Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) Canadian chief human resources officers say their influence is at an all-time high, as human resources becomes a central driver of productivity, talent strategy and business performance heading into 2026, according to a new survey by International Workplace Group.
The survey, which polled more than 260 CHROs, found 80 per cent said they’re working more closely with the C-suite than ever before. The findings point to a shift in executive priorities, as productivity, recruitment and retention and employee well-being move to the forefront of business decision-making.
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That increased influence is closely tied to core business outcomes. Nearly nine in 10 (89 per cent) CHROs consider themselves trusted senior advisers to their organization’s chief executive officer, while 96 per cent said their role strongly influences profitability.
Flexible work remains a central lever of that influence. More than four in five (81 per cent) CHROs said hybrid working is key to retaining top talent, while 64 per cent said they predict a significant decline in retention if flexible arrangements were removed. Nearly eight in 10 said requiring daily long commutes would have detrimental effects on employees, while 71 per cent of organizations embracing greater flexibility expect improvements in retention.
Separate research from IWG found 74 per cent of executives offering flexible work reported productivity gains in 2025, reinforcing the CHRO’s growing role in balancing workforce needs with business performance.
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