44% of staff feel they cannot be themselves at work, finds MHFA England
39% said not being themselves at work held back their productivity and 16% had held back ideas or suggestions for the same reason.
Latest
DC pension participation hits new high as DB schemes decline – ONS
In 2024, 1.4 million more people were saving into DC workplace pensions compared to 2021.
Two-thirds would give up people management if pay stayed the same – YouGov
Younger managers were the least keen, with nearly three-quarters of generation Z and millennials (73%) saying they would opt out of managing.
Pension systems must embed retirement income choices from the start, says Festina Finance
Dan McLaughlin said: “When the income decision is integrated into the core pension journey, members engage with it more confidently and effectively."
Pension scheme surpluses up in February, volatility remains – PPF
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) 7800 index showed the aggregate surplus rose by £8.1bn to £273.7bn.
Canada Life completes £105m buy-in for industrials pension scheme
The deal secures the future benefits of over 350 deferred members and over 1,450 pensioners.
Ben launches two women’s health training courses
The two courses - Women’s Health Awareness and Menopause Awareness - aim to help automotive industry employees better understand the health challenges women face.
Compensation & Benefits
Government launches nursing care funding boost to support workforce and ease hospital pressure
Ministers said the increase will help strengthen community care provision and support staff working in nursing homes.
Millions of low-paid women set to benefit from stronger sick pay rights – TUC
The union body estimates around 4.7 million women will benefit from reforms to statutory sick pay due to take effect on 6th April under the Employment Rights Act.
Recruitment & HR
Renfrewshire Council launch care experienced guaranteed interview scheme
The aim is to remove barriers for care experienced people entering the workforce and to give them fair access to council jobs.
Hiring slowdown eases as permanent placements steady in February, report finds
According to the latest UK Report on Jobs survey from KPMG and REC, the drop in permanent placements was the smallest since March 2023.
Most organisations not formally assessing workplace stress, survey finds
The survey from WorkNest found that only 18% of organisations regularly and formally assess work-related stress as part of their risk management practices.
Devon County Council runs initiative to boost employment for care-experienced young people
The initiative targeted care-experienced young people and those aged 18 to 25 who were unemployed and not in education or training.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Fix Auto to support female talent with EmpowHER programme
The programme's objectives include increasing the number of women joining and enhancing progression for existing female talent.
54% of women experience ‘promotion burnout’ due to workplace inequality – Robert Walters
Over four-fifths (81%) of women said they were at a disadvantage to male peers during promotion cycles.
Knowsley Council and Liverpool City Council to host SEND education and employment event
The event will take place at the Adelphi Hotel, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, on 26th March 2026 from 4.30pm to 7pm.
University of Aberdeen researcher produces comic to raise awareness of menopause’s impact at work
‘Navigating Menopause in the Workplace’ was developed by Chithramali Rodrigo as part of her PhD research into supporting women at work.
Technology
Half of SMEs plan to replace staff roles with AI – Paragon Bank
24% of SME leaders said they had no plans to reduce headcount via AI, while the rest were unsure.
AI skills shortage tops employer concerns as skills gap narrows – ManpowerGroup
AI was identified as the skill organisations found hardest to recruit for, with 19% struggling to find people confident using AI to support their roles.
Most firms feel unprepared for new AI regulations – VinciWorks
When it came to AI training, only a fifth (22%) said their organisation provides AI awareness training they consider effective.
Health & Wellbeing
Merseyside Police and the Retail Trust to run scheme to tackle retail worker abuse
The programme aims to give workers more tools and confidence to safely manage and recover from violent and confrontational situations.
SOM and Fertility Matters at Work call for cultural shift in workplace fertility support
The organisations said the focus should be on changing workplace culture, not just introducing policies.
Institute of Directors welcomes women leaders at forum in London
The event was held at The View, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, with attendees including founders, senior decision-makers and emerging leaders from across the UK.
Majority of HR professionals burned out as workloads increase, finds Stribe
While 65% said they were trying to stay positive about the next year, most said they were stuck in a cycle of constant firefighting and emotional strain.
Employee Relations
Motherhood still leads to lower earnings and slower career progression, finds HiBob
Women who took parental leave reported slowed career progression (23%), being left out of key decisions (20%), and being given less challenging work (16%).
Government launches gender pay gap and menopause action plans to support women at work
Employers with 250 or more staff will be encouraged to publish steps they are taking to reduce the gender pay gap and support employees going through menopause from April.
Businesses must focus on a human-centred approach when rolling out AI, urges expert
Triponel warned that automation is reshaping business models, putting marginalised workers, especially women, at greater risk of job loss.
WorkWell Employer Champion programme launched to boost workplace wellbeing
The programme, funded by the Government, offers free, confidential support to people whose health impacts their ability to stay in or return to work.
Global HR
Chartered status offers vital career boost in the age of AI, says CISI
CISI said the designation helps maintain standards of professionalism and trust as financial services become more global and AI use increases.
Formula E selects HiBob to boost global HR management
HiBob’s HR platform will be used throughout Formula E’s operations to centralise people management and support its international workforce.
CISI launches jobs board to boost global financial services careers
The platform features real-time job postings, smart search and filtering tools, and career guidance from CISI experts.
Deel sets Guinness World Records™ title with global virtual hiring event
Deel has set a new Guinness World Records™ title for the 'Largest online hiring event' after attracting 6,848 attendees to a live virtual recruitment event.