The Future of Work Playbook

Ambitious enterprises today look at growth through a global lens. However, the operational reality of international expansion often stalls momentum.

Modernize risk frameworks to account for distributed and non-traditional talent models. Integrate real-time compliance mechanisms rather than relying on legacy policy enforcement through solutions like an EOR.

The question for organizations is no longer “if” or “when” to transform, but “how.” Several fundamental hurdles continue to impede operational readiness and slow strategic progress, with Leadership Mindset reported as the top barrier to modern agility and execution, followed by Outdated Technology, Government Regulation and Employee Resistance.

To bridge the gap between high-level vision and daily operations, enterprise leaders must turn workforce disruption into an advantage, with clear action on AI deployment, risk management and the required to operate across borders:

01 | BRIDGE THE AI VALUE & PURPOSE GAP

02 | MITIGATE THE COMPLIANCE CANYON

03 | BUILD FOR THE FLEXIBLE, SKILLS-BASED WORKPLACE

Reframe AI investments from executive-driven tech adoption to employee-focused enablement and innovation tools.

The modern leadership imperative is no longer just about "implementing tech"—it is the ability to lead humans and AI together, ensuring technology serves the people.

Laura Maffucci | Head of HR | G-P

Formally retire rigid and outdated structures and restructure job architecture around critical thinking, cross-cultural execution and hybrid human-AI workflows.

METHODOLOGY

G-P’s 2026 World at Work Report brings together perspectives from 7,100 professionals across the global workforce including 3,100 Executives, (VP+ at companies of 500 or more employees): U.S. (1000), U.K. (500), Australia (500), France (500), Germany (500) and Singapore (100); and 4,000 Employed Professionals (Employees): U.S. (1000), U.K. (1000), France (500), Germany (500), Singapore (500) and Australia (500), to examine the current state and sentiment of global employment and how to navigate global business priorities, technology implementation, talent trends.

This random double-opt-in survey was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).