The HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, has announced the formation of its 2026 Employee Productivity and Engagement Advisory Board, bringing together senior HR leaders, workforce strategy experts, and engagement specialists to shape upcoming research and a virtual event. The initiative addresses one of the most critical challenges facing organizations today: improving productivity and engagement amid hybrid and remote work and the rise of generative AI.
The Advisory Board will guide a 2026 research initiative and a virtual event focused on turning insights into practical strategies. The board will consider how organizations define and measure engagement, which HR and management practices have the greatest impact, and how productivity and performance are viewed across different contexts. It will also examine how engagement, productivity, performance, and retention are connected to drive better business outcomes. Findings will inform both the research survey and the virtual event, scheduled for August 19, 2026. Registration is available at HR.com's State of Employee Productivity and Engagement Virtual Event.
The newly formed board features distinguished experts including Deepti Chaudhary, Senior HRIS Manager at Dover Corporation; Madeline Des Jardins, Global Senior Director, Internal Communications & Employee Engagement at WalkMe; Janiece Ferrell, Global Program Manager, Talent Supply Chain, Workforce Planning, Effectiveness and Efficiencies at Dell Technologies; Bridgett Hart, Vice President, Employee Experience at Ibex; Shipra Kamra, Vice President, People Team (Head of HR - Global) at Responsive; Susana Kelly, Employee Experience & Engagement Analyst at Numeracle; Sandra Loughlin, Chief Learning Scientist at EPAM Systems Inc.; Cassandra Lowery, Global Human Resources Manager at Liminal; Lauren Mutz, Director, Employee Experience & 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, 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 releases annual “State of the Industry” reports in various HR topic areas, including last year’s research report, HR.com's State of Employee Productivity and Engagement 2025. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute.
The implications of this announcement are significant for HR professionals and organizations worldwide. As hybrid and remote work become permanent fixtures and generative AI reshapes job roles, the ability to maintain high productivity and engagement is paramount. The Advisory Board’s work will provide data-driven insights and practical strategies, helping HR leaders navigate these changes effectively. By connecting engagement, productivity, performance, and retention, the research aims to drive better business outcomes, directly impacting organizational success in a rapidly evolving workplace.
