Now in its fourth year, HP’s Work Relationship Index has been tracking the world's relationship with work through a period of ongoing disruption.
In 2026, HP surveyed more than 19,000 desk-based workers across 15 countries, including Knowledge Workers, IT Decision Makers (ITDMs), and Business Leaders to measure key drivers of a healthy work relationship.
After a sharp drop in 2025, workplace health is recovering. The share of Knowledge Workers with a healthy relationship with work has risen by eight percentage points. But uncertainty has not gone away: seven in ten Knowledge Workers remain in the Watch-Out or Critical Zones.
The lesson for leaders is clear. The workers with the healthiest relationship with work are not the ones waiting for stability to return. Leaders need to facilitate the capacity to adapt through trust, upskilling, and technology.
The Work Relationship Index
The WRI provides a blueprint for how businesses can take action.
The story of work in 2026 is one of organizations learning to thrive in an environment where uncertainty has become a permanent feature of working life.
The healthiest workplaces are not necessarily those operating in the least disruptive environments. Rather, they’re the ones that equip people with the confidence, skills, technology, and support they need to adapt successfully and thrive amid that disruption. As uncertainty becomes an enduring reality, workers increasingly value employers that help them grow, build resilience, and navigate change with confidence.
For leaders looking to build healthier, more resilient, and growing organizations, this year's findings point toward five priorities:
1. Prioritize adaptability, not stability
2. Use AI to strengthen the workforce
3. Lead with trust and transparency
4. Invest in future-ready skills
