Employers must support working parents, ‘State of Childhood’ report finds
The latest State of Childhood Report 2025 by Bright Horizons Work and Family Solutions found that 75 percent of parents worry about their child’s mental health, and that 70 percent of those with preschool and primary-aged children expect their employers to provide support. The study noted an increasing pressure on working parents, with concerns extending […]
Background checks for remote and hybrid workers – a new standard
Over the last few years, remote and hybrid models of work have gone from being experimental to becoming mainstream. The benefits of this new work era are unquestionable – access to a global pool of talent, reduced operating costs and an increase in employee satisfaction – but it also comes with its challenges. Background checks […]
Amanda Arrowsmith: A day in the life of an HR professional
A Day in the life of a HR Professional Amanda Arrowsmith, Director of People and Transformation at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in Wimbledon (London), is a woman. She lives in Stroud with her husband and is a CIPD employee who works on transformation, organisational development and people. She joined the association of […]
How will AI-employees shape the future of employment?
AI employees have become a reality. The coworkers you interact with regularly at work are no longer just humans. Now, they include digital and agentic robots that can perform tasks with a speed and accuracy unmatched by their human counterparts. HR professionals already use a digital worker. 25 percent of employers use AI in their […]
Khyati sundaram: When you are either viewed as a “token hire” or a “lawsuit risk”, then DEI has failed.
A conservative Think Tank from the US recently called for Apple to end its DEI efforts. The group cited “litigation risks, reputational risks and financial risk” as reasons why Apple should abandon its DEI efforts. UK employers must take notice. First, because the events in America are already having an effect on the UK. Second, […]
UKHSA: Cases of Tuberculosis continue to increase in England
The latest figures released by the UK Health Security Agency show that the number of cases of tuberculosis in England has increased 13% since 2023. UKHSA reported that the number of notifications received by the UKHSA increased to 5,480 from 4,850. This continues the upward trend observed in the past few years. The agency stressed […]
McDonald’s: Zero-hour culture fuels sexual harassment claims
In 2023, allegations of sexual harassment at the fast-food giant were brought to light. Emma Cocker argues that insecure employment is a factor in power imbalances, which can create a toxic work culture. McDonald’s, celebrating its 50th anniversary of operation in the UK announced plans to open more than 200 new restaurants over the next […]
M&S boss supports call for employers’ NIC to be phased in
Marks and Spencer’s chief executive has called on the government again to implement the increases in employers’ contributions to national insurance announced in the October Budget. Stuart Machin stated that he “wholeheartedly” supports an amendment to legislation proposed by Lord Simon Wolfson. Next, a rival retailer and a Conservative peer, has proposed phasing out the […]
Why Trump and Google are paying employees to quit–and what it means for your business
What surprising thing have President Donald Trump and Google in common? Both companies offered “buyouts’ to existing employees in order to reduce headcount, and align company and agency missions. Trump’s “Fork” memo gave federal employees the option to resign from January 28 until midnight on February 6, ( and an extension by court order added […]
Supporting employee well-being in times of uncertainty: Navigating the political changes
Politics is not just a game played in government buildings or on the news. It also affects employee morale, and well-being, around the globe. Many employees, especially those with underrepresented backgrounds, are becoming more disengaged and anxious as anti-DEI rhetoric is gaining traction and policies change. Inclusion is essential to wellbeing. It is impossible to […]