Supporting Frontline Employees in 2026

How HR Is Adapting Systems, Skills, and Support for a Distributed Workforce

Supporting employees has become one of HR’s most complex responsibilities.

As organizations grow more distributed and frontline-heavy, HR teams are expected to support shifting roles, changing expectations, and constant disruption — often across systems that were never designed to work together.

This report examines the real forces reshaping HR in 2026. It outlines eleven practical trends across technology, talent, culture, and leadership — and shows how unified systems can reduce friction, strengthen retention, and help managers keep daily work moving.

Who It’s For

This report is designed for:

• HR leaders supporting desk and frontline teams
• CHROs navigating AI adoption and system consolidation
• People operations teams focused on retention and internal mobility
• IT leaders tasked with simplifying fragmented HR technology
• Organizations managing distributed, shift-based workforces
  

Why Now

1. Only 5% of HR teams feel fully prepared to implement AI effectively
2. 68% of companies operate with disconnected HR systems
3. Frontline turnover remains nearly double the average across industries

At the same time, 1 in 5 employees will need redeployment by 2030, and burnout-driven turnover continues to drain payroll and productivity.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A clear understanding of the 11 trends shaping HR in 2026
• Insight into how fragmented systems impact retention, mobility, and performance
• A practical path toward simplifying support, embedding AI responsibly, and strengthening the frontline manager experience