Lean HR, global scale: Intentional AI moves the global workforce

A loud message from the 2025 data: leaders are tired of juggling multiple systems. Many are actively looking to replace their HRIS.

Actually, 51% say they’re searching for a new platform right now, and another 36% would consider switching in the future, in exchange for a single, integrated solution that can handle global payroll, compliance, and reporting.

The report explores how companies are approaching this shift and what “good” looks like.

Employer of Record services have gone mainstream, shifting out of the niche solution space.

55% of companies employing internationally already use an EOR, and satisfaction levels are high, 76% of leaders using EORs say they’re happy with the model.

The report unpacks how leaders are weighing entity setup, contractor use, and EOR partnerships, and what mix works best in practice.

More often, contractors are being viewed as a planned part of workforce design, rather than a fallback. 79% of leaders say contractors and freelancers have become a more important part of their strategy.

Many companies are relying on them to test new markets, cover niche skills, and flex headcount without long-term risk. The report explores how companies are balancing this approach with the realities of compliance and misclassification.

Employees are asking harder questions about pay. 82% of HR leaders report more pressure on pay due to cost-of-living increases, while 77% believe pay transparency will improve culture.

The report looks at how leaders are responding to these twin pressures by rethinking compensation, retention, and global fairness.

Unsurprisingly, AI has become part of everyday HR, but adoption is uneven. 64% of leaders expect two-thirds of HR’s routine tasks to be automated by 2026.

At the same time, 28% stopped using an AI hiring tool over fairness concerns, while 27% adopted new ones.

The report highlights where AI is already making a difference, where it’s backfiring, and how leaders are approaching governance.

The majority of companies have had employees ask to relocate or work while travelling in the past year.

80% of leaders reported receiving these requests, so employee mobility has moved out of the 'edge case' camp. HR must plan for this now.

The report looks into strategy around work-from-anywhere requests, relocation policies, plus payroll and compliance tools for a workforce that won’t stay in one place.