Five years after employers rushed online, video hiring technology has evolved from an emergency fix into a skills validation platform that exceeds the effectiveness of resumes.

As AI reshapes how work gets done, HR leaders have a rare opportunity to be a strategic org architect—if they embrace work design as a core discipline.

Employees across the spectrum, from hourly staff to executives, have financial obligations and money stress, said Jason Rahlan from Dayforce. "Employees aren't asking for a handout. They want access to the money they already earned."

Upwork's new report shows businesses are turning to freelance talent in droves. Seventy-eight percent of companies plan to hire independent workers in the next three months, outpacing demand for full-time knowledge roles.

If you're an HR leader in 2026, here's what nobody wants to say out loud: AI would be so much easier without all these messy humans.

Employers are using ICHRAs to shift risk from unpredictable group plans to the broader individual market. "This approach allows employers to reduce exposure to high-cost claims while staying compliant with ACA requirements," says this benefits tech founder.

As AI governance frameworks emerge and malicious threats grow more sophisticated, HR leaders who embrace an expanded cybersecurity role will position their organizations for success while elevating the function's strategic importance.

HR leaders are already walking a fine line between cost control and benefit competitiveness. "The loss of subsidies doesn't just affect individuals; it reverberates through the employer system," according to Ben Light from benefits tech platform Zorro.