Leadership lessons: What can elite sport teach businesses
Matthew Drew discusses how teamwork, attitude and shared purpose are more important to long-term success than individual capability alone.
Latest
Unite secures JLR workplace menopause support policy
The policy, which is a day one right and can be accessed at any time, includes workplace adjustments, such as flexible working, access to fans, additional breaks and changes to workwear.
Education workers in Northern Ireland poised for strike action over unresolved pay disputes
GMB members in Northern Ireland are set to strike over unresolved pay and grading disputes, citing government inaction as morale hits a new low.
Gen Z office attendance rises as businesses enhance perks, reveals Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index
Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index reports a 10% increase in Gen Z office attendance as companies introduce enticing perks to boost in-office presence.
John Lewis unveils job interview questions online to streamline hiring process
John Lewis has made its job interview questions publicly available online to enhance transparency and attract a diverse pool of talented candidates.
Cifas data reveals rise in new recruits committing dishonest acts against employers
Cifas reports a surge in dishonest conduct among employees with less than a year of service, as financial pressures mount.
UK employers face major challenges in retaining talent and meeting pay expectations, survey finds
A Ciphr survey of 300 UK HR decision-makers highlights retention, salary expectations, and work-life balance as major challenges for 2024.
Compensation & Benefits
More employers adding new entrant EV brands to company car choice lists, research shows
23% said they are waiting for these manufacturers to become more established before introducing them to employee choice lists.
Private sector pay awards hold at 3.5% in March – IDR
The proportion of pay awards worth 4% or more increased, rising from 16% in February to over one fifth in the latest sample.
Recruitment & HR
Crisis management among most valuable workplace skills amid increased automation, study finds
Click Finder analysed 84 occupations and more than 100 human skills to identify which capabilities are hardest for AI systems to replicate.
Businesses hiring AI leaders too early risk costly mistakes, warns La Fosse
Research from the company found that 69% of employees believe their organisation now needs an AI specialist at C-suite level.
Demand for traditional coding skills falls as AI tools increase in popularity – Malt
According to the Malt Tech Trends 2026 report, demand for languages including Java (-32%), C++ (-25%) and PHP (-33%) fell sharply over the past year.
Pineapple Recruitment launches education division to support schools and colleges
The division will cover full-time, part-time and fixed-term positions.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Wiltshire Council approves £10.4m programme to help more residents into jobs
The programme aims to help residents with health conditions, disabilities or other complex barriers move into long-term work.
WEC launches inquiry on flexible working and disability
MPs on the cross-party committee will look at how flexible working policies, laws and guidance affect disabled workers and jobseekers.
37% of BSL users lose Access to Work support despite unchanged needs, data finds
RNID and DeafATW found nearly three quarters (73%) of respondents and 76% of BSL users said their latest award helped them stay in work.
Alstom launches internship scheme to boost job prospects for SEND students
The scheme, run in partnership with Derby College, gives students hands-on experience as they work on the CrossCountry Voyager refurbishment project.
Technology
People’s Pension launches digital inclusion webinars with Good Things Foundation
The initiative comes as millions of adults across the UK continue to face digital exclusion, including around 7.9 million people who lack basic digital skills.
AI-generated cover letters becoming standard in recruitment, says Eursap
Daniel Patel, recruitment director at Eursap, said: "Candidates are under pressure to apply quickly and at scale, and AI tools offer a way to keep up with that pace.”
CEOs continue to prioritise AI and profitability amid geopolitical uncertainty – EY-Parthenon
The survey of 1,200 CEOs across 21 countries revealed that more than half (56%) now view geopolitical risk as the biggest threat to their business over the next 12 months.
Health & Wellbeing
Noisy offices fuelling health crisis as employers fail to act, research warns
Oscar Acousitcs found that nearly a quarter (24%) of office workers have taken time off due to noise-related stress.
Employers rethink health plans as demand for weight-loss drugs grows – Howden
The data highlighted a growing disconnect between employee expectations and employer affordability.
Over half of employees experience imposter syndrome at work, MyPerfectCV finds
51% of employees said like they are “faking it” at work at least sometimes, projecting more confidence or competence than they genuinely feel.
Businesses still prioritising accidents over long-term health risks, research finds
WorkNest found that only 51% of organisations claim to give equal attention to accidents and long-term health risks.
Employee Relations
Employee recognition in focus as Vertu honours long-serving Ascot employee
The Vertu Masters Awards celebrates excellence across the business, with more than 7,800 colleagues considered for recognition.
74% of employers concerned employees not saving enough for retirement, data finds
Data from People's Pension found a third (32%) of employers said younger employees are most likely to opt out of workplace pensions.
Two-thirds of employees say paid sick leave is a must-have – Ciphr
68% said company sick pay was the most important benefit, ahead of annual pay rises that match inflation (60%) and flexible working hours (58%).
Mencap and Admiral partner to tackle employment gap in Wales
The programme will focus on providing job coaching, skills workshops, travel training and practical support to help adults move into paid employment.
Global HR
TomTom rolls out HowNow AI skills platform to boost workforce agility
The company brought in HowNow as part of a two-year people strategy to reshape learning and give employees skills-driven development paths.
Everywhen joins Brokerslink to boost international employee benefits for UK clients
Brokerslink said Everywhen’s experience allows them to meet network members’ clients’ needs in the UK and contribute to the Brokerslink employee benefits community.
Revolut Business launches GlobalHire to streamline international hiring
GlobalHire moves candidates from contract to onboarded in two to five days and automates compliance and payroll.
CPO appointments fall as demand for experience grows, report finds
Eton Bridge Partners found that overall global appointment volumes have fallen by 21%, driven by a 34% decline in the UK.