HR Leaders Reported Widespread Disruption During Change
A survey of 880 HR leaders revealed that most organizations struggled to maintain productivity during transitions.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Remote Work
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Recent findings from a survey of 880 HR and people leaders across 11 countries show that over half of organizations faced moderate or major disruption during change efforts. Many firms reported a significant lag in productivity recovery after these initiatives concluded.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a widespread gap in organizational readiness for change, with many companies struggling to manage internal transitions effectively. Failure to address leadership behavior and preparation can lead to prolonged performance slumps that last for months.
Eighty-seven percent of surveyed organizations lacked high levels of preparation for change initiatives. Furthermore, 41% of companies required more than three months to regain lost productivity following disruption.
The players
Insights
This is the U.K.-based research firm that conducted the global survey of HR and people leaders.
The details
The survey results indicated that productivity levels dropped twice as fast when leaders exhibited negative behavior during periods of change. Despite this correlation, 44% of leaders failed to identify their own negative conduct during these disruptions.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The research findings were published.
Market Landscape
The study reflects a broader trend of increased operational fragility as organizations undergo frequent, often poorly managed, digital and cultural transformations. This positioning suggests that businesses failing to prioritize change-readiness are losing competitive ground to more agile rivals.
Employees may face increased workplace stress or instability as organizations attempt to push through poorly prepared change initiatives. Workers in companies that lack adequate transition planning should anticipate potential temporary dips in departmental performance or changes to team workflows.
The takeaway
Effective organizational change requires leaders to be self-aware of how their behavior influences team productivity during periods of stress. Organizations can likely reduce recovery time by investing in better preparation and leadership coaching before launching major transitions.
Further reading
Learn more about managing distributed workforces and organizational shifts in the Remote Work section.
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Do you trust that business leaders are typically prepared for major organizational disruptions?
