Your business has evolved. Your team has changed. But some of the people practices that got you here may not be the ones that will take you forward. Before 2027 planning begins, it’s time for an honest look at what’s working, what isn’t—and what you can’t afford to keep ignoring.

HR is having a full-blown identity crisis—and it’s costing small businesses more than they realize. In this no-fluff 2026 wake-up call, Laketta Harmon, Chief HR Consultant at LH HR Consulting, breaks down 5 unfiltered truths business owners need to hear now—plus what to do before turnover, lawsuits, or burnout force your hand.