The AI breakthrough that’s finally embedding and measuring culture change
Everyone agrees culture matters – yet most organisations still struggle to close the gap between their stated values and daily behaviour. Elie Rashbass, CEO of ScultureAI, explores how AI can finally transform culture from an aspiration on the wall into measurable, embedded behaviour change across your organisation.
HR in 2026: Key challenges and priorities with Craig McCoy, HR Connection Group
As we step into 2026, HR leaders face a myriad of challenges – from regulatory upheaval to skills shortages and economic pressures. Craig McCoy, Chair of HR Connection Group, shares insights from conversations with HR directors across the UK, revealing what’s weighing on the minds of people leaders and where opportunities lie amid the turbulence.
AI co-therapy: Will it fill the gap in employee mental health support?
You know about the waiting lists. You’ve seen employees struggle between counselling sessions. AI co-therapy is now cautiously stepping in to fill that gap, says Karl Bennett, Chair of the EAPA UK. This tool is not there to replace human counsellors, but to support them.
HR predictions for 2026: Navigating a “clusterbomb of challenges” in the workplace
The work landscape in 2026 will bring a “clusterbomb of challenges” for HR to wade through. What will this likely entail? We share predictions from 10 workplace experts covering everything from grievance claims and flattening hierarchies, to improved HR wellbeing and, of course, AI transformation.
Should HR own the organisation’s AI strategy?
As AI tightens its grip on our workplaces, who should own the organisation’s AI strategy? And, what is the role for HR as organisations embrace this disruptive technology? Quentin Millington of Marble Brook looks at what makes sense, in terms of both strategy and practice.
HRZone’s 2025 most popular reads
Which HR and work issues caught your attention in 2025? It’s time to reveal HRZone’s 12 most popular reads…
2025 in review: Did the HR pros get it right?
At the start of 2025, we asked 10 people and culture experts to share their work predictions for the year ahead. With December almost here, they’ve returned to assess their forecasts and reflect on how the world of work has changed – for better or worse – over the past year.
The perfect storm: Middle-aged men, AI disruption and mental health
Men aged 45–49 have the highest suicide rate in the UK, and many now watch AI tools replicate expertise they spent decades building – all while shouldering peak financial pressures. Thom Dennis, CEO of Serenity in Leadership, explains why generic wellbeing initiatives aren’t working, and what you need to do differently this Movember.
If Gen Z needs AI to speak to colleagues, maybe it’s not them who’ve lost the plot
Half of Gen Z workers use AI to prepare for work conversations, a new study finds. Is this the demise of social skills? Or is something else going on? Culture consultant Deborah Hartung explores where Gen Z’s anxiety for perfection might be coming from.
Are AI and empathy mutually incompatible?
AI promises to remove bias and free up time for human connection – but what happens when algorithms miss the nuance that matters most? Sarah Lardner from Innecto Reward Consulting examines whether AI can truly support empathetic HR practices, or if we risk reducing people to data points in pursuit of efficiency.
‘Bossware’: How workplace surveillance harms wellbeing and productivity
As firms introduce closer monitoring of employee activity, managers risk abusing their power. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers how surveillance harms employee wellbeing and productivity, asking, ‘Is ‘bossware’ merely evidence of weak leadership and a failing culture?’
Trust, creativity and the bonds AI can’t replace
Algorithms excel at efficiency, but can they replace the human bonds that spark original ideas and give organisations competitive edge? Sanjay Lobo MBE, CEO and Founder of OnHand, believes not. Here, he explores the hidden cost of AI’s rapid advance – the erosion of workplace relationships that drive trust, creativity and innovation.
Performance reviews just got smarter: AI’s role in HR’s toughest process
What if your most dreaded HR process could become your most powerful? Bruce Walcroft from Betterworks reveals how AI transforms performance reviews by synthesising complex data, creating psychological safety, and delivering personalised coaching – turning annual anxiety into meaningful employee development that actually works.
AI mental health tools: Breakthrough or band-aid for employee wellbeing?
ChatGPT’s new mental health tools promise 24/7 support, but are they a breakthrough or band-aid? With workplace stress at crisis levels, AI offers tempting solutions – yet the risks of surveillance, poor-quality care, and organisational complacency are real. Dr Jo Burrell explores how to harness AI’s potential without losing the human touch.
Augmented talent: Could AI skills reshape pay equity?
Two employees, same role, same pay – but wildly different output thanks to AI. While some workers harness these tools to supercharge productivity, others remain hesitant adopters. Here, Gethin Nadin of Benifex examines whether mastering AI should come with financial rewards – and what happens when we leave this transformation to chance.
Money versus people, the conflict ChatGPT cannot resolve
As OpenAI restructures to chase profits, raising doubts about the firm’s commitment to AI for the benefit of all, we see writ large the unremitting conflict between self-interest and stakeholder value. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook makes sense of the complex dynamic, offering ideas to quieten this near-universal distraction from good work.
New study reveals ‘shadow AI’ trend: 54% of workers would use AI without company approval
More than half of employees say they’d use AI tools at work without their company’s authorisation, according to new global research from Boston Consulting Group. The findings highlight rising security risks, with nearly two-thirds of workers also feeling undertrained in how to use AI effectively.
AI layoffs pose risk: Build strength, not weakness
Last week the chief executive of BT Allison Kirkby said the group’s ambitions to harness the “full potential of AI” may involve more layoffs than her predecessor had outlined in 2023. Here, Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers four ways leaders can ensure artificial intelligence strengthens – rather than weakens – their team’s value.
AI in graduate recruitment: What HR leaders need to know
With AI-generated CVs flooding inboxes and graduates lacking key workplace skills, how can you spot real potential? Mark Griffith, Founder & CEO of FourthWall, shares why traditional hiring methods are falling short – and what you can do instead.
The AI workplace revolution: What HR needs to know now
The AI revolution is here, but organisations are struggling to develop practices to integrate the new technology fully and safely into their business. Natasha Wiebusch, Content Marketing Manager at Brightmine, identifies what HR needs to know now.