome in the workplace, but active measures are necessary to keep these personal biases and reservations outside company doors.
Understanding The Future of the Workplace and the Trends For 2026 Is Essential For Success
The workplace trends for 2026 look no different from 2025, but they suggest a need for more conversations with employees. Retention due to a lack of alternatives only offers empty employment, with workers on the lookout for their next role. Trends like coffee badging, ghostworking, quiet quitting, and other workplace buzzwords aren’t passing fads but showcase employee dissatisfaction with the terms of work.
One of the top HR priorities for 2026 should be to reconnect with workers and rebuild some of the bridges that have been burnt by the changes this year. From pushing employees to use their PTO days to understanding what is causing their loneliness, there is a lot that can be done to resolve some of the workplace issues that are burning holes in the state of well-being at work.
The rise of new-collar work and employee enthusiasm for training suggests that many employees are willing to learn and adapt to the changing needs of the workplace, but this is hard to achieve on their own. As we’ve said before, collaboration is key, but it may just be the only key to unlock real efficiency within the workplace.
What are your predictions for the workplace trends that will dominate in 2026? Share them with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.