The loneliest job: CEO isolation is real
Chris Percival of CJPI discusses how CEO isolation is a growing performance risk and why structured support should be normalised.
Latest
Pension Lab hires Kieran McGee as head of product
McGee brings more than 25 years’ experience in financial services, covering product strategy, partnerships and fintech integration.
Canada Life appoints Rhian Littlewood as BPA strategic delivery director
In the role, Littlewood will join the BPA senior leadership team and report to Shreyas Sridhar, managing director, BPA at Canada Life.
Pension scheme funding dips in March amid market volatility – Broadstone
Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme funding levels fell back slightly in March as market volatility linked to Middle East tensions impacted performance.
Government backs UK’s largest gigafactory with £700m investment and 4,200 jobs
The funding, delivered under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, includes a £380m Government grant to support Agratas in building one of Europe’s largest gigafactories in Somerset.
CIPD warns union workplace access rules could strain employment relations
The warning follows the Government’s response to its consultation on trade union right of access, which sets out timelines for how unions can engage with workplaces.
Demand for agentic AI skills surges as businesses shift beyond traditional coding – Malt
The findings, published in the Malt Tech Trends 2026 report, pointed to a significant shift in the technology skills landscape.
Compensation & Benefits
Employers face “payroll compliance cliff” as enforcement powers expand
A recent briefing from workforce management platform Sona, outlined sweeping changes that will reshape employer obligations.
Jeremy Hunt calls for maternity leave law change for mothers diagnosed with cancer
Speaking to Sky News, Hunt said current rules force some mothers to choose between undergoing cancer treatment and spending time with their newborn.
Recruitment & HR
SMEs increasingly reassess HR tech spend amid economic pressure
Expert Market found that 73% of U.S. SMEs are currently re-evaluating their tech investments.
Skills shortages named top hiring challenge for employers, study finds
YouGov found that 38% of employers expect sourcing qualified talent to be one of their most significant hiring challenges this year.
Rising costs increasingly force hospitality businesses to cut jobs, research reveals
The survey from money.co.uk found that 64% of hospitality businesses plan to cut jobs, while 51% expect to cancel investment.
Employers braced for impact of Employment Rights Act reforms, finds Freeths
More than a quarter (27%) of employers said they plan to revise collective or information procedures in response to reforms strengthening trade union powers.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Mariella Frostrup appointed Women’s Employment Ambassador in workplace health push
The newly created role expands on Frostrup’s previous position as Menopause Employment Ambassador, reflecting a wider focus on health issues affecting women throughout their working lives.
UK backs stronger female representation in STEM at Malaysia forum
Held on 30th March 2026, the “Leading the Future: Women and Girls in Science Forum” brought together around 110 participants, including government officials.
Senior candidates removing age clues from CVs amid bias concerns
According to Eursap, the trend, described as “age-scrubbing”, includes omitting graduation dates, shortening career histories and removing early roles.
Bedfont Scientific receives Compassionate Workplace accreditation
Jason Smith said: “As the first organisation in Kent to achieve this recognition, we feel both proud and responsible to lead by example."
Technology
Emergency responders and skilled trades among safest jobs from automation, study finds
The Planera study examined more than 55 manual and physical occupations across sectors including construction, healthcare, logistics and services.
Everyday employee habits increase cyber risk for employers, experts warn
According to FLR Spectron, many data breaches still originate from routine workplace habits such as password reuse and insecure remote working.
Most workers positive about AI but lack confidence to use it effectively, study reveals
The study from Strive Training found a growing gap between AI adoption and practical capability.
Health & Wellbeing
‘Doom-scrolling’ after work may be worsening burnout, experts warn
According to insights from BestBuy Office Chairs, 63% of employees reported showing signs of burnout by the end of the working day.
Office noise costing workers three weeks of productivity a year, research finds
Oscar Acoustics found that more than half (54%) of employees described their workplace as noisy, yet only around a third believe their employer takes the issue seriously.
RedArc support helps one in five employees with long-term illness stay in work
The findings relate to individuals supported during 2025 through employer-provided or insurer-backed services, all of whom were living with complex and significant health conditions.
Construction burnout rates high despite better wellbeing benefits, data finds
Research from Westfield Health found over one in 10 construction workers said they felt burnt out all the time
Employee Relations
Employee engagement declines as burnout reshapes workplace loyalty, study finds
According to a report from Resume Genius, engagement has fallen from its 2020 peak.
CIPD urges employers to ensure compliance as Employment Rights Act reforms take effect
From the 6th April, the changes mark the first phase of a broader programme of employment law reform.
71% of SMEs plan to act sooner on dismissal decisions, IRIS finds
The research also showed 63% of employees said they were more likely to challenge a dismissal under the new six-month rule.
21% of workers leave holiday days unused – Timetastic
Men were slightly more likely than women to skip their leave, with 21.3% of men saying they wouldn’t take it all compared to 20.1% of women.
Global HR
CPO appointments fall as demand for experience grows, report finds
Eton Bridge Partners found that overall global appointment volumes have fallen by 21%, driven by a 34% decline in the UK.
moneyappi partners with ASOS to boost employee financial wellbeing
Employees at ASOS now have access to moneyappi’s AI-powered platform, designed to help employees improve their financial situation.
The Access Group named ‘Human Company of The Year’
The Access Group was recognised for keeping a strong focus on employees during growth in artificial intelligence (AI).
UK now top global hub for startup hiring – Deel
Of nearly 100 startups that each raised over $100m (£79m) in funding, 12.2% of cross-border hires were in the UK – the highest share worldwide.