Setting the Stage for the Top 3 HR Trends for 2025

Need some help breaking down the top HR trends for 2025? Planning out the future focus of HR doesn’t have to be difficult when research firms are doing the work necessary to investigate upcoming trends.

Leadership and HR trends set the tone for the next evolution of the work culture and the intended directions for shifting practices within any workplace. As we head closer to 2025, some workplace trends will decline in importance whereas others will determine whether your employees stay or leave in a rush. 

The death of DEI initiatives is something we’ve already started witnessing this year, with big players like Walmart backing down due to social pressure, however, other organizations are continuing to champion inclusivity even without using the terminology. With only a month left to plan out your approach to 2025, here are the best HR practices to gear up for.

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Top HR Trends for 2025 Designed to Guide Your Organization Into the New Year

McLean & Company recently released its HR Trends Report 2025, which provides some insight into some key leadership and HR trends that are reshaping the workplace. The socio-political climate combined with the piling economic losses have created an unpleasant environment for employers and employees alike, and if left unaddressed, the problem is likely to get worse. 

The workplace is always changing at a fast pace but some trends last long enough for matters to settle down until the organization finds its footing. The McLean & Company survey spoke to 770 HR professionals who were able to aid in pinpointing some key areas of focus for the coming year.

1. Prioritizing Human Leadership in a Tech-Savvy World

Effective leaders are critical for the survival of any organization, this is a well-known fact. Despite that training and preparing leaders for their position at the helm of any organization is an area of development that is often ignored. Failing to develop a leader’s skills effectively can hinder an organization from reaching its full potential and that’s why this remains a top HR trend for 2025. 

According to the report, when HR starts to emphasize leadership development, organizations become 2.3 times more likely to be high-performing at evolving to meet new opportunities or 1.9 times more likely to meet strategic goals. Leaders currently believe their skill sets are incompatible with what is necessary for the future of work.

As leaders turn their attention to growth, HR teams need to assist them with their transformation.

2. AI Continues to Lead Workplace Trends in 2025

Around 42% of HR respondents are currently engaging AI in some form, however, only 7% of them report their organization has a formal, documented AI strategy that is prioritized by the organization. AI tools are here to stay and regardless of whether an organization opens its door to AI tools, it will be affected by the tides of change that are brought on by artificial intelligence.

HR’s future focus on AI has to be two-fold. First, HR leaders need to start utilizing AI tools in their daily tasks to save time and energy for more strategic tasks. Additionally, HR leaders can guide the rest of the organization through the process of adopting AI. Not only can they improve their work, but they can help the entire workforce do the same.

3. Employee Wellbeing Needs to be a Central Priority for HR

Employees are worried about retaining their jobs, workers are feeling burnt out, and changing technology is causing employees to fear being outpaced and replaced. All these stressors make it more likely that employees will turn to passive workers or quit and hop to another job that treats them better. 

“Though 70% of respondents reported economic stability as the largest threat to the wellbeing of their workforce, financial wellbeing ranked last across the wellbeing dimensions that have reportedly received increased investment. Legislative and political shifts have also added complexities to supporting employee wellbeing, with new legislation and political issues ranking as the third and fourth largest perceived threats to employee wellbeing in 2025.”

—McLean & Company, From PR Newswire

Addressing holistic well-being is a matter of great importance for organizations in 2025, and every HR team should determine its goals and game plan for assessing the health of the organization.

As for the top three priorities for HR organizations in 2025, the categories perfectly reflect the trends: Developing leaders, retaining employees, and controlling labor costs. Addressing these elements will help ensure that an organization is well-grounded and still able to stay competitive in its industry, which is the perfect balance for any business, young or old.

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