I am indeed grateful to receive feedback & responses from readers on my story entitled 'Putting the “human” back into HR means treating employees as a unique people focusing on empathy not just numbers or rules" published by newswav.com on 22 July, 2026. It is true as most readers said that external conditions create inflection points that represent either opportunities or threats. Yes, HR currently faces several of such points that may offer insight into the likely state of play come 2050. There are a number of societal environmental factors that will place pressure on HR to respond: technology (general AI, Gen AI and agentic AI); geopolitical trends and global conflicts; regulatory attention on HR; political polarization; sustainability development goals; multigenerational workplaces; mental health concerns affecting staff engagement; uncertainty & rapid change; widening cultural gaps & labor shortages.
These (and other) environmental trends are bringing about major changes not only in society but in the workplace. HR has always evolved to react to the changing conditions. Based on my corporate experience & universities exposure, HR is less about HR and more about how business & HR leaders deliver value to all stakeholders who are humans, including employees and executives inside the organization, and customers, investors and communities outside.
Putting my hat as CEO of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) & Global Sejahtera, I am of the view that while algorithms and government policies set the technological parameters and structural boundaries, the future of work is fundamentally defined by the people. It is human values, adaptability and choices that determine whether automation produces widespread anxiety or massive opportunity. Instead of a simple “humans vs. machines” narrative, staff and leaders are learning to become AI work Architects and AI Stewards. The true value is redesigning jobs to make AI genuinely serve the workforce.
Ultimately, the future of work evolves to the decisions made everyday by individuals & teams prioritizing psychological collaboration within the workplace.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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