McLean & Company Urges HR to Pivot Amid Converging Disruptions
Event summary
- McLean & Company released its 2026 report 'HR's Moment: Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity With Trust and Innovation' on March 26, 2026.
- Only 37% of organizations have a formal employee listening strategy, per McLean & Company's 2025 HR Trends Report.
- Edelman's 2025 Trust Barometer found 68% believe business leaders 'purposely mislead people,' up 12 points since 2021.
- Innovation rose from tenth to second place among HR priorities in McLean & Company's 2026 Trends data.
The big picture
McLean & Company's report highlights HR's pivotal role in navigating interconnected disruptions—AI advancements, environmental volatility, and shifting employee expectations. As organizational trust declines and burnout rises, HR's ability to stabilize operations and align workforce sentiment with business goals becomes critical. The firm's data suggests HR teams that embrace innovation and strategic realignment will strengthen their influence, while those that resist risk marginalization in enterprise decision-making.
What we're watching
- HR Strategic Shift
- How HR departments will operationalize McLean & Company's three strategic actions to build credibility, prioritize impact, and drive operational excellence.
- Trust Rebuilding
- Whether HR-led initiatives can reverse declining employer trust amid rising employee skepticism.
- Innovation Adoption
- The pace at which HR teams will integrate innovation as a core priority, moving from tenth to second place in strategic importance.