The HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, has announced the formation of its 2026 Employee Productivity and Engagement Advisory Board, convening senior HR leaders, workforce strategy experts, and engagement specialists to address one of the most pressing issues for modern organizations.
As companies navigate hybrid and remote work models and the rise of generative artificial intelligence, understanding how to improve employee productivity and engagement has become increasingly critical. The advisory board will guide a research initiative and a virtual event, both set for 2026, aimed at translating insights into practical strategies for HR leaders.
The board will explore how organizations define and measure engagement, identify which HR and management practices have the greatest impact, and examine how productivity and performance are viewed across different contexts. It will also investigate the connections between engagement, productivity, performance, and retention to drive better business outcomes. The findings will shape both a research survey and a virtual event focused on actionable strategies.
The virtual event, "HR.com's State of Employee Productivity and Engagement," is scheduled for August 19, 2026, and is free to attend. Registration is available at this link.
The 2026 advisory board features a diverse group of experts, including Deepti Chaudhary, Senior HRIS Manager at Dover Corporation; Madeline Des Jardins, Global Senior Director of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement at WalkMe; Janiece Ferrell, Global Program Manager for Talent Supply Chain at Dell Technologies; Bridgett Hart, Vice President of Employee Experience at Ibex; Shipra Kamra, Vice President of the People Team at Responsive; Susana Kelly, Employee Experience and Engagement Analyst at Numeracle; Sandra Loughlin, Chief Learning Scientist at EPAM Systems Inc.; Cassandra Lowery, Global Human Resources Manager at Liminal; Lauren Mutz, Director of Employee Experience and Engagement at Daiichi Sankyo Inc.; Jason Richmond, Chief Culture Officer at Ideal Outcomes, Inc.; Kristen Ruttgaizer, Chief People Officer (on sabbatical); and Siri Svay, Program Manager for Culture and Engagement at IAT Insurance Group.
“We are thrilled to bring together such an outstanding group of experts to guide this important work,” said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. “Their real-world experience will help HR leaders better connect productivity and engagement in a time of rapid change, and we look forward to the impact this collaboration will bring to the HR community.”
The HR Research Institute annually releases “State of the Industry” reports on various HR topics, including last year’s report, HR.com's State of Employee Productivity and Engagement 2025. These and other free research reports and infographics are available at hr.com/researchinstitute.
This initiative underscores the ongoing challenge for organizations to maintain workforce productivity and engagement in a rapidly evolving workplace, with implications for employee retention, business performance, and adaptability to technological change.
