From 2025 to 2026: A Practical Playbook for Managing Change in Your Team

WHEW—what a year! 2025 brought a nonstop stretch of change for HR and payroll teams. Between regulatory updates, evolving HRIS workflows, year-end reporting pressures, and the growing role of AI in day-to-day operations, it was a year full of opportunities to adapt and grow. While many of these changes represent forward progress, that doesn’t make them any less demanding. By December, the fatigue is real and it’s worth acknowledging.

Heading into 2026, we’ve been thinking about how we prepare our teams to navigate change. When payroll deadlines are tight or HR systems are updated, panic often arises, not because the work is impossible, but because the change wasn’t set up for success. Effective change management in HR and payroll isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for accuracy, compliance, and team confidence.

Here are some practical ways to help your HR and payroll teams manage change more effectively:

1. Lay the groundwork early – Identify who owns approvals for payroll and HR processes, what systems or workflows are impacted, and where additional support or training may be needed.

2. Prepare clear internal communications – Share the “why” behind process or system changes, key deadlines, and how teams should adjust. Clear communication prevents errors and stress, especially during payroll or benefits cycles.

3. Leverage checklists and timelines – Whether it’s payroll reconciliation, HRIS updates, or benefit plan changes, structured steps help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

4. Schedule check-ins with key stakeholders – Touch base with managers, payroll specialists, and HR partners to catch challenges early and align expectations.

5. Start small where possible – Retire a long-standing workaround, clarify one confusing approval path, or optimize one recurring process. Small wins in HR and payroll build confidence for bigger changes down the road.

Closing the books on 2025 isn’t just an ending, it’s an opportunity to open the door to a year where change feels manageable, deliberate, and even energizing, giving your teams the clarity and momentum to handle whatever 2026 brings.