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What CEOs expect

The CEO Priorities and Perspectives study from SHRM, released in early December, found that in 2026:

• 40 percent of CEOs are prioritizing the adoption of AI
• 56 percent identify technological advancements as a top macroeconomic challenge
• 54 percent identify adapting to technological advances as a top organizational challenge
• 87 percent anticipate a growing emphasis on collaboration tools
• 87 percent expect AI-driven upskilling and reskilling will be prevalent

What HR can do

To help their workplace capitalize on the improvements AI offers, HR professionals can:

Adopt an AI policy: A policy provides structure, letting employees know when and if it’s acceptable to use AI on the job. It also helps ensure your workforce is using AI in a legal, responsible, and ethical way.

Assess: Across the company, determine where your workers are at with AI. More workers in your company are likely using AI than they were last year, but adoption might not be uniform across your company. Be familiar with the AI tools being used and where AI skills are lacking.

Be future-ready: Bringing AI into the workplace may require a cultural shift. While some areas of the company may be eagerly adopting AI tools, others may not trust the technology. To create a sense of ownership, get input from workers on how AI could enhance their jobs.

Address the stress: Fear and uncertainty about how AI will impact their jobs may be ramping up employee anxiety and impacting mental health. Be open to answering questions and addressing concerns. Also raise awareness of your company’s resources for mental health support through posters, newsletters, and articles on the company intranet.

Upskill and reskill: Help employees adapt to new technologies by upskilling to expand their abilities with AI. Also consider how employees could reskill to prepare for a new role that uses AI. Offer training opportunities through classes, videos, or learning development platforms.

Make training meaningful: Offer opportunities for project-based learning. This could include developing a strategy for implementing AI in a certain role or process, or finding ways to increase a team’s AI skills and proficiency.

Use internal resources: Allow for collaboration across the company. Provide a way for employees to share information about how AI is being used in their areas. Use mentorships and peer support groups to give employees an opportunity to discuss successes, address roadblocks, and brainstorm new ways to use AI.

Key to remember: CEOs are looking for more ways to use AI, and HR professionals can help employees gain necessary skills.

7 ways employers can help improve the health of their workforce

1. Promote annual physicals with incentives.

Employees who get regular physicals with a health care provider are more likely to become aware of a health condition before it escalates. To encourage them to see their doctor, employers could offer incentives, like discounts on insurance premiums.

2. Make it easy to get cancer screenings.

Whether offering on-site health fairs or flexible schedules to make appointments, employers can help employees catch certain cancers (e.g., breast cancer) in the early stages to help reach a more positive outcome.

3. Do an ergonomics audit.

Musculoskeletal issues are common, especially among office workers who sit much of the workday. Providing them with proper equipment and tips on good posture and body positioning might help stave off aches and pains at the office.

4. Give them a break.

Mental health is tied to physical health, and when employees are stressed or burnt out, it can spill over and impact their workday. Provide the opportunity for regular breaks to step away and rejuvenate. Promote other available mental wellness resources, such as counseling, paid time off, sick leave, etc., to help workers maintain their overall health.

5. Forego free food as rewards.

Offering free food and snacks or hosting potlucks and pizza days are quick and easy ways to make employees happy in the short term. However, these freebies can come at a cost by encouraging overconsumption of less nutrient-dense foods, which can contribute to health issues down the road. It doesn’t mean employers should rule out all celebrations, but limiting them as an occasional treat might be a better plan. Also, make sure that cafeterias and vending machines are stocked with healthier options – maybe even at discounted prices.

6. Offer health coaching tools.

Whether it’s an onsite health and wellness coach or utilizing health-related fitness technology, providing employees with options to learn ways to live healthier lives supports them from a positive “what can I do” perspective.

7. Stay on top of illnesses.

Ensure that the workplace is kept clean and germ-free as much as possible. When employees are sick, encourage them to stay home and recover instead of spreading illness to others at work. Communicate ways to stay healthy, especially during cold and flu season, such as by sharing tips about proper handwashing and good sleep habits. Promote health care benefits, too, that employees can use if they need to seek medical help.

Key to remember: Employers play a key role in helping their employees live healthy lives.