HR industry analyst Josh Bersin is betting 2026 will bring about a reset for HR departments as AI tools grow from helpful copilots boosting individual productivity to interconnected systems running semi-autonomously inside your HR function.

In new research, the Josh Bersin Company suggests AI-powered “superagents”—systems that are capable of orchestrating multiple HR workflows end-to-end with little human interaction—will reshape how people teams are staffed and operate.

“We are entering the largest, most interesting HR transformation period, at least in my career in HR,” Josh Bersin said during an online presentation of the report’s findings, adding that he’s been working in the HR field for more than a quarter century. “Jobs, roles, and structures of the HR profession are going to change. So you’re all [HR pros] going to have lots of opportunities to do new things.”

Unlike earlier waves of automation, which focused on digitizing individual tasks, the next phase of AI adoption will center on agents that can execute entire processes with minimal human intervention, according to the research.

For more on Bersin’s predictions for the next phase of AI adoption, keep reading here.—AD

The value of total rewards packages often boils down to one central question: What return does an employer see from the investments it puts toward employee benefits?

While the concept of return-on-investment (ROI) is simple, measuring it isn’t always so straightforward. High utilization rates can translate to positive ROI, but certain benefits aren’t typically used by a large percentage of the workforce. Parental leave, for example, might not be used by the entire employee population, but is nevertheless highly valued by the workers.

“It’s very difficult to put an ROI on programs that might be fairly narrow,” Andrew Gregg, VP of employee benefits for Prudential Financial, told HR Brew last year. “It’s hard even to determine whether there's an ROI. It's just the right thing to do.” Prudential tracks utilization, but also wants to invest in benefits that serve as “a differentiator” between other employers, he suggested.

Tell us about your benefits and ROI. In 2026, HR Brew is hoping to learn more about how HR teams are making the business case for benefits to their executive leaders. Tell us about a benefit your company offers that you’re particularly proud of, as well as how your team is measuring its ROI, via this Google form.

For more on how employers make the business cases for benefits, keep reading here.—CV

Employers may be wondering how workers are doing these days, but the answer isn’t simple—no matter where they’re based.

Job confidence is down in many countries, while job satisfaction and well-being are holding steady, according to the 2026 Global Talent Barometer from ManpowerGroup.

The report surveyed 13,918 workers across 19 countries, including the US, Mexico, Japan, and India. Perhaps most striking is how employees in each country view the state of the workplace.

Overall worker sentiment is 67%, and consistent with the first barometer conducted in 2024. Workers in India had the highest sentiment at 77%; at the other end of the spectrum were those in Japan, where sentiment was just 48%.

For more on how workers are faring around the world, keep reading here.—KP