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.
Latest
Deputy Prime Minister pledges to make work pay in Scotland with new Employment Rights Bill
The Deputy Prime Minister has pledged to make work pay in Scotland through the UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill, which aims to improve workers’ rights and tackle insecure work.
O’Reilly report reveals rising interest in AI and security, declining usage of traditional programming languages
O’Reilly’s Technology Trends for 2025 report shows a surge in AI learning, a decline in traditional programming languages, and a growing focus on security skills.
Millions of UK workers risk retirement shortfall as care costs remain overlooked
A new report from Barnett Waddingham highlights a worrying gap in retirement planning, with fewer than one in five workers fully accounting for future care costs.
Teaching unions suspend industrial action as pay negotiations continue
Teaching unions in Northern Ireland have suspended planned industrial action to allow further pay talks to proceed.
RMT confirms strike action at Avanti West Coast as talks stall
RMT members at Avanti West Coast will strike this Sunday after the company failed to offer new proposals in talks aimed at ending their dispute.
Regional Employment Councils launched to help offenders find work
The Government has launched regional Employment Councils to support offenders serving sentences in the community into work, with backing from major employers including Greggs, Iceland and COOK.
Compensation & Benefits
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.
Aldi confirms pay rise for all store staff and extends paid breaks
From 1st March 2026, store assistants nationally will see starting pay rise to £13.35 per hour, with colleagues inside the M25 receiving £14.71 per hour.
Recruitment & HR
Cezanne HR launches AI-powered HR tool suite for customers
The new AI tools help teams create documents faster, draft clear employee communications and improve tone and accuracy across policies and emails.
CIPD appoints Lisa Pearl as people and change director
Pearl said: “I’m thrilled to join the organisation and contribute to growing and serving our membership."
Pre-budget uncertainty and global volatility slow London hiring at year end – Morgan McKinley
There was a 13% drop in jobs available quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025.
60% of adults have been involved in a workplace relationship, research finds
Research by Co-space found entry-level staff were most likely to cross professional boundaries, making up 39.5% of workplace romances.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
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.
Savills recognised for ongoing commitment to social mobility
Sarah Thorley said: “At Savills we champion social mobility by opening doors, creating opportunity, and helping people to thrive in their careers.”
ABP supports women in maritime with purchase of The Scarlett Box
The kit is designed to meet the needs of staff working at sea, with water-resistant sealed products for safety and hygiene.
Technology
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.
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.
spacebands secures £1.1m to reduce hearing loss and vibration injuries in workplaces
The funding will improve the wearables and analytics platform to help employers spot harmful exposure sooner and act before injuries become permanent.
Health & Wellbeing
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.
Young adults spend the most money to tackle burnout, finds Flagstone
Most said they wanted this time back to relax and sleep, with others using it to see family, friends, or pursue hobbies.
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.
Manchester City Council recognised as a Menopause Friendly Employer
Manchester City Council is now the first Greater Manchester Combined Authority to get Menopause Friendly Accreditation.
Employee Relations
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.
Office space demand rises as more workers return to physical workplaces, data finds
BPS London said the high supply of office space shows the market is still adjusting after the pandemic.
75% of businesses unprepared for new employee rights rules, warns lawyer
Roy Magara, solicitor advocate and founder of Magara Law, said: “Many organisations are still operating with outdated assumptions about flexibility and probation."
FBU pledges to “fight for every job” as cuts averted in Avon and Leicestershire
Steve Wright said: “Politicians and chief fire officers should be on notice - we will fight for every job and every station in every corner of the UK."
Global HR
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.
Arsenal selects Deel to manage global HR operations
Arsenal will use Deel’s HR platform to manage its workforce and operations.
Equiom and Ledgy partner to expand global equity plan services
The integration of Ledgy lets Equiom’s teams support clients with complex share plans and gives employees access to manage their equity through one platform.