What Ireland’s Most Resilient Organisations Do Differently

Many organisations are focused on individual workplace challenges such as AI, talent shortages, compliance, and employee engagement. The real challenge is ensuring the fundamentals of work are strong enough to handle them all.

According to research conducted by the SD Worx Research Institute, while 62% of Irish organisations are exploring the use of AI, only 47% report significant outcomes. Eimear Byrne, Managing Director at SD Worx, explains what this means for Irish organisations.

“AI is not a trend that organisations can wait out,” explains Byrne. “It is going to be part of the way we work for the foreseeable future. The challenge is no longer simply adopting AI, it is making sure it delivers measurable value and is genuinely connected to business strategy.”

While AI continues to gain momentum, requiring businesses to think strategically about how it can deliver value, businesses also face the growing challenge of employee and skills shortages, alongside employees asking for greater flexibility in where, when, and how they work.

“Rising labour costs, skills shortages and operational complexity are forcing organisations to become more strategic,” explains Byrne. “Workforce planning is becoming unavoidable, referring to how organisations align demand, capacity, cost and skills over time.”

According to the HR & Payroll Pulse 2026 report conducted by SD Worx, 60% of Irish organisations now consider workforce planning a critical or high priority, moving it to the centre of leadership discussions. “These decisions must reflect long-term business needs and value, rather than focusing solely on short-term solutions,” says Byrne.

Payroll is one of the clearest ways that an organisation can demonstrate reliability, and according to Byrne, is a foundational pillar of compliance, employee trust, and employee experience. “When it goes wrong, the impact can extend far beyond an inaccurate payslip,” she says. “Aligned systems reduce errors, cut down reconciliation work, and give teams the consistency they need to work confidently.”

While 78% of employees say payroll is accurate and reliable, 45% of organisations reported payroll-related compliance issues or audit findings during the previous year.

The EU Pay Transparency directive, due to be transposed into Irish law by June 2026, means employers will face greater obligations when it comes to access of pay information and gender pay equality. According to SD Worx, 68% of employers say they are prepared for Pay Transparency legislation, yet only 41% of employees understand what it means. Byrne defines pay transparency as being a clear opportunity to build greater trust and openness with employees.

“The benefits of pay transparency for employees are significant, but organisations need to bring employees into the conversation rather than focusing solely on compliance,” she explains. “It is not enough for organisations to be ready for pay transparency legislation, employees also need to understand what it means for them.”

This open relationship extends far beyond pay transparency, as organisations must also put greater focus on the wider employee experience. “One in four Irish employees report being dissatisfied at work and 43% are dissatisfied with their work-life balance,” says Byrne. “These figures highlight the importance of getting the fundamentals right.”

“While it may not seem as exciting as following the latest AI developments, employees continue to value the fundamentals of fair pay, flexibility, work-life balance, and a supportive working environment,” concludes Byrne. “Organisations need to understand what matters to their people and make sure they are delivering on those fundamentals consistently and measurably.”

SD Worx is a leading provider of HR, Pay and Time solutions, helping organisations manage the backbone of work with confidence. Combining European scale with over 30 years of Irish payroll expertise, our MegaPay payroll software is trusted to pay 1 in 5 people in Ireland.

This article was originally featured in the Future of Work - Q3 2026 report by Mediaplanet. It has been republished on BusinessNews.ie to share insights on organisational resilience and the future of work with a wider audience.