Connect with us

Technology

HR’s Role as Strategic Partner Stagnates for First Time in Four Years: HR Must Adapt to Shifting Priorities and Demonstrate Data-Backed ROI in 2025, Says New Trends Report From McLean & Company

Published

2 years ago

on

Global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has published its highly anticipated annual HR Trends Report. The 2025 report outlines current and future trends in the HR space, identifies top priorities for the coming year, and provides data-based insights to help HR leaders prepare their organizations to thrive in the future of work, advising that HR must also strengthen its position as strategic organizational partner. 

TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – As reported in the recently published HR Trends Report 2025 from global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company, alongside the top priorities and expected trends for 2025 found in the firm’s annual report is the critical finding that for the first time since 2020, HR’s role as a strategic partner to the organization did not grow. The firm’s research insights indicate that although HR is becoming more strategic, with 48% of HR organizations reporting they have a formal HR strategy compared to just 37% in 2024, HR must adapt to changes to sustain and grow its strategic relationship with the organization and demonstrate the value and return on investment (ROI) of HR initiatives.

The firm also outlines how HR professionals are facing increased economic pressures and a competitive labor market, as HR’s top priority has shifted away from recruitment toward developing leaders, retaining employees, and managing labor costs in 2025.

“From 2020 to 2024, HR’s strategic partnership surged as organizations navigated the pandemic, remote work, and shifting worker priorities. Effective change management, talent management, and talent acquisition were crucial during this period, and HR was a critical partner in navigating those changes,” says Will Howard, practice lead, HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. “In 2025, priorities are shifting, and HR must be quick to adapt to changes in strategic direction. HR has an opportunity to deliver value through internal talent development and retention and show, through data, how they deliver organizational priorities.”

The report has been informed by the perspectives of 779 HR and business professionals across a variety of regions, including North America (84%), Europe (6%), Asia (4%), Oceania (2%), Latin America (2%), Africa (2%), and the Middle East (1%). Respondents’ industries included manufacturing, finance and insurance, healthcare and social assistance, educational services, public administration, retail trade, construction, transportation and warehousing, professional, scientific, and technical services, and more.

The full report from McLean & Company spotlights the top five priorities for HR organizations in 2025, noting that there have been some significant shifts in ranking compared to the firm’s 2024 report released late last year. According to the firm’s most recent findings, HR’s top priorities in 2025 are:

Developing leadersRetaining employeesControlling labor costsProviding a great employee experienceRecruitment

McLean & Company advises that the ability to demonstrate how HR delivers on the new top five priorities will be key in strengthening HR’s role as strategic partner in the coming year.

Top Trends for HR in 2025

In addition to HR’s top five priorities in 2025, the new report from McLean & Company examines pivotal trends that must be considered and prioritized in the coming year as HR continues to develop and maintain its strategic partnership with the organization:

Human Leadership in a Complex Digital World. In an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment, leaders are facing increasing demands. Their evolving role now emphasizes guiding employees toward growth, purpose, and fulfillment while ensuring their wellbeing and a positive employee experience. According to the report, people managers are 1.7 times more likely to report higher levels of stress compared to individual contributors. Developing leaders, the #1 priority for HR in 2025, will be crucial in preparing leaders for a future of work in which their roles are stretched and they are tasked with balancing their own wellbeing alongside the wellbeing of their teams.

The firm’s research findings show that when HR excels at leadership development, organizations are 1.9 times more likely to be high performing at achieving strategic goals and objectives, 1.8 times more likely to be high performing at cost optimization, and 1.7 times more likely to be high performing at revenue growth.

AI Transformation in HR. HR plays a key role in the adoption of AI, but HR’s technology enablement skills remain low, with HR’s level of effectiveness in tech enablement ranked in last place of the competencies measured in the report. McLean & Company’s research highlights that it is vital for HR to invest in technology skills, as they are key in enabling the successful adoption and integration of AI within the organization.

Effective use of AI in HR enhances key employee experience outcomes, such as talent acquisition, the candidate experience, talent management, and learning and development. For example, when HR uses AI effectively, organizations are 1.3 times more likely to be highly effective at recruiting by effectively filling vacant roles with quality external talent and at providing a great candidate experience, 1.2 times more likely to be highly effective at facilitating data-driven people decisions, and 1.4 times more likely to be highly effective in learning and development.

Navigating Multiple Threats to Wellbeing. McLean & Company’s survey data shows that 70% of respondents reported economic instability as the largest threat to the wellbeing of their workforce, with tightening labor markets, new legislation, and political issues rounding out the top four threats to employee wellbeing.

“Wellbeing investments must be aligned with employee needs to ensure return on investment,” explains Howard. “Organizations need to first listen carefully to understand employee wellbeing priorities and needs, then act accordingly. But simply increasing spending is not always realistic or feasible. Instead, adopting a wellbeing strategy that is developed through employee listening will be foundational in ensuring that limited resources are strategically allocated to what matters most to the workforce.”

The new report shows that HR organizations with a formal, documented wellbeing strategy are 1.6 times more likely to be high performing in supporting employee wellbeing and 1.3 times more likely to be high performing at providing a great employee experience (priority #4 for HR in 2025).

Emerging HR Trends. Making sense of new and varied HR best practices can easily become overwhelming. To cut through the noise, McLean & Company identified ten emerging trends in the HR landscape and surveyed respondents on the organizational impact they anticipate each practice will have.

The ten emerging trends, ranked in order of anticipated organizational impact, are:

Redefining expectations for the roles of people managers.Adopting skills-based hiring practices.Measuring the ROI of HR programs.Breaking jobs down into tasks to match individuals with work and projects based on skills and interests.Increasing transparency into pay and pay decisions.Implementing an AI-specific workforce upskilling strategy.Adopting trauma-informed practices to foster a safe workplace for all.Enabling the organization to practice neuroinclusive leadership.Providing reverse mentorship opportunities.Implementing returnships to access a larger talent pool.

A more detailed view into the anticipated impact and implementation rates of these emerging trends is available in the full report.

The HR Trends Report 2025 from McLean & Company offers a plethora of critical data-backed insights for HR organizations, including that HR will be key in driving talent development and retention to reduce recruiting expenses and help control labor costs while ensuring the organization has the talent and leadership required for 2025 and beyond. 

The firm also advises that HR must insert itself into the AI conversation, as technology changes are people and process changes, areas in which HR plays a pivotal role. In effectively managing and delivering on HR’s top priorities while planning for current and future trends, HR has an opportunity to showcase its abilities and cement its role as a strategic organizational partner in the future of work.

To access the full HR Trends Report 2025, including extensive data points and research-driven insights on each identified trend, a full list of the top eight threats to employee wellbeing in 2025, AI use case percentages by HR taxonomy areas, and more, please contact kking@mcleanco.com.

To register for McLean & Company’s free upcoming webinar inspired by the firm’s HR Trends Report 2025, please visit the registration page for January 16 at 1:00 PM ET or the registration page for January 23 at 1:00 PM ET.

Media interested in accessing full research insights or connecting with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights and commentary on HR trends in 2025, HR’s critical role in digital transformation and the future of work, and more can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at kking@mcleanco.com.     

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today’s needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm’s member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact kking@mcleanco.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hrs-role-as-strategic-partner-stagnates-for-first-time-in-four-years-hr-must-adapt-to-shifting-priorities-and-demonstrate-data-backed-roi-in-2025-says-new-trends-report-from-mclean–company-302343442.html

SOURCE McLean & Company

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION APPOINTS DAVID S. SCHULZ TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Published

51 minutes ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

LANCASTER, Pa., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT) (“Fulton”) today announced the appointment of David S. Schulz as a member of its board of directors (the “Board”) for a term commencing September 14, 2026 and expiring at Fulton’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.

“We’re excited to welcome Dave to Fulton’s board of directors,” said Curt Myers, Fulton Chairman, CEO, and President. “Dave brings extensive financial leadership experience gained through more than a decade of service with publicly traded companies. His expertise in finance, strategic planning, risk, and mergers and acquisitions will provide valuable perspective as we continue to execute our growth strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders, customers and communities.”

With the addition of Schulz, Fulton’s Board will have 11 members, and he will serve on the Audit and Risk committees. Schulz has also been appointed to the board of directors of Fulton’s banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank, N.A.

Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco International, Inc. (“Wesco”) from 2016 to June 2020, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wesco from June 2020 to February 2026 and as Executive Vice President and Special Advisor to the CEO of Wesco from February 2026 until his retirement on May 31, 2026. 

Prior to joining Wesco, Schulz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. and was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Vice President of Finance of the Armstrong Building Products division.

Before joining Armstrong World Industries in 2011, he held various financial leadership roles with Procter & Gamble and The J.M. Smucker Company. He was also an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

In 2025, Schulz joined the board of Sterling Infrastructure, Inc., and he was appointed as chair of the audit committee in 2026. He also serves on the company’s compensation and talent development committee.

ABOUT FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Fulton, a $34 billion Lancaster, Pa.-based financial holding company, has more than 3,400 employees and operates more than 215 financial centers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia through Fulton Bank, N.A. Additional information on Fulton can be found at https://investor.fultonbank.com.

Contact: Steve Trapnell
717-291-2739

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fulton-financial-corporation-appoints-david-s-schulz-to-board-of-directors-302831288.html

SOURCE Fulton Financial Corporation

Continue Reading

Technology

Octavio Marquez Elected to MSA Safety Board of Directors

Published

51 minutes ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

PITTSBURGH, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA), a global leader in the development of advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions, today announced that Octavio Marquez, president and chief executive officer of Diebold Nixdorf, has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors. His election was part of the MSA Board’s regular succession plans.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to add Octavio to the MSA Board,” said Robert A. Bruggeworth, MSA chairman. “He brings a broad range of executive leadership experience, including strategy development, capital allocation, business transformation and serving international markets, which will serve MSA well.”

“Octavio’s perspectives will be an asset to me and our entire Executive Leadership Team,” said Steven C. Blanco, MSA president and CEO. “It is a pleasure to welcome Octavio to MSA, and I look forward to working with him.”

Mr. Marquez joined Diebold Nixdorf in 2014 and has held senior leadership roles across the company’s Global Banking organization and its Americas region, including as executive vice president of Global Banking and senior vice president of the Americas. Before joining Diebold Nixdorf, Mr. Marquez held leadership positions at Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and NCR.

Diebold Nixdorf automates, digitizes and transforms the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world’s top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, its integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of customers every day. Headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, Diebold Nixdorf employs approximately 20,000 employees globally, supporting more than 100 countries.

Mr. Marquez holds a degree in business and finance from Universidad Iberoamericana and has completed executive education programs at MIT Sloan, The Wharton School and The University of Texas at Austin.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and employs a team of approximately 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/octavio-marquez-elected-to-msa-safety-board-of-directors-302831265.html

SOURCE MSA Safety

Continue Reading

Technology

BlueFolder Field Service Software Launches New AI-Powered Features to Transform How Teams Work

Published

52 minutes ago

on

July 21, 2026

By

New AI capabilities instantly surface customer insights and transform technician notes into actionable summaries to help field service teams work faster, stay aligned, and deliver better service

AUBURN, Ala., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BlueFolder field service software recently announced the launch of two powerful new AI features: AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization. Together, these capabilities are designed to eliminate the time-consuming, manual work of reviewing fragmented customer records and lengthy technician notes—giving field service teams instant clarity to respond faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver exceptional service.

BlueFolder expands it’s field service and work order management suite with two exciting new AI field service features.

Built directly into the BlueFolder platform, both features leverage artificial intelligence to automatically compile and summarize complex, unstructured data into clear, easy-to-read overviews. The result: technicians, dispatchers, and managers always have the context they need, right when they need it.

AI-Powered Customer Summaries

As field service organizations grow, customer information becomes increasingly scattered across emails, service request logs, and communication histories. BlueFolder’s AI Customer Summary feature addresses this challenge head-on by consolidating those interactions into a single, actionable snapshot.

Instead of manually digging through multiple records before a service call or customer interaction, teams can now access a real-time summary highlighting key concerns, past service activity, and recent updates. The feature goes beyond basic summarization and surfaces critical business insights such as equipment past due for maintenance, approaching warranty expirations, and proactive revenue opportunities, empowering teams to recommend follow-ups or upgrades directly from the customer record.

Built-in traceability links each summary back to its original source communications, so users can validate insights with confidence, ensuring both speed and accuracy in every customer interaction.

AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization

In many service organizations, technicians log updates across multiple visits, often resulting in long, fragmented notes that are difficult to review at a glance. BlueFolder’s AI Field Notes Summarization feature solves this by automatically condensing multiple technician entries into a structured summary that highlights key milestones, actions taken, and next steps.

Rather than scrolling through pages of updates, managers and dispatchers can immediately understand job status and determine what needs to happen next, improving alignment between field and office teams, accelerating decision-making, and reducing miscommunication. The feature is especially valuable for complex or multi-day jobs, where clear continuity and smooth technician handoffs are critical to delivering consistent service. It’s another featuring making BlueFolder’s work order management software capabilities stronger every day.

“History is one of the most powerful tools a service team has — the problem is it’s usually buried. BlueFolder’s new AI features fix that. Your team walks into every interaction already knowing the customer, knowing the equipment, and exactly where things stand. That changes the entire experience,” says John Shaw, VP, Technology, Service Operations.

AI as a Core Part of the BlueFolder Platform

The launch of these two features reflects BlueFolder’s broader commitment to embedding AI throughout its field service management software as an integrated layer of intelligence that makes every workflow smarter. Rather than requiring teams to change how they work, BlueFolder’s AI capabilities are designed to surface the right information at the right moment automatically, within the tools that technicians, dispatchers, and managers already use every day.

“AI is transforming what’s possible in field service, and BlueFolder is answering that call. These features are the result of deep platform expertise and a clear vision for where the industry is headed. We’re embedding intelligence throughout the platform because we know it makes our customers more competitive, more efficient, and better positioned to grow,” says Stephen Myslicki, Group President of Field Services.

Availability

Both AI-Powered Customer Summaries and AI-Powered Field Notes Summarization are available now to BlueFolder customers as optional, easy-to-enable features within the platform. They are part of BlueFolder’s growing suite of AI-driven capabilities designed to help field service organizations operate more efficiently and scale with confidence.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluefolder-field-service-software-launches-new-ai-powered-features-to-transform-how-teams-work-302831320.html

SOURCE BlueFolder

Continue Reading

Trending