We conducted an informal survey with human resources professionals to understand what they are prioritizing for 2027 from nine workplace and people priorities.

Culture and engagement received the most selections, followed by well-being and mental health, and then leadership and management development close behind. For HR teams planning for 2027, these findings invite a practical question: does your workplace help your teams put those priorities into practice?

An organization may want stronger connections across teams, yet have few places for informal exchanges. It may prioritize well-being, while employees struggle to find a quiet setting for focused work. It may invest in developing managers, without providing suitable space for confidential coaching. Connecting your people priorities with the physical workplace gives human resources teams a practical starting point for change.

At Aquest Design, we see workplace strategy as a way to translate organizational priorities into decisions about how space is used, designed, and built. The starting point is understanding the people, activities, and experiences the workplace needs to support.