Busy Bees achieves silver RoSPA award for health and safety
Julia Small said: “Busy Bees should be proud of the hard work and commitment to keeping people safe that has resulted in a RoSPA Award."
Latest
State Pension could become unsustainable by 2035, says Adam Smith Institute
The Adam Smith Institute warns the State Pension could become unsustainable by 2035, urging urgent reforms to prevent fiscal crisis.
Fuel shortages expected in North West and Scottish borders as tanker drivers strike
Tanker drivers to strike over pay disparities, causing fuel shortages in North West and Scottish borders. Strikes scheduled for 6-8 June and 13-15 June.
Virgin StartUp launches new digital community for early-stage founders
Virgin StartUp launches a new digital community for early-stage founders, offering mentorship, workshops, and exclusive perks.
UK gender pay gap narrows by 0.4% in past year but will take 45 years to close, says PwC
PwC research reveals the UK gender pay gap has narrowed by 0.4% over the past year, but significant challenges remain in achieving gender pay parity.
Indeed appoints Maggie Hulce and LaFawn Davis to new leadership roles
Indeed appoints Maggie Hulce as chief revenue officer and LaFawn Davis as chief people and sustainability officer, effective immediately.
Heriot-Watt University appoints Penny McIntyre as global director of human resources
Heriot-Watt University appoints Penny McIntyre as global director of human resources, effective 1ST July 2024.
Compensation & Benefits
Vitality and Geotab launch rewards programme for safe employee driving
Drivers will earn points for safe driving, working to achieve a series of tailored weekly goals.
Epassi Group expands presence in the UK with the acquisition of Zest
Founded in 2004, Zest offers a SaaS platform that helps employers manage, communicate, and expand their employee benefits offering.
Recruitment & HR
Vertu branch manager named finalist in British Forces in Business Awards
The British Forces in Business Awards celebrates veterans transitioning into civilian careers.
Aberdeenshire Council backs ‘Workwise’ training scheme to boost workplace entry
Cllr David Keating said: “The scheme will not just help people understand the world of work, but grow their confidence and ambition.”
c2c appoints four young staff members through King’s Trust railways programme
New recruits Jack Wood, Fatihur Rahman, Arif Torofdar and Lindsey Keeling have joined in permanent roles.
PwC: AI driving productivity, wages and job growth across exposed industries
PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer shows AI is increasing productivity, job numbers and wages across roles – even those considered highly automatable.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Škoda celebrates European Diversity Month, reaffirms commitment to inclusion
Škoda beat its target for women in management in 2024, with women now making up 20.4% of management staff.
Womble Bond Dickinson celebrates charitable impact in new report
Sally Dallow said: “Our firm's vision is to lead the way on responsible business."
Currys leaders recognised for ongoing work in workplace inclusion
Paula Coughlan and Michelle Gorringe-Smith were named as advocates for change for their work on inclusion and diversity in the retail sector.
39% of disabled workers faced bullying or discrimination at work – TUC
12% said they had experienced bullying, such as sustained patterns of intimidating or abusive behaviour connected to their disability.
Technology
Government AI trial cuts nearly two weeks of admin time per year for civil servants
Research found using AI saved people an average of 26 minutes per day, adding up to nearly two weeks a year for each civil servant.
INTERVIEW: Freelancers surge as AI grows in popularity
Matthieu Rouif said: "As AI becomes more intuitive and accessible, entrepreneurs will be able to move faster, experiment more, and scale smarter."
Small businesses face rising cyber threats amid record-breaking attack attempts, research finds
According to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 43% of UK businesses and 30% of charities reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months.
Health & Wellbeing
Sickness absences fall to 4.4 days per worker in 2024 – ONS
An estimated 148.9 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2024, a drop of 14.9 million from the previous year.
Over half of office workers suffer with back pain due to poor workstation setup, survey reveals
Just one in three UK office workers believe their employers are getting the basics right when it comes to desk work and employee health.
DFA warns of training disparities between fixed and road-based staff, prosecution risk to employers
A national safety campaign has been launched by Driver First Assist to highlight the growing disparity in workplace health and safety.
Motor Ombudsman and Ben launch automotive industry mental health guide
The guide offers practical strategies for employers, insight into key mental health concerns in the workforce, and guidance on how to support individuals effectively.
Employee Relations
Most carers would quit jobs without flexible working, research reveals
Nearly two thirds (65%) of working carers said they would look for a new job if their employer restricted flexible hours.
White Ribbon launches ‘Right to Respect’ campaign to prevent workplace harassment
The campaign has been launched in line with the Worker Protection Act 2023, which came into force in October 2024.
Government agency spend crackdown returns nearly £1bn to NHS frontline
Wes Streeting said: “We’re already backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises and now, nearly £1bn is being reinvested back to the frontline."
Majority of working mums unhappy with return-to-work support, research reveals
Only 17% of mums felt confident about going back after maternity leave.
Global HR
Bosnia and Herzegovina tops Europe with 64.7% minimum wage rise in 2025, report reveals
Romania recorded the second-largest increase at 22.78%, moving its minimum wage to €663, followed by Bulgaria at 15.51% (€477), Croatia at 15.48% (€700), and Serbia at 13.79% (€502).
Pandora among ‘Europe’s Best Workplaces’, expands workforce by 40% in four years
The Financial Times ranking highlighted 1,000 top companies across Europe, based on anonymous feedback from current and former employees.
Irish employers lag behind on AI strategy and training, warns CIPD
The 2025 HR Practices in Ireland study revealed that 58% of workplaces have not provided a clear plan on how AI will be used.
Coats publishes global wellbeing whitepaper in partnership with Great Place To Work
Coats has launched a wellbeing whitepaper with Great Place To Work, highlighting over 500 global initiatives and tangible improvements in staff engagement.