Eight trends shaping the global employment, incentives and pensions landscape in 2026
2026 is expected to be a dynamic year for global employers, with a range of emerging and ongoing developments set to influence workplaces.
We have identified eight key trends that will define 2026. Employers can use these insights to prioritise their strategies and stay ahead.
- The democratisation of equity – the rise and risks of global equity participation
- Stronger voices – the new age of worker representation and industrial relations
- Building trust – the expanding scope of workplace investigations
- AI at work – navigating boundaries in the digital workplace
- Pay transparency revolution – driving equal pay and group workforce litigation
- Labour markets under the lens – competition regulation and the evolving fate of restrictive covenants
- Restructuring in focus – navigating workforce transitions in a disrupted world
- Pensions re-imagined – innovation, de-risking and surplus management in 2026
This report is designed to equip employers with the insights they need to navigate what’s next. As ever, please feel free to contact your usual Freshfields contact for further information.
