Strategic & Sustainable HR

HR and payroll functions in Europe are under increasing pressure from talent shortages, rising costs, regulation and AI. Drawing on insights from the 2026 HR and Payroll Pulse, this blog examines the ten most pressing HR challenges organisations face in 2026.

An interview with Bart Pollentier on how Europe’s competitiveness challenge is becoming an HR challenge, and the five EU regulations HR leaders should prepare for.

Or HR & Payroll Pulse research has shown that discrimination in the workplace is still one of the most prevalent issues facing employees in Europe. In response, SD Worx has collaborated with Laura De Boom, FWO PhD Fellow at the University of Antwerp, to discuss the statistics and actions employers can take.

In today’s competitive talent landscape, work-life balance is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic priority. At SD Worx, we’ve made it part of our DNA, not only to attract and retain top talent, but to foster a culture where people thrive. Here are five practical ways organisations can support work-life balance, with examples from our own journey.

In 2025, international teams aren't limited to large corporations. Whether you lead a global organisation, or a small team spread across two countries, supporting your people effectively requires practical strategies that encourage collaboration, innovation, compliance, and engagement. Here are five straightforward ways HR managers can help international teams work better together. 

With at least four generations in the workplace, employers today manage a highly diverse workforce with vastly different experiences, expectations, and ways of working. While these differences can sometimes create friction, they also present a unique opportunity: age diversity in the workplace brings a wealth of skills, perspectives, and innovation to the table.

Since legal requirements for time tracking came into force, many businesses have some kind of workforce management solution in place out of necessity. In a lot of cases, it’s the easiest and cheapest way they could find to remain compliant—whether it’s online, on paper, or a bit of both. While this may solve the problem in the short-term, it might be surprising to realise just how much it can cost a business over time.

The benefits of organising working time and a reduction of the number of working hours have yet again been confirmed by a study carried out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The implementation of an innovative and proactive policy stands to benefit the employee and the company alike.

Explore insights from SD Worx experts on the future of flexible work, including personalized benefits, focus on inclusivity and redefining work hours.

Our first report of 2024 analyses exclusive Europe-wide research to answer the question: what matters the most to employees when it comes to flexible work? And how can employers enhance their flex working policies to meet the evolving needs of their people? We’ve identified 4 priorities to address that will ensure your flexible working policies are the perfect fit.

Combining workdays with annual leave enables the flexibility employees prioritise. Learn why it's an essential benefit for international companies to offer. 

We should be able to define the length of time it will take us to perform a particular job, but reality is very different and shows consistently exceeded execution times.

This underestimation of the amount of time required has a name: cognitive bias in planning. So what are the solutions to address this and complete tasks within the allotted time?