Reach Plc achieves Menopause Friendly accreditation
The accreditation recognises Reach’s work to raise awareness and provide support for colleagues going through menopause and perimenopause.
Latest
Just Group completes £3.3m buy-in for Transport Friendly Society Staff Pension Scheme
The buy-in covers 15 deferred members and 15 pensioners.
EHRC extends agreement with McDonald’s to protect staff from sexual harassment
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the EHRC, said: “We’re pleased with the significant steps McDonald’s has agreed to take towards a safer working environment for its staff.”
UK side hustlers earn an average of £5,420 a year, says Royal Mail
The average UK side hustle now brings in more than £450 a month, with Millennials earning the most, according to new research from Royal Mail.
Care UK celebrates success of SEN supported placements in care sector
Christian Woolley, regional director for Berkshire at Care UK, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what our homes have achieved, and I look forward to seeing this initiative grow across more of our regions in the future.”
Private medical insurance most wanted employee benefit, research reveals
Data from Epassi UK found that 25% of employees picked private medical insurance as the single most important benefit, but only 43% employers offered it.
Aegon urges savers not to let Budget speculation disrupt pension plans
Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon UK, said there has been a lot of speculation over possible changes to pensions, but most rumours are unlikely to happen.
Compensation & Benefits
Sector gap widens in employee wellbeing support among SMEs – Unum UK
71% of SMEs offer at least one wellbeing initiative, but uptake drops among smaller firms due to limits on time, resources and expertise.
Younger employees more willing to return to the office, Epassi UK finds
New research from Epassi UK shows employees under 30 are the most willing to work from the office, despite wider concerns about mandated returns.
Recruitment & HR
Most professionals would rather switch jobs than ask for a pay rise in 2026 – Robert Walters
The research found 74% would rather move to a new role with better pay than negotiate at their current workplace.
Majority of workers say job hunting is difficult – YouGov
Confidence was lowest among younger adults, with 74% of 18 to 24-year-olds describing the job market as difficult.
NEET numbers decline among young people in Q3 – ONS
The total stood at 946,000, down by 1,000 compared to the previous quarter.
HR teams face rising emotional strain as influence increases – HiBob
63% of UK HR professionals said they are leading major workplace changes with shrinking teams.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Epping Forest District Council opens inclusive employment grant scheme
The grant aims to help businesses cover costs like salaries, equipment, training, or start-up expenses.
Cheryl Sharp launches domestic abuse policies for UK businesses
The announcement comes as fewer than 5% of UK businesses have a domestic abuse policy in place.
Hundreds of UK firms join crime-cutting jobs plan for prison leavers
The initiative, linked to the Government’s Plan for Change, brings new employers alongside established partners such as Greggs, Iceland and Kier.
Quarter of female business owners take second jobs as economic pressures mount
The Female Business Owners Index 2025, from Tide and everywoman, revealed that more than half (54%) of women entrepreneurs report working longer hours.
Technology
STARK opens Swindon factory creating over 100 new jobs
Mike Armstrong said: “Our first UK site will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in its first year and marks just the start of our investment journey in the UK."
Aegon UK, NatWest Cushon and M&G commit £200m in funding for science and tech businesses
Funds will support UK companies in areas such as clean energy, fintech and medical technology, aiming to create skilled jobs across the country.
Upgraded workplace tech could save firms nine sick days per worker, study finds
According to research by BT Business, 71% of workers said innovations like AI would drive efficiency, and 66% believe it will improve work-life balance.
Health & Wellbeing
25 to 34 year olds report highest wellbeing at work, Aviva finds
Three quarters rated their mental health as good or excellent, compared with a 62% average across all ages.
Ben launches new men’s health awareness training for the automotive workforce
Ben has introduced a new men’s health awareness course to help automotive employers support the wellbeing of a predominantly male workforce.
FMB supports joint survey to improve mental health in construction
The CLC, with support from the University of Warwick, launched the consultation survey to gather views on the main causes of poor mental health and how the sector can address them.
Work-life balance tops priority for jobseekers – Market Financial Solutions
The survey showed that 45% of adults picked work-life balance as one of their top three priorities when looking for a job.
Employee Relations
Health Shield Friendly Society celebrates three years supporting Railway Benefit Fund awards
Jacqui Carr, CEO at Health Shield, said: “With our shared railway heritage, it has been a privilege to collaborate on initiatives that positively impact the railway community."
Christmas work parties linked to hundreds of tribunal cases each year – YuLife
Data showed that there have been 322 UK Employment Tribunal cases since 2017 linked to festive celebrations.
Toyota retains top spot in Automotive Category of Best Companies Survey 2025
The company held onto its three-star ‘world class’ status and moved up 15 places to 13th in the Best Large Companies to work for.
Majority of workers say work boosts health and wellbeing, survey finds
The survey from Cirencester Friendly found 69% of Gen Z respondents said work benefits their health, compared to 75% of baby boomers.
Global HR
Umberto Tossini steps down from Automobili Lamborghini after nearly two decades
Lamborghini’s chief people, culture and organisation officer Umberto Tossini is leaving the company after 19 years, with chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann assuming interim responsibility.
TUC urges TikTok to “come clean” as MPs investigate AI-driven job cuts
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, chaired by Chi Onwurah MP, has written to TikTok demanding answers about the redundancies within its London-based Trust and Safety Team.
HiBob launches global network for people-first leaders to tackle HR challenges
The aim is to give practical tools, insights and a platform for real conversations on challenges HR and business leaders face.
International SOS and Sancroft support sustainability goals in global workforce mobility
International SOS has joined forces with sustainability consultancy Sancroft to help organisations embed sustainability into their global mobility and travel policies.