A new report from HR tech company Leapsome finds that people-first workplace policies are increasingly under threat, as HR leaders grapple with pressure to enforce return-to-office mandates, close widening cultural divides, and address rapid AI-driven workforce changes.

The 2025 HR Insights Report, conducted with research firm Opinium, surveyed 1,000 HR decision-makers in the U.S., U.K., Germany and the Netherlands. It reveals that 63% of U.S. HR leaders — and 56% globally — are being pushed to implement return-to-office policies, despite 81% believing forced RTO is not the most effective way to drive collaboration.

More than half (52%) of U.S.-based people leaders report growing cultural divides in the workplace, and 51% say those divides are threatening diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This trend, though most pronounced in the U.S., is also emerging across Europe.

The report also highlights mounting pressure to prepare workforces for AI integration. About 73% of HR leaders are planning workforce restructuring this year due to AI, while 64% report a significant AI skills gap. Employee resistance is currently the top barrier to AI adoption, the report notes.

“HR teams are being pulled in every direction — but they’re not just holding things together, they’re guiding the business forward,” said Luck Dookchitra, VP of People at Leapsome. “They’re using people data to lead high-stakes conversations — and pushing back when leadership forgets what actually drives performance: trust, inclusion, and alignment.”

The report also points to a shift in HR’s strategic influence. Nearly two-thirds of respondents say they’re accountable for building high-performing teams — a top CEO priority for 2025 — and 85% say they now hold influence over key business decisions.

“The future of HR isn’t just about automation or efficiency,” Dookchitra added. “It’s about using people insights to shape how business gets done — and leading with the confidence that comes from data, not just instinct.”

Leapsome, founded in 2016, is an AI-powered people platform focused on performance management, engagement, and development. The full report is available here.