SD Worx outlines HR priorities to boost workforce strategy and employee experience

SD Worx, an HR and payroll solutions provider based in Bray, Co Wicklow, has identified key HR priorities for 2026, focusing on AI adoption, employee experience, strategic HR, personalised training, and flexible workforce management.

Eimear Byrne, country leader at SD Worx, said that AI adoption in Irish workplaces is shifting significantly. “There has been a big shift in the way that AI is viewed. Initially, some people felt vulnerable about engaging with AI. They felt it would be a negative for a number of reasons.”

“Since they’ve been using AI, however, they have found that it has helped them in their job, doing admin and other tasks at pace, freeing up time for them to do the critical things that AI can’t do. People are adapting and working with AI,” Byrne said.

She also noted that Ireland is in a strong position relative to global AI trends, with regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act helping to shape adoption.

On training, Byrne explained that employees increasingly expect a personalised approach.

Instead of rolling out uniform training, HR must tailor programmes to individual career paths. She highlighted that empathetic, human-centred leadership is key, particularly for younger staff entering the workforce, who need to feel included in the culture.

Byrne highlighted the importance of internal mobility and organisational adaptability. She said HR leaders must step into the role of Flow Architect, creating systems that can adjust to shifting priorities, while rethinking roles, career paths, and learning ecosystems.

She added that new EU regulations like the Pay Transparency Directive and AI Act will further increase the need for fairness and transparency in HR practices.

View the full report to see how Irish HR leaders are shaping workforce strategy.

Photo credits to Eimear Byrne’s LinkedIn