Legal Changes and the 40-Hour Workweek
In 2025, Human Resources (HR) departments in companies faced significant challenges due to legal changes and the disruption caused by artificial intelligence (AI). Luis Mercado, president of the Executive Board of the Human Talent Management Management Association (ERIAC), summarizes the year as one of rapid change adaptation for HR professionals.
Labor Law Reforms and the 40-Hour Workweek
One of the most significant shifts for companies and their talent management teams was the introduction of new legal requirements, such as the Silla Law, which mandates workers’ right to rest during their workday. Additionally, trends towards a 40-hour workweek emerged, requiring HR to adjust quickly to new rules regarding vacations and work execution.
- The labor reform aimed at reducing the workweek from 48 to 40 hours was announced in December of this year and is expected to be approved in the following year, with a gradual implementation.
- Despite not being approved yet, some companies have already started preparing for the transition to 40-hour workweeks, implementing them within their teams this year.
- According to Alejandro Navarro Borja, General Director of the Occidental Human Resources Association (ARIOAC), approximately 10% of the companies they’ve interacted with initiated the reduction to 40-hour workweeks in 2025. After analyzing the scenarios, these companies decided that a gradual decrease was more cost-effective than an immediate one.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
Another significant change HR teams experienced was the disruption caused by AI in employees’ daily tasks, as many started using it independently.
“AI alone is dragging the entire workforce to implement it in their processes because employees are already using it independently, and organizations must incorporate it into their processes and develop usage policies,” explains Alejandro Navarro Borja from ARIOAC.
The remaining task for 2025 in terms of AI is to regulate its use and educate those who have not yet incorporated it. HR professionals like Luis Mercado from ERIAC emphasize the importance of safeguarding information privacy and developing new capabilities for employees and leaders to understand which tools are suitable and how to use them effectively.
Key Questions and Answers
- What were the main challenges faced by HR in 2025? HR departments had to adapt rapidly to legal changes, such as the Silla Law and trends towards a 40-hour workweek, while also addressing the disruption caused by AI in employees’ daily tasks.
- What is the Silla Law and how does it impact companies? The Silla Law mandates workers’ right to rest during their workday, requiring HR to adjust quickly to new rules regarding vacations and work execution.
- How has AI affected the role of HR? Employees have started using AI independently, prompting organizations to incorporate it into their processes and develop usage policies. HR professionals must now focus on regulating AI use and educating employees about suitable tools.
