AXA UK & Ireland appoints CPO and chief customer and communications officer
Amanda Vaughan and Louise Isaacs will join the management committee and report to Tara Foley, CEO at AXA UK & Ireland.
Latest
New study reveals most and least stressed professions in the UK
BusinessComparison's study reveals the most and least stressed professions in the UK, with customer service workers facing the highest stress levels.
Unum announces exclusive partnership with Toothfairy alongside enhanced Dental offering
Employee benefits provider Unum UK has boosted its Dental offering and partnered with Toothfairy, an award-winning digital dentist.
Nearly one fifth of large employers don’t carry out gender pay gap reporting
The CIPD is calling on employers to tackle inequality in the workplace by reporting and analysing their gender pay gap.
Gartner survey finds 38% of HR leaders reported they are piloting, planning implementation, or have already implemented generative AI
A Gartner, Inc. survey of 179 HR leaders on January 31, 2024, revealed that 38% of HR leaders are piloting, planning implementation, or have already implemented generative AI (GenAI), up from 19% in June 2023.
First pay settlements of 2024 see median award fall to 5.1% as UK falls into recession, finds XpertHR
The latest pay settlement data from XpertHR shows that the median basic pay award for the three months to the end of January 2024 is 5.1%, down from 6% in the previous rolling quarter.
Adecco targets employment and training for 85,000 refugees by 2027
Adecco reaffirms its pledge to support refugees, aiming to secure employment for 85,000 and provide training for 17,000 by the end of 2027.
Compensation & Benefits
Half of businesses report rising staffing costs in August – ONS
Around 17% of businesses said hourly wages increased in July compared to June, which was a sharp drop from April but in line with July 2024.
Lack of workplace financial coaching leaves employees at risk, report reveals
A report from TrinityBridge’s Workplace Financial Wellbeing Services, found that just 26% of employees would turn to a financial adviser, while 87% have never had access to financial coaching.
Recruitment & HR
55% of recruiters expect rise in job vacancies – ERF
The research found that only 12% expected vacancies to fall.
HM Land Registry training programme wins Princess Royal Training Award
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has received a Princess Royal Training Award for its Land Registration Academy, a programme credited with upskilling thousands of staff.
Employment Hero partners with Academy Training to boost apprentice payroll skills
Academy Training’s students will use Employment Hero’s platform as part of their training, giving them practical experience with payroll systems and terms.
Skills shortages could hamper construction recovery despite surge in demand
The survey showed that 33% of firms found it hardest to recruit carpenters, with 32% struggling with roofers and 28% with plumbers and HVAC specialists.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Fleet Alliance ranks among Best Places to Work for second year
It was also certified as a Best Workplace for Women for the fourth time.
Study reveals workplace discrimination against women experiencing menopause
Research from Astellas shows women going through menopause face career setbacks, with many reporting discrimination, reduced productivity and lack of workplace support.
Cornish Resources backs scholarship to boost female representation in mining
Emily Widdecombe said: “By investing in talented students at the Camborne School of Mines, we are helping to build a diverse, skilled workforce."
Liverpool City Council to provide grants to local organisations in youth employment boost
The funding is part of the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper, which aims to reduce economic inactivity and youth unemployment.
Technology
QA launches BLX to address workplace training issues
Ben Sweetman said: “Organisations need more ways to learn; that’s a critical aspect of the value we offer. BLX is built to solve that."
ICAEW launches Next Generation ACA with focus on technology and sustainability
The update brings technology, sustainability and ethics into the syllabus, and lets students tailor their learning to their own needs.
TCS completes policy migration for Scottish Widows
The new system will now support servicing for individual savings accounts and mutual funds, and enable digital servicing for customers.
Health & Wellbeing
36% of employers fund illness and injury support case by case – GRiD
When asked about when support is offered, 26% of employers said they provided it after a set number of weeks’ absence, as written in company policy.
North East Combined Authority ‘Shine’ scheme sees over 100 employers join in two months
The free programme is designed to help improve working conditions, promote inclusivity and support employee wellbeing.
Finalists announced for 2025 Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards
Now in their fourth year, the awards aim to highlight employers who are taking practical steps to normalise menopause and menstruation in the workplace.
Hybrid working damaging for young workers, says IOSH
48% of 18 to 24-year-olds said that remote and hybrid working made it harder to build relationships with colleagues and managers.
Employee Relations
Manchester Building Society reveals team for new King Street flagship branch
Manchester Building Society has unveiled the team for its new King Street branch, which will offer face-to-face financial services and free community space when it opens later this year.
Derby technician named Nissan UK’s top customer-focused employee
Krystian Duda of Vertu Nissan Derby has been recognised as Nissan UK’s Dealer Ambassador of the Year for his commitment to customer service and teamwork.
31% of SME employees quit after colleague leaves, research reveals
Data from HiBob found 52% of UK staff in these businesses said they were thinking about leaving in the next year, with 10% already looking for another job.
Social housing tenants nearly twice as likely to be out of work, research finds
Research from L&W, CtW and the IES found those in work are twice as likely to be in lower-skilled jobs and are paid on average a third less than people in other tenures.
Global HR
Teesside University Online expands global reach through FutureLearn partnership
The deal will see TU Online’s undergraduate, postgraduate and certificate programmes promoted and available through FutureLearn.
Workday targeted in cyber attack but says customer data not affected
The company said the incident formed part of a wider social engineering campaign affecting “many large organisations,” in which attackers posed as HR or IT staff.
Deel launches AI Workforce to support HR and payroll teams
The move comes as industry surveys highlight growing strain on HR teams, with SHRM’s latest Workforce Report finding that more than half of HR professionals believe their teams are understaffed.
Talent shortages driving company location decisions, survey finds
Savills and CoreNet Global found that 73% of respondents in the technology sector reported a drop in skilled staff.