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We outline 4 ways the world of frontline work will change in 2026, and how your organisation can stay ahead.
Frontline workplaces are entering their most transformative period in decades. Rising compliance demands, wage pressures, talent shortages and the rapid acceleration of AI are reshaping how industries like Retail, Events & Stadiums, Hospitality, Healthcare, Aged Care, Childcare and other frontline sectors operate.
But while 2026 brings complexity, it also brings opportunity. Our guide to 4 emerging frontline HR trends will help put your organisation on the front foot, ready to respond with agility, smarter workforce design, and AI-enabled HR and workforce management service delivery.
Our new eBook reveals the four major trends that will define frontline HR in 2026 and offers practical guidance to help leaders prepare.
What you'll learn
Inside the eBook, you’ll uncover strategic insights and future-focused perspectives on:
1. The rise of practical AI in the frontline
AI is moving from pilot projects to everyday operational enabler, influencing scheduling, forecasting, recruitment, compliance and frontline decision-making. Learn what this shift means for HR and where to start.
2. The redesign of frontline jobs and skills
AI-enabled automation is freeing up time, which in turn is sparking a redesign of frontline jobs, reshaping responsibilities and opening the door to new learning models and career pathways.
3. The global move toward enforceable roster standards
Predictable hours, advance notice, shift-change limits and compensation rules for late changes are becoming regulatory expectations, not “nice to haves”. Discover what’s proposed, what’s changing and how to prepare across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
4. The evolution of total rewards for hourly workers
Financial wellbeing, predictable shift patterns, fairness and career transparency with defined steps to increase income for frontline workers are becoming core pillars of retention. Explore what a modern total rewards model looks like for frontline teams.
Why download it?
Our annual HR trends eBook is focused on the needs of HR leaders, workforce and operations managers, talent acquisition managers, and C-suite leaders in frontline-intensive sectors. Our guide distils insights from global research, industry reports, and Humanforce’s work with 2,300+ organisations worldwide. You’ll gain clarity on what’s changing and practical steps your business can take today to navigate the uncertainty ahead.
Get your free copy today!
Fill out the form to download 2026 HR trends for frontline workplaces and prepare your organisation for what’s coming next.