Call in the referees – this is no amateur sport – we’re talking about jobs and the future of human resources (HR). As we move through the early days of 2017, HR managers begin a backbreaking battle between humans and robots, and which hardworking contenders make the best employees.

In fact, internationally known HR thought-leader John Sullivan says human workers in Europe are physically destroying robots that are taking over jobs, boasting fresh skills and outperforming people. Robots come with a price tag and Return on Investment (ROI), but are they more desirable than humans who hold strikes, demand overtime and refuse to work in potentially dangerous conditions?

We have to plan for work, Sullivan says. People feel their jobs are in jeopardy and HR leaders are left with the challenge of transitioning from a human workforce to a staff that includes robots while alleviating anxiety among an organization’s talent. While new skills and recruitment approaches come into play, HR must keep current, valuable employees happy.

Human resource leaders must become more business savvy, according to Sullivan. When it comes to the future of HR, digital capabilities enable companies to know more about their workforce’s impact. It’s up to HR leaders to increase creativity, innovation and strategy, but who will become the new champion, and how will the company move through employment changes using best practices for the business and the people that produce success?