2025 Workplace trends: Empathy and Flexibility are on the Rise
In 2025, the professional landscape will be shaped by several trends that are centered around wellbeing. These include workplace culture, employee well-being, and flexible working arrangements. Instant Offices analysed the data of Google searches from the past three months in order to identify trends that will shape the workplaces. They also shared how businesses can […]
How can employers promote employee well-being during the festive season?
Employees often face additional challenges as the calendar year changes. According to research, half of UK employees describe December as their most stressful month. Work deadlines, social commitments and cost of living are all factors that affect our well-being. The transition back to work is also difficult. Post-holiday depression and pressure to catch up can […]
Automating your HR department can elevate your team.
Ulrich Jaenicke is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of aconso Digital transformation is a key factor in promoting workplace efficiency and innovation, streamlining business processes and improving team collaboration. The HR department is under more pressure as employees become more digitally savvy and scattered. The management of HR processes, documentation and communication of policy […]
HR and Payroll Trends to Watch in 2025: AI, Skills Development, and Pay Transparency
In today’s everchanging global business environment, the imperative to be more efficient and agile is reshaping the expectations placed on HR, payroll, and finance teams. The scope of their responsibilities is broad, and their role in driving strategic, business, and shareholder value has never been more critical. As we look ahead to 2025, HR and […]
The number of vacancies and salaries advertised has reached its highest level in the last year
In November 2024 the UK job market began to show signs of improvement. Both vacancies and salaries advertised reached their highest levels in the past year. This growth, according to the latest Adzuna report, signals renewed confidence in employers as the year ends, although challenges remain in some sectors. In November, the number of vacancies […]
Aviva’s acquisition of Direct Line could threaten up to 2,300 jobs
Aviva and Direct Line have announced that they plan to cut up to 2,300 jobs as a result of the purchase. The companies will also be reducing their employee base by up to 7%. Aviva, UK’s largest life insurer, will pay the equivalent of 2.75 PS for each Direct Line Share, as the combined companies […]
Bank holidays: six things employers need to know
Are employees entitled to extra pay for working on bank holidays? What does an employer do if an employee refuses to work on a bank holiday? How should bank holidays be managed for part-time employees? We explain how to deal with some of the most common issues public holidays can raise. Bank holidays in 2025 […]
Volkswagen reaches agreement to avoid mandatory redundancies
Volkswagen and the IG Metall union have reached an agreement that will prevent further strikes, plant closings in Germany, and immediate mandatory redundancies. After extensive talks, the two parties have agreed to reduce more than 35,000 positions in the country “socially responsibly” by 2030 in order to save EUR15bn. Early retirement will help achieve this […]
Post Office rehired IT workers at hugely inflated salaries after firing them
Last week, the public inquiry into the Horizon Scandal heard that the Post Office had a standard practice of releasing permanent staff and then rehiring them as contractors with inflated pay rates Jane Davies, who was chief people officer of the Post Office between December 2022 and June 2023, said that she became aware of […]
Conflict isn’t the worst thing: Why great leaders embrace conflict
Imagine the last heated argument that broke out in your office. Perhaps voices were raised or emails became acrimonious, or someone left a meeting room by slamming the door. Conflict can seem like a time bomb in those moments. What if the tension was not a disaster in waiting? What if that tension was exactly […]