Sickfluencers: Why this tabloid narrative is bad for business
Another term is doing the rounds and how we respond to the narrative it carries will have huge impacts on psychological safety and belonging. Deborah Hartung warns against letting the ‘sickfluencer’ rhetoric infiltrate your culture.
When AI adoption becomes performance theatre: Inside the new kind of employee disengagement
Mandating AI without a clear purpose or strategy is creating distrust. Stephanie Davis Neill delves into the new form of employee disengagement that’s emerging and what organisations are getting wrong about change management.
From the Editor: An industry under pressure deserves authentic, actionable content
HR professionals are being asked to do more, faster and with fewer resources. In her first Editor’s note, Lauren Haigh shares her early reflections on how quickly the HR landscape is shifting, and sets out her commitment to delivering practical advice and honest insights that helps practitioners navigate the fast-moving world of work.
Why you need to to rewild your organisation
Burnout comes from outdated systems that are consuming energy. Thom Dennis believes that rather than seeking to change the people without changing the structure, it’s time to remove the constraints that prevent natural processes from reasserting themselves, and then step back and watch the magic unfold.
Why HR can’t afford to ignore the UK’s emerging younger workforce crisis
The decline of young people in education, employment and training signals a long-term threat to talent pipelines, future skills and the sustainability of the UK workforce. Angela Matthews highlights why HR leaders need to pay attention, and where to start.
HR Technologies UK 2026: Exploring the future of HR, together
At the end of the month, the must-attend event for HR professionals returns: HR Technologies UK. As a proud media partner, HRZone is looking forward to seeing how the UK’s leading tech-focused event unfolds.
HR is watching you: Why pulse surveys are killing trust
Workforce diagnostics and engagement surveys are everywhere and yet engagement stagnates and turnover is increasing. Brian Bakeberg warns that when we measure without providing the agency to act, employees start to feel less heard and more surveilled.
Forget trust. Is AI reliable?
The prevailing narrative that people have to ‘trust’ AI in order to realise its benefits brings various risks. Quentin Millington looks at reasons we cannot, and should not, trust AI, and argues that a more relevant ambition is to seek AI systems that we can instead ‘rely’ on.
Day One SSP: Closing the gap between policy and practice
Day-one SSP is now in effect. But will it actually reach the workers it’s designed to help? HR Technical Consultant Sarah Kerr explains that the gap between policy update and real-world application isn’t in legislation, but in everyday decisions made by line managers.
The Drama Triangle: Why your conflict training isn’t reaching the people who need it most
The Drama Triangle is a dysfunctional dynamic that can be deeply damaging to business. Emma Georgiou says it’s time to start thinking like a Traitors contestant who’s just worked out the game. What’s your next move?
Faking productivity: Do you know the difference between a pulse and a purpose?
How do we actually measure the value of knowledge work? Deborah Hartung delves into the misconduct that’s holding up a mirror in the knowledge economy, warning that if we continue to manage by signs of life, we should not be surprised when people learn to fake a heartbeat.
April’s employment law shake-up: What HR needs to do right now
The first wave of the Employment Rights Act lands this month. Charles Hipps, Founder and CEO of Oleeo, breaks down what the changes mean for HR practitioners.
Stop asking why Gen Z are difficult and start asking what they are showing you
Whether you’re Gen Z, millennial or Gen X, work has to meet intrinsic needs. Most of us want the opportunity to make a difference, to grow and develop and to be recognised and valued. Blaire Palmer explains why abandoning outdated principles and getting curious is the route to understanding and getting the best out of Gen Z.
The ‘fake perks’ problem: How misleading job ads are fuelling ghosting
One in five job adverts dress up legal rights as perks. Appreciation expert Chris Britton assesses the damaging impact of ‘fake perks’ on candidates and companies alike and underlines the need for HR to show up authentically.
The global payments problem: Why your payment infrastructure is a workforce strategy issue
Global payments shouldn’t still be this hard. For businesses managing cross-border contractors, the complexity isn’t a minor operational annoyance, it’s a strategic constraint that shapes which talent is actually accessible. Bryan Pena, Workforce Strategy Consultant at Defiant Solutions & Papaya Global, makes the case for treating payments as infrastructure, not an obstacle.
Pay transparency WILL come to the UK: Are you ready?
While the EU Pay Transparency Directive doesn’t apply to the UK, its effects already do. Gethin Nadin argues that pay transparency is already here. The question is: Will we shape our own framework, or adopt the one being written next door?
The future of flexibility: Preparing for reforms to zero-hours contracts
With reforms to zero-hours contracts on the horizon, specialist employment lawyer Philip Pepper advises that the time to act is now and offers practical guidance on the decisions employers should be making today.
AI won’t take accountability, will you?
Effectively judging situations and acting appropriately under pressure are inherently human skills. But new research suggests that the ability to take accountability is largely contextual. Ella Overshott explores resonant findings and how they can be applied in practice by establishing a culture of accountability.
The empathy gap in management: What HR needs to know
Empathy has become essential to leadership, yet new research reveals that managers consistently score lower than the general population in emotional sensitivity. Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at Zety, explains why this gap might exist, and how HR can help managers stay connected to their teams whilst maintaining the decisiveness their roles demand.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Designing an environment where neurodiverse talent thrives
The statistics speak for themselves; neurodiversity is prevalent in the workplace and beyond and yet misunderstanding and discrimination remain. What can organisations do to bring out the best in their neurodiverse employees?
