A recent report from International Workplace Group suggests the rising importance of Human Resources.
Research from IWG found that a strong majority of Chief Human Resources Officers believe they have more influence now than ever before.
Data shows that 95% of CHROs claim their role impacts company profitability, productivity, talent recruitment, long-term retention, and employee culture.
Part of this trend, according to IWG’s “Rise of the CHRO” report, is because HR leaders in Canada today “work more closely with the C-suite of their company than ever before.”
Another factor is that recruiting and retaining top talent, as well as boosting productivity, are top-of-mind concerns for most businesses.
As a result, “evidence shows that CHROs are increasingly recognized as trusted advisors to CEOs,” according to IWG.
Indeed, IWG points to a Harvard Business Review report that suggests CHROs could even be ideal CEO successors.
One major way human resource leaders are influencing workplace culture is around flexible working arrangements.
More than 80% of CHROs say that offering employees flexible work models is key to attracting and holding in to quality talent, according to IWG.
“Hybrid working is no longer just a perk,” posits Mark Dixon, chief executive officer of International Workplace Group.
Approximately 75% of recruiters have had candidates turn down roles because the company did not offer hybrid options.
Meanwhile, IWG data suggests that over 70% of companies with flexible working arrangements observed productivity increases last year.
Dixon thus describes hybrid working as “a strategic necessity for businesses aiming to thrive in 2026.”
Companies with rigid workplace structures are predicted to experience “a significant decline in talent retention” among other “detrimental effects,” according to IWG’s report.
Hybrid employees, meanwhile, cite improved physical health and superior sleeps, which helps them manage their workloads better.
“By embracing flexible working models, companies can unlock greater productivity, attract and retain top talent, ultimately building a happier workforce,” commented Dixon.
“CHROs are at the forefront of this transformation,” he says, “ensuring that hybrid working not only supports employee wellbeing and progress, but also drives long-term business success.”
HR leaders, Dixon argues, have evolved over decades into “indispensable architects of key corporate priorities.”
And with “hybrid and more flexible ways of working now a firm feature of the modern workplace, I expect the CHRO to play an ever more impactful role within the C-suite in the years ahead.”
International Workplace Group offers a platform for work enabling companies of all sizes to work more productively and profitably.
IWG’s network coverage includes more than 4,000 locations across 120 countries and counts 83% of Fortune 500 companies as customers.
