“Disengaged employees are 21% less productive, and companies with high engagement report 40% lower turnover — freeing up over £500,000 annually in avoided costs.”
— WorkBuzz, The Business Case for Employee Listening
With economic uncertainty, AI transformation, and pressure for higher productivity, organisations face a perfect storm of workforce risks.
But our data shows that the biggest differentiator between thriving and struggling organisations is alignment at the top.
When executive teams and HR work in partnership — communicating clearly, role-modelling behaviours, and investing in employee listening — engagement strengthens, wellbeing improves, and culture thrives.
“When HR and leadership are aligned, confidence thrives — and so does culture.”
— WorkBuzz Future of Work 2026 Report
The People Priorities: Future of Work 2026 report draws insights from over 350+ HR leaders and practitioners across various industries in the UK, to answer the question – are we really changing the world of work? Our report examines how HR leaders can tackle stagnant engagement, boost wellbeing, and harness AI to shape the future of work.