Half of workers have taken extended sick leave, finds The Exeter
The report found that absences were most common among men, with 49% saying they had taken extended time off, and 18% of those in the past year.
Latest
Bank of England halts plans for new diversity and inclusion rules amid regulatory concerns
Sam Woods, the PRA’s deputy governor, confirmed that while the regulator remains committed to fostering diversity, it will not move forward with formal rulemaking at this time.
Government launches new Board of Trade to support SMEs
The new look Board will be charged with helping businesses, including the country’s 5.5 million SMEs, to boost their exports.
58% of workers expect increased layoffs in 2025 – LiveCareer
The survey found that 56% of workers believed the labour market would worsen, with fewer job openings predicted by 58% of respondents.
Employees struggling with high levels of workplace related stress, report finds
O.C. Tanner Global Culture Report 2025 highlighted that only 56% of UK employees feel their wellbeing is adequately supported at work.
Government defence spending must focus on skills development – Engineering by Murray
STEM industries have been plagued by a shortage of technical engineers for several years, with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers warning of a workforce crisis.
Contract demand across professional services shows promising signs, data finds
In its latest Hiring Trends analysis APSCo reported a 28% increase in contract job postings year-on-year in February.
Opinion
Compensation & Benefits
New Defence Housing Service to overhaul military housing as Armed Forces Bill is introduced
The legislation forms part of a broader package of reforms aimed at improving conditions, support and retention across the armed forces as the Government seeks to modernise defence infrastructure and policy.
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.
Recruitment & HR
One in four workers apply for jobs that don’t exist, finds Employment Hero
A quarter (24%) of UK workers said they had applied for a ‘ghost job’ - a role advertised but not actually being recruited for.
Lifeways launches recruitment drive to attract diverse candidates
The campaign, called You’re Not Just Anyone, highlights the work of frontline teams supporting more than 4,000 people across the UK.
FMB calls for clarity on Scottish construction sector after Budget statement
Gordon Nelson, director at FMB Scotland, said: “With a shortfall of 100,000 homes and ambitious net zero targets, we urgently need to boost our building industry."
New and expectant parents face high levels of unfair treatment at work, TUC warns
More than one in seven women (14%) who have children or are expecting a child have lost their job, or felt forced to leave their role.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Government unveils £200m SEND teacher training programme
The new courses will be made available to all teaching staff to improve their knowledge in adapting lessons for a range of needs.
Government overhauls Disability Confident scheme to boost workplace standards
The Government said changes will provide more tailored support for SMEs and boost peer-to-peer support for employers.
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.
Technology
Corpay warns UK CFOs face ‘automation deficit’ as manual finance processes persist
UK finance leaders are struggling to turn automation ambition into reality, with integration issues and fragmented systems holding back efficiency and real-time visibility, according to new research from Corpay.
Parents back teaching staff to lead AI decisions in schools, unions say
The polling from the TUC revealed that 80% of parents with a child in school or college trust educators to make decisions about AI in their children’s learning.
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.
Health & Wellbeing
Managers reluctant to discuss mental health in the workplace, finds Unum UK
Of the SMEs surveyed, 45% said mental health was a key reason for staff absence.
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.
Amazon UK and ABB among 100 organisations named as 2026 Top Employers in the UK
Lidl GB, ScottishPower, Bentley Motors, Mitie, Primark and McLaren Racing were among the 100 organisations named as 2025 Top Employers in the UK.
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.
Employee Relations
Majority of professionals call for ‘microshifting’ to boost flexibility – Robert Walters
Research found interest in microshifting has grown as only 35% of UK workers believed their company’s flexible working policy was fit for purpose.
Employers must embrace flexible careers to retain Gen Z talent, says expert
Lucy Kemp said lily padding is the future of work and warned that employers who do not adapt risk losing talent.
Bentley recognised as Top Employer by the Top Employers organisation
Active in 131 countries, the institute is the global authority in HR certification, benchmarking and advisory.
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.
Global HR
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.
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.
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.