Study: Business Leaders Underestimate Future Work Disruptions, Leaving HR Unprepared

HR Dive · United States · Sep 8, 2026

A survey of 880 HR leaders by learning and development firm Insights found that business leaders consistently underestimate the impact of organizational change — 39% anticipated moderate or major disruption before their most recent change program, but 51% actually experienced it. Unmanaged disruptions caused productivity losses, with 41% of affected organizations needing more than three months to recover. Critically, 87% of HR respondents said they were not highly prepared for their most recent significant change, a finding echoed by a separate DDI survey showing only 13% of HR leaders believe their organizations are very capable of anticipating and reacting to change. For staffing firms, widespread organizational unreadiness signals ongoing client-side demand for flexible workforce solutions and change-management-linked talent acquisition.