Healthy CEOs, hurting workforces: What’s behind the 48% wellbeing gap?
New global research finds that CEOs report positive wellbeing at a rate nearly 48% higher than employees. In this piece, HRZone’s managing editor Becky Norman explores the stark imbalance, the barriers undermining employee wellbeing, and how HR can help remove them.
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.
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?
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?
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.
The quiet crisis: SME workers are turning to second jobs amid high cost of living
LinkedIn poll data suggests a growing number of SME employees are taking on second jobs to cope with the rising cost of living. Business coach and owner, Peter Boolkah, explores the implications of this trend in terms of productivity, morale, and company culture, highlighting the need for proactive leadership.
The mental health of HR: What 1,400 voices tell us about a profession in distress
Dr Jo Burrell explores the findings of the 2025 HR Mental Wellbeing Survey, revealing a profession in psychological distress. She calls for urgent, systemic support to protect the wellbeing, retention, and effectiveness of HR professionals.
Taskmaster’s Alex Horne joins headliners at CIPD Festival of Work 2025
The HRZone team is gearing up for this year’s CIPD Festival of Work on 11–12 June. With two days of inspiring sessions and hands-on experiences – all completely free – it’s a standout event for festivalgoers passionate about shaping better workplaces. Will we see you there?
Building an inclusive culture at Media Zoo: Leadership lessons from Yasmine Alani
How can one individual successfully lead culture change? Yasmine Alani, Workplace Transformation Director at Media Zoo, opens up about her unrelenting focus on workplace inclusion, and its remarkable impact on both people and the business.
Avoid a BBC-style culture crisis: 10 ways to keep your workplace healthy
Following the BBC’s recent workplace review findings, Andrew Loveless of Pecan Partnership shares 10 actions for business leaders to keep their workplace culture healthy and crisis-free.
What can a play about football teach us about leadership?
Sometimes the best leadership lessons don’t come from the boardroom. They come from the stage. Here, Leadership expert Deborah Wain shares three insightful takeaways from a stage production on Gareth Southgate’s tenure with England’s football team.
Over half of leaders regret replacing people with AI: Will you be next?
In the race for artificial intelligence (AI), firms have already begun to make redundancies. But a recent survey from Orgvue reveals that over half of business leaders now regret their decision. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook explores how replacing people with machines may do more harm than good.
Out with ‘ostriching’, in with tackling challenging conversations head-on
By avoiding awkward conversations, we could be making the situation worse. As uncomfortable as it may feel, we need to communicate and, oftentimes, do so sooner rather than later. Here’s how.
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.
Ten ways to inspire and encourage intrapreneurship
Organisational innovation has never been more important. Harnessing this means learning from and nurturing our risk taking, visionary and resourceful intrapreneurs. With buy-in and direction from leadership, intrapreneurs can add real knowledge and value to organisations.
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.
HR supervision: The support your people team deserves
The emotional toll of HR work is often hidden – and rarely supported. Dr Jo Burrell, Clinical Psychologist at Ultimate Resilience, makes the case for HR supervision as a critical tool to protect wellbeing, improve decision-making, and build stronger people teams in today’s high-pressure workplaces.
The BBC’s workplace culture review: An expert’s reaction
Workplace culture expert Ellie Herriot shares her thoughts on the BBC’s workplace culture review from earlier this week.
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.
Stuck in a rut: How to make good decisions, fast
Decisions are the gateway from the present to the future, for organisations, teams and individual managers. In a complex and evolving world, we must be skilled at making sound choices. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook looks at why we get stuck in a rut, and offers practical ways to make good decisions at pace.
