Prepare your HR function for 2026 with a practical playbook covering equal parental leave, AI adoption, policy alignment and ethical digital transformation. Learn how to strengthen compliance, productivity and employee engagement in a fast-changing workplace.

As 2026 begins, organisations and professionals face rapid change driven by AI, digital tools and evolving labour and compliance frameworks. This article explains why January is the strategic moment to invest in professional development, align new budgets and development plans, and build sustained capacity in ethical AI use, digital skills, POPIA, employment equity and workplace transformation.