Our Viewpoint: HR Leads the Resilience Era
In 2026, HR is at the helm of business transformation. As organizations face economic shifts, technological breakthroughs, and rising employee expectations, HR leaders are championing employee experience (EX) as a strategic business driver — not a soft initiative — to strengthen business resilience.
According to SHRM’s 2026 State of the Workplace Report and 2026 CHRO Priorities and Perspectives report:
- EX is a top priority for HR teams and CHROs.
- EX directly impacts business agility, engagement, and growth.
- High-performing organizations that put people first see measurable business results.
When HR leads with employee experience, organizations gain more than engagement. They gain resilience, speed, and competitive advantage.
Leaders investing in EX can expect:
- Stronger leadership pipelines that fuel sustainable business growth.
- Higher engagement and performance, driven by trust and clarity.
- Rapid upskilling to keep teams ahead of technological change.
- A culture of trust and collaboration that accelerates results.
Employee experience isn’t a perk. It’s a core business strategy. SHRM helps you build resilient, future-ready organizations, empowering you to move from intention to impact.
72%
of HR professionals believe workers have higher expectations of employers today.
31%
of HR pros and execs say employee experience is eroding or contracting.
46%
of CHROs report maintaining employee morale and motivation as a challenge.
The message is clear: Employee experience is under pressure — and HR is expected to lead the response.
3 Critical Employee Experience Strategies for Business Resilience
1. Develop Leaders Who Thrive in Uncertainty
Resilient organizations start with resilient leadership. Prioritize leadership development focused on adaptability, empathy, and AI fluency to set the tone and to guide teams through uncertainty and transformation.
Leaders often “bleed” in ways that aren’t obvious. Learn how to use the RECLAIM Framework to foster healing, resilience, and authentic leadership.
Explore actionable strategies for developing organizational leaders. Learn leadership traits, techniques, and future trends to drive success and inspire teams.
Change is paramount in today’s workplace, and HR leaders play a role in how organizations keep up. Discover a framework for purposeful leadership to drive change.
Future-proof your workforce with more effective hiring by earning your credential and transform your talent strategy.
2. Well-Being as a Productivity Driver
Burnout, stress, and eroding trust directly impact performance. Tackle well-being as a core component of your employee experience strategy to sustain engagement, retention, and productivity.
This course helps you deliver all three through practical tools, collaborative learning, and a human strategy-driven approach to employee engagement.
Explore strategies to empower employees, encourage authenticity, and build a culture in which individuals feel supported and thrive every day.
Get essential training on mental health, communication, safety planning, and substance use—all at your own pace.
This course helps you shift from managing performance to elevating it—empowering your people, shaping culture, and driving measurable impact across your organization.
3. Future-Proof with Real-Time Upskilling and AI Readiness
The pace of change demands continuous learning. Equip your workforce with real-time upskilling and ethical AI adoption to agile amid market, technology, and compliance shifts.
This intensive program features a structured learning approach, with each level building upon the previous one.
Advance your workforce planning and improve retention with structured career development. Review HR best practices, legal considerations, and ways to track success.
View the top-asked questions on building a culture of learning and get responses from SHRM EN Member Nichole Oocumma, HR leader at The MetroHealth System.
Upskilling starts with understanding skills gaps. Explore how to conduct a needs assessment to empower employees and align their growth with business goals.
Not Sure Where to Start? Talk to a SHRM HR Advisor.
Get personalized guidance and practical solutions to strengthen your EX strategy — from leadership and culture to compliance and workforce planning.
Featured Research
Employee Experience Rises as a Top Priority in 2026
Member Only2026 State of the Workplace Report
Workers and workplaces today face unprecedented pressure: economic uncertainty, rapid AI adoption, and shifting expectations.
Employee experience emerged as the top priority HR should focus on in 2026. Discover how HR leaders can leverage EX as a strategic driver to:
- Improve well-being and engagement.
- Strengthen retention.
- Drive measurable business outcomes.
Download the full report for key insights and actionable, research-backed strategies to help HR build a resilient and agile workforce with measurable impact.
Member Only2026 CHRO Priorities & Perspectives
CHROs are elevating employee experience as a strategic imperative with a sharp focus on workplace culture, engagement, and leadership development amid uncertainty and rapid change.
Nearly half of CHROs cite maintaining morale and motivation as a top challenge — reinforcing the urgent need for EX-led strategies.
Download the full report for actionable strategies to:
- Strengthen culture and leadership.
- Navigate transformation with limited resources.
- Build organizational agility.
Newest Member Research
This infographic explores the state of pay equity in 2024. In the survey, 74 percent of HR professionals agreed that women face discrimination in the labor market, and three-quarters of organizations regularly audit for pay equity. But pay equity training may not reach people managers, who play a vital role in advocating for fair pay among their workers.
New SHRM research explores the prevalence of employee loneliness and the importance of social interactions from the perspectives of both HR professionals and U.S. workers.
The Pillars of an EX Strategy that Builds Resilience
- Adaptive, Human-Centered Leadership
- High-Trust, Growth-Driven Culture
- Real-Time Skills and AI Readiness
- People-First Compliance
Adaptive, Human-Centered Leadership
Leaders’ adaptability is critical to thriving in uncertainty and driving cultural excellence. Building leaders who combine empathy, agility, and fluency in emerging technologies is key to equipping teams to align with shifting business goals, inspire trust, and foster innovation at every level.
SHRM delivers the frameworks, resources, and expert support you need to cultivate adaptive leaders who can navigate complexity and lead with impact.
This hands-on program equips you with the mindset, tools, and strategies to become the strategic HR business partner your organization needs.
Burnout is rising among executives. Learn how “energy leaks” drain leaders’ clarity — and what strategic self-care can do to protect leadership impact.
Discover how fear-based leadership limits potential and why selfless, accountable love is the antidote.
In this interactive SHRM webinar, we’ll explore three essential pillars of emotionally intelligent leadership.
Members watch free. Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
PMQ+: Build Managers Who Deliver Results
SHRM’s People Manager Qualification paired with one-on-one professional mentorship (PMQ+) gives your people managers the skills, confidence, and peer support they need to lead effectively. Backed by SHRM research and designed for impact, it turns training into measurable performance gains across your organization.
High-Trust, Growth-Driven Culture
Cultivating a high-trust, growth-driven culture is a strategic imperative for retaining top talent and driving business results. As stress and burnout threaten engagement and performance, your leadership in building psychological safety, transparency, and well-being is critical.
SHRM equips you with actionable insights and proven strategies to foster cultures where trust and growth fuel innovation, resilience, and lasting success.
How can you tell if you or a colleague is suffering from burnout? How do you then recover from and prevent it? Host Monique Akanbi dives into these questions with Deidre Gestrin, founder at Abundant Wellness Essentials.
Driven by higher expectations, the percentage of employees who are happy with their benefits has dropped. Find out what that means for employers and what they can do about it.
Enhance workplace harmony with SHRM's insights on civility. Boost productivity and respect with actionable strategies for a positive work environment.
Join us for an insightful webinar exploring the intersection of life transitions and mental health in the workplace.
Members watch free. Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
ELearning: Workforce Wellness
Wellness isn’t a perk—it’s a powerful strategy. This course shows you how to design a culture-first wellness initiative that drives long-term health, engagement, and organizational success.
Real-Time Skills and AI Readiness
Real-time upskilling and AI readiness are critical to maintaining organizational agility and long-term sustainability. As technology and market demands evolve, your ability to drive continuous learning ensures your workforce remains competitive, efficient, and future-ready.
SHRM provides actionable frameworks and expert guidance to help leaders align learning strategies with business goals — empowering teams to adapt and excel in the age of AI.
The SHRM Foundation Skills First Specialty Credential gives you the tools to hire, develop, and advance employees based on what they can do.
Learning and development (L&D) executives, or those who oversee their organizations’ L&D functions, are increasingly crafting innovative strategies to ensure their workforces are equipped with the skills needed to thrive.
Join this session to gain a strategic playbook for leading your organization's AI transformation, proving L&D's business impact, and cementing your role as a critical architect of the future of work.
Members watch free. Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
AI Enablement for HR
AI is transforming business, but success depends on people. SHRM’s AI Enablement for HR program helps HR leaders bridge technology and human intelligence, building the skills and confidence to lead adoption, integrate AI into HR practices, and unlock measurable business impact.
People-First Compliance
Navigating complex compliance challenges — such as AI ethics, ESG reporting, and global inclusion mandates — requires a people-first approach. Balancing regulatory demands with a positive employee experience is essential for fostering trust and driving organizational progress.
SHRM delivers expert resources and practical solutions to help you ensure compliance while championing an inclusive, forward-thinking workplace culture.
Strengthen your benefits strategy with insights on designing, managing, and evaluating workplace wellness programs to boost employee engagement and productivity.
Explore expert guidance on effectively structuring ERGs to foster inclusivity while minimizing legal risks under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Get a practical, full-picture view of U.S. compliance across the employee lifecycle, so you can navigate legal risks with confidence and support a strong, compliant workplace.
Learn how SHRM’s Belonging Enhanced by Access through Merit (BEAM) Framework can guide organizations in implementing legally compliant I&D.
Members watch free. Not a Member? Pay to Watch.
Employee Relations: Creating a Positive Work Environment
This course helps new HR professionals navigate conflict, align policies with culture, and apply employment law in real-world scenarios.
SHRM Events: Where the Future of Employee Experience Comes to Life
March 9 - 10, 2026
San Francisco, CA
Reimagine employee experience with the power of AI and human insight. Discover cutting-edge strategies to personalize development, boost engagement, and drive inclusion — while keeping trust at the core.
April 19 - 22, 2026
Dallas, TX or virtual
Unlock the latest in talent and employee engagement strategies. Connect with industry leaders, gain actionable insights, and discover tools to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
June 16 - 19, 2026
Orlando, FL or virtual
Experience the premier event for HR innovation, leadership, and employee experience. Engage with visionary speakers, cutting-edge solutions, and a vibrant HR community.
Not a SHRM Member Yet? Here’s Why Leading HR Teams Choose SHRM.
SHRM membership isn’t just about staying ahead — it’s about arming HR with the hard evidence, high-impact tools, and proven strategies to make HR indispensable to business resilience.
Trusted by 95% of Fortune 500 companies, SHRM helps you:
- Translate employee experience strategy into business results with data, analytics, and benchmarks.
- Get answers when you need them most through SHRM’s HR Knowledge Advisors — offering personalized guidance and practical solutions to your toughest HR challenges.
- Access exclusive tools and resources that strengthen your HR function across employee experience, culture, and total rewards.
- Strengthen your executive influence and impact by linking HR investments to revenue growth, profitability, and competitive advantage.
Join a global community of HR leaders innovating and sharing real-world solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Multiply Your HR Team’s Impact with SHRM Membership
As a SHRM member, you already know the value of having cutting-edge research, actionable tools, and a powerful professional network at your fingertips. Imagine the results if your entire HR team was equipped with the same.
With a SHRM Corporate Membership, you can:
- Prove HR’s collective value by leveraging SHRM’s data, benchmarks, and case studies to connect people initiatives to P&L outcomes.
- Expand your impact through specialty credentials, toolkits, and events that help design business-aligned HR strategies together.
- Stay ahead with the latest insights into workforce trends, compliance shifts, and innovative HR practices.
- Engage with a global HR community that shares real-world solutions and strategies to accelerate organizational growth.
Latest Insights & News
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Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For have delivered a masterclass in how to thrive in today’s tumultuous and competitive business environment. Learn how employee trust, confidence, recognition and rewards can be your competitive advantage.