The CHRO Playbook for Employee Experience in an AI Era

Is employee experience due for a reset? For much of the past decade, employee experience has been framed as a competitive advantage - a way to attract talent, boost engagement, and strengthen culture. Yet in today’s environment, shaped by economic pressure, evolving workforce expectations, and the rapid rise of AI, many organisations are re-examining whether their approach is still sustainable - or whether, in trying to improve employee experience, they may have inadvertently diluted it. So, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Jacob Morgan - author, keynote speaker, and Founder of The Future of Work Leaders - to explore what an employee experience reset looks like in 2026 and beyond.  Drawing on insights from interviews with 100 CHROs, Jacob shares why this moment may mark a turning point for accountability at work, and what leaders must do to balance empathy with performance without undermining either. Tune in to learn more about: Why 2026 may be a turning point for accountability in employee experience Whether wellbeing programmes have diluted performance expectations How leaders can balance empathy and high performance standards without appearing anti-employee What the evolving power dynamic between employers and employees means in practice How AI is redefining how work is measured, managed, and valued Why HR must lead - not just manage - the responsible and ethical adoption of AI  This episode is sponsored by Hibob. HiBob brings HR, Payroll, and Finance together into a single platform that employees actually use. With AI throughout, you move faster, work smarter, and empower your people to power your business.  Sapient Insights recognises HiBob’s AI vision, citing the Bob AI Companion for making everyday work faster and easier. Fosway Group also names HiBob a 2025 9-Grid™ Core Leader, recognising the strongest AI vision among Core Leaders.   HiBob. All-in-one HCM for HR, Payroll, and Finance.  ​​​Learn all about HiBob’s modern HR platform here Resources:  The Eight Laws of Employee Experience  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.