High stress and lack of support drives workers into sick leave, report finds
The latest Burnout Report from Mental Health UK found one in five (20%) workers took sick leave due to poor mental health caused by stress.
Latest
BPEC invests £15,000 to modernise Scotland’s Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship
The apprenticeship combines on-site work and training across plumbing and heating including water, gas and low-carbon technology.
TPT to launch run-on superfund option for DB pension schemes
TPT has secured capital to fund the first £1bn of transactions and is seeking assessment from TPR for the new consolidation vehicle.
HowNow co-founder Nelson Sivalingam named ‘One to Watch’ in LDC Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2025
Nelson Sivalingam, co-founder and CEO of AI learning company HowNow, has been recognised as a ‘One to Watch’ in the LDC Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2025, celebrating innovative UK entrepreneurs.
Thousands with health conditions to get work support as advisers join GP surgeries – DWP
Over 40,000 more sick and disabled people are set to receive employment support following a £167.2m investment in the Connect to Work programme.
Dains Accountants appoints employment tax director
Along with the appointment of Sarah Pemberton, Dains has also promoted Sophie Rogers, Katy Murrall and James Pridmore as assistant managers.
Brighton & Hove and West Sussex councils secure funding to support people into work
Emma Daniel said: “Everyone deserves the chance to thrive in work, and I am really pleased to see that in-work support is provided as part of this programme."
Compensation & Benefits
More than half of self-assessment taxpayers still see filing as a nuisance, Royal London finds
New research from Royal London shows confusion and budgeting gaps persist 30 years after self-assessment was introduced, with many taxpayers facing higher-than-expected bills.
Aldi confirms pay rise for all store staff and extends paid breaks
From 1st March 2026, store assistants nationally will see starting pay rise to £13.35 per hour, with colleagues inside the M25 receiving £14.71 per hour.
Recruitment & HR
Cezanne HR launches AI-powered HR tool suite for customers
The new AI tools help teams create documents faster, draft clear employee communications and improve tone and accuracy across policies and emails.
CIPD appoints Lisa Pearl as people and change director
Pearl said: “I’m thrilled to join the organisation and contribute to growing and serving our membership."
Pre-budget uncertainty and global volatility slow London hiring at year end – Morgan McKinley
There was a 13% drop in jobs available quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025.
60% of adults have been involved in a workplace relationship, research finds
Research by Co-space found entry-level staff were most likely to cross professional boundaries, making up 39.5% of workplace romances.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Cardiff Council sets out charter to protect migrant care workers
The Charter, developed with UNISON Cymru, aims to prevent exploitation, promote fair work, and set clear expectations for ethical recruitment and pay.
Limited training holds women back from progressing at work, data finds
Data from AllBright everywoman found 35% pointed to limited development or training opportunities and 28% reported low support from managers.
Savills recognised for ongoing commitment to social mobility
Sarah Thorley said: “At Savills we champion social mobility by opening doors, creating opportunity, and helping people to thrive in their careers.”
ABP supports women in maritime with purchase of The Scarlett Box
The kit is designed to meet the needs of staff working at sea, with water-resistant sealed products for safety and hygiene.
Technology
Government drops plans for mandatory digital IDs for right to work checks
The move comes after concerns were raised about privacy and data protection linked to a centralised digital ID system.
Pearson and Deloitte partner to deliver AI-powered workforce training
The partnership will use both companies’ experience to deliver AI learning, leadership development and training solutions.
spacebands secures £1.1m to reduce hearing loss and vibration injuries in workplaces
The funding will improve the wearables and analytics platform to help employers spot harmful exposure sooner and act before injuries become permanent.
Health & Wellbeing
Nearly half of home workers work from their beds in winter, research finds
The survey of 1,000 adults found that almost half (48%) of people who regularly work from home do so from their bed.
Young adults spend the most money to tackle burnout, finds Flagstone
Most said they wanted this time back to relax and sleep, with others using it to see family, friends, or pursue hobbies.
Retention and productivity top benefits of health support for overseas workers – Everywhen
32% of employers said retention rates were the main reason for offering health and wellbeing support, with 31% choosing productivity as the biggest advantage.
Manchester City Council recognised as a Menopause Friendly Employer
Manchester City Council is now the first Greater Manchester Combined Authority to get Menopause Friendly Accreditation.
Employee Relations
HubGem Marketing named world’s happiest workplace – WorkL
Other UK companies in the top 10 included ServiceNow UK, PCI Pal, Auth0 and VIOOH, all in technology.
Office space demand rises as more workers return to physical workplaces, data finds
BPS London said the high supply of office space shows the market is still adjusting after the pandemic.
75% of businesses unprepared for new employee rights rules, warns lawyer
Roy Magara, solicitor advocate and founder of Magara Law, said: “Many organisations are still operating with outdated assumptions about flexibility and probation."
FBU pledges to “fight for every job” as cuts averted in Avon and Leicestershire
Steve Wright said: “Politicians and chief fire officers should be on notice - we will fight for every job and every station in every corner of the UK."
Global HR
Morgan Lewis appoints London Labour and employment team partner
Katherine Gibson brings extensive experience in employment litigation, transactional support, business protection matters, and workplace data privacy.
Majority of European workers plan to move jobs in 2026, research reveals
According to MyPerfectCV, 37% of workers wanted to reduce stress, while 34% said they are focused on achieving a better work–life balance.
Arsenal selects Deel to manage global HR operations
Arsenal will use Deel’s HR platform to manage its workforce and operations.
Equiom and Ledgy partner to expand global equity plan services
The integration of Ledgy lets Equiom’s teams support clients with complex share plans and gives employees access to manage their equity through one platform.