‘Sighing in frustration’ ruled as discrimination at tribunal
With a recent tribunal ruling that sighing is a form of discrimination, HR adviser Kate Palmer explores how employers can better support neurodiverse employees and champion a diverse and inclusive culture.
Pride amid DEI pushback: Why HR must show what allyship really means
Pride flags are flying this month, as they are every June. But in this period of anti-DEI rhetoric, your team is watching – now more than ever – how your organisation responds. Kerry Nicholson, Chief of Operations for Brand Champions, explores the feelings of exclusion and exhaustion felt by the LGBTQ+ community today, and how organisations can be genuine allies amid increasing DEI resistance.
A quiet revolution in men’s mental health: Lessons for the workplace
During Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week, leadership coach and author Thom Dennis explores what employers can learn from the quiet rise of grassroots peer support groups. With men accounting for three-quarters of all suicides, he argues it’s time for workplaces to take greater responsibility and reframe their approach to supporting men’s wellbeing.
The authenticity trap: When authentic leadership goes too far
Authentic leadership is often treated as a non-negotiable ideal, praised as a hallmark of trustworthiness, courage and clarity. But what happens when it crosses the line into self-indulgence? Lisa Stone, head of coaching at Right Management, brings a pragmatic, values-driven lens to a pressing question: can being “authentic” go too far?
Mediation lessons for HR in a divided world
With conflict on the rise at work, internationally renowned mediator Jane Gunn shares how HR professionals can use mediation strategies to rebuild trust, reduce polarisation and support open dialogue.
Is giving an opinion no longer acceptable?
If nearly a third of people don’t feel safe taking risks or sharing thoughts with colleagues, are different viewpoints and ideas outside of the box truly valued anymore?
Supporting untreatable, advanced cancer in the workforce
People with advanced cancer have the potential to work successfully for many years, but employers are failing to provide adequate support. Here, Founder of Working With Cancer, Barbara Wilson, sheds light on the difficulties of combining work and cancer, and how HR can better help employees at a time of extreme vulnerability.
Progress through transparency: A turning point for disability inclusion in the workplace
Following the publication of a landmark report on workplace disability inclusion, Gethin Nadin urges employers to move past quotas and give disabled people the opportunities they deserve.
The compassionate leadership guide: A five-step model for building caring communities at work
Belonging to a cohesive group is a fundamental human need, yet forging strong connections is difficult in our tech-obsessed, individualistic world. It’s no surprise, then, that ‘Community’ is this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025). Here, Karen Liebenguth explores how leaders can enable caring communities at work to underpin a supportive work culture where people feel they belong.
Ageism at work: Three ways to foster intergenerational inclusion
At work, do you actively seek the perspectives of colleagues significantly older or younger than you? Or do you naturally gravitate towards the opinions of those closer to your age? If it is the latter you are not alone. Here, David Bowes, Head of People at Insights, outlines the overlooked issue of ageism at work and offers three ways to champion intergenerational inclusion.
Snowflakes or Boundried? The truth about Millennial managers
Millennials now make up the largest group of managers in today’s workforce, yet outdated stereotypes continue to undermine their influence. Ella Overshott, Director of Pecan Partnerships, explores the real traits of Millennial managers, debunks the ‘snowflake’ myth, and offers actionable insights on how organisations can better support and empower this vital generation of leaders.
Holding the rope after the UK Supreme Court verdict: A guide for inclusive HR leadership
How can organisations respect the Supreme Court’s clarification of “woman” in the Equality Act while continuing to uphold their commitment to trans and nonbinary inclusion? In a values-led call to action, inclusion expert Joanna Lockwood urges leaders to hold the rope and build cultures where everyone still belongs.
£1 million wake-up call over University of Edinburgh’s grievance failures
After a decade-long dispute, the University of Edinburgh has had to pay out over £1 million to an engineering professor for claims of unfair dismissal. Legal expert Rhys Wyborn examines where the university went wrong, and how businesses must use this as a cautionary tale to review their own grievance procedures.
Disability pay gap reporting: More harm than good?
Business Disability Forum’s new research shows mandatory disability pay gap reporting may not be the answer to workplace inclusion. It might even lead to damaging consequences for both employers and disabled employees.
Progress or PR spin? Gender pay gap 2025 shows it’s still a man’s world, just with better reporting
The results of this year’s gender pay gap report are out, but do the results point to progress or PR spin? HRZone columnist Deborah Hartung believes reporting is a tick-box exercise for most and urges HR to go beyond the bare minimum.
The Parent Penalty: Upgrade your maternity and paternity policies or risk losing talent
New research reveals that a third of employers are not adequately supporting new parents. Leadership coach Blaire Palmer urges HR to reassess their parenthood offering or risk losing valuable talent.
As cancer diagnoses rise, here’s how HR can provide better support
Research shows organisations are ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of cancer in the workplace. Here, Founder of Working With Cancer, Barbara Wilson, shares 12 HR best practices for supporting affected employees and their unique cancer-care journeys.
Four-day workweeks: Success stories, lessons learned and pitfalls to avoid
The four-day workweek is slowly but surely gaining ground. Here, Phil McParlane, Founder of 4dayweelk.io., shares valuable lessons, real-world examples and common pitfalls from early adopters.
EU Pay Transparency Directive: Brexit bonus or missed opportunity?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive will not directly impact UK organisations that don’t have EU-based operations. Is this a Brexit bonus or a wasted moment? Justine Woolf of Innecto Rewards Consultancy weighs up the pros and cons.
We need to value our intrapreneurs now more than ever
Entrepreneurs often receive all the praise, while intrapreneurs offer similar value but go unrewarded. Behavioural neuroscientist Dr Lynda Shaw reveals the many talents of intrapreneurs and urges leaders to give them the attention they deserve.
