Mindtools launches adaptive Manager Skill Builder for personalised leadership development
Mindtools unveils the Manager Skill Builder to address management skill gaps with adaptive and personalised training solutions.
Latest
NASUWT welcomes call for paid miscarriage leave ahead of 24 weeks
NASUWT welcomes MPs’ support for statutory paid leave for miscarriage, urging the Government to back amendments to the Employment Rights Bill.
Meta staff in UK raise concerns over job cuts and programme reductions
UK Meta staff express concern over cuts to factchecking and diversity programmes, as trade union Prospect warns against following Twitter's path.
Birmingham students introduced to farming innovation at NEC show
Birmingham students explored the high-tech world of modern agriculture at the LAMMA show, gaining insights into farming careers and cutting-edge technology.
Currys warns hiring will slow amid £32m cost hike from Budget measures
Currys has warned it will limit hiring due to rising wage costs following April's Budget measures, which are expected to increase operating expenses by £32m.
Hays reports 12% drop in net fees but remains focused on long-term structural improvements
Hays Group reported a 12% drop in group net fees year-on-year for Q2 FY25, with perm fees declining by 19% and temp fees by 7%.
Job postings in the UK return to pre-pandemic levels, reports REC
The latest REC and Lightcast Labour Market Tracker reveals that active job postings in December 2024 returned to pre-pandemic levels at 1.41 million.
Compensation & Benefits
Liberal Democrats call GDP growth “pitiful” and demand action on jobs tax and trade
Daisy Cooper MP has criticised the Chancellor's economic policies, labelling 0.1% GDP growth in November as "pitiful" and urging the government to abandon its "jobs tax" and adopt a genuine growth strategy.
UK employees suffer from a lack of workplace appreciation compared to their global counterparts
The UK reported the lowest Appreciation Index scores (61.8 out of 100) against the U.S. and Australia, and below the global average of 65.
Recruitment & HR
Recruitment sector must play key role in government’s AI action plan, says APSCo
Shazia Imtiaz, general counsel at APSCo, welcomed several aspects of the plan, including the creation of AI Growth Zones and research into skills gaps.
Greggs, Iceland, COOK bosses join forces to get offenders into work
Greggs, Iceland and COOK bosses will be supporting offenders serving their sentence by sitting on new Employment Councils.
Third of Gen Z admit to ‘career catfishing’ in new survey
Gen Z respondents admit to 'career catfishing', where individuals accept a job offer but fail to show up on their first day.
UK’s largest AI data centre planned for Essex, creating 750 jobs
Construction of what is set to become the UK’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Loughton, Essex, could generate up to 750 jobs, BBC reports. The project, led by Nscale, involves a £2bn investment, with the facility expected to open by 2026. The data centre, to be located on Langston Road, will be the first of its kind in Essex. Nscale said 500 jobs would be created during construction, with a further 250 roles required to manage operations at the four-acre, 50MW site. The announcement aligns with the government’s
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Three in 10 working parents have high stress levels, research finds
The report noted a decline in workplace support for parents, with only 68% finding their employer supportive.
Gender pay gap in UK financial boardrooms narrows but remains significant
The gender pay gap across UK financial services boardrooms narrowed from 30% to 25% between 2019 and 2023, according to EY’s latest European Financial Services Boardroom Monitor
Apple board urges shareholders to reject proposal to end DEI programmes, reports
Apple’s board has recommended shareholders vote against a proposal to abolish its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, as conservative pressure mounts on major US firms to roll back such initiatives.
Unite warns of AI risk, calls for worker protections
Unite has warned that AI systems are leading to increased surveillance and creating significant risks for workers.
Technology
UK must bolster economic transformation to sustain global leadership in future skills
The QS World Future Skills Index places the UK as a global leader in workforce readiness, excelling in skills fit and academic readiness, but highlights economic stagnation and the need for sustained
Organisations prioritise payroll technology over human expertise but seek balance
Over half of payroll leaders now value technology over human expertise, but new research from CloudPay highlights the need for a balanced approach to achieve efficiency and compliance.
Audit staff warn data privacy is biggest ethical concern when using workplace GenAI
While data privacy was the biggest concern, accountability was second (36%).
Health & Wellbeing
Wales leads UK with Social Care Workforce Partnership to improve conditions for care staff
Wales establishes the UK's first Social Care Workforce Partnership to unite government, employers, and trade unions in improving working conditions for social care staff.
Birmingham named most stressed city in the UK according to a new study
Birmingham has been named the most stressed city in the UK which highlighted significant challenges faced by workers in the region.
Early intervention is key to combat mental ill-health – GRiD
Katharine Moxham said: “If Blue Monday is said to be the most depressing day of the year for staff, it’s worth sparing a moment to think about how those who are already struggling with their mental health might be feeling at this time."
Towergate urges employers to support mental health all year, not just Blue Monday
Employers should view Blue Monday as a prompt to take action to support employees' mental health throughout the entire year.
Employee Relations
Half of MSPs support Unite’s ‘No Ban Without a Plan’ oil and gas campaign
65 MSPs have pledged to ensure that oil and gas workers do not become the "coal miners of this generation."
BP announces 4,700 job cuts as part of cost-saving drive
BP has confirmed plans to cut 4,700 jobs globally, alongside 3,000 contractor positions, as part of its efforts to reduce costs by $2bn by the end of 2026.
83% willing to whistleblow, only 64% come forward, research finds
Protect found that 83% of UK workers said they would be willing to raise concerns if they witnessed wrongdoing at work.
Lloyds to close large office in Liverpool
Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has today informed its workforce of the decision to close the large office in Liverpool, Speke.
Global HR
Nearly half of U.S. remote workers say they’d quit if forced back to the office, Pew finds
A Pew Research Center survey reveals that 46% of U.S. remote workers say they’d be unlikely to stay at their job if their employer required a full return to the office, highlighting growing resistance to in-person work mandates.
Tech giants Meta and Amazon scale back diversity programs
Meta and Amazon are scaling back key elements of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to reports from Axios and Bloomberg.
Humi acquired by Employment Hero in CAD 100m deal to expand Canadian operations
Humi, Canada’s leading employment platform, has been acquired by Employment Hero in a deal exceeding CAD 100M, combining global innovation with local expertise to enhance employment solutions for Canadian SMEs.
NFP acquires The HR Suite, bolstering HR services across Ireland
NFP has acquired The HR Suite, a prominent HR consultancy in Ireland, with founder Caroline Reidy set to lead NFP’s specialist HR division in the country.