The management role is broken. And we built it that way
It’s not that managers are incapable. It’s that the role has lost coherence. Sarah Birtwistle draws on new research from Ipsos to explore the role design failure and plan a way forward.
What your employees’ unused holiday says about your business
Some employees seem indispensable, working flat out and barely taking a day off. It’s tempting to see this as dedication, but Blaire Palmer warns that when staff don’t feel able to switch off, the consequences for your business can be serious.
From the Editor: You’re telling us what matters and we’re listening
In her second From the Editor, Lauren Haigh assesses the content resonating most with HRZone’s readers, asks you to have your say and introduces a new practical content series.
Beyond wellbeing: How to actually build workplace resilience
As modern workplaces operate under constant pressure, understanding the distinction between wellbeing and resilience has never been more important. Paul Chudleigh unpacks the difference and shares five practical ways to build resilience in your team.
Women are saying no to promotions: Here’s what needs to change
Women are increasingly saying ‘no thanks’ to senior leadership roles. Emma Georgiou has five top tips to better design leadership roles and reverse the trend of promotion burnout.
Five steps: Turn organisational strategy into team-level impact
Leading strategy practitioner and business coach Julian Lighton has five steps HR leaders can take to move from process manager to execution architect, and turn organisational strategy into real team-level impact.
UK employers have a design and delivery problem, not a generosity one
New research shows the UK ranks second lowest for employee experience globally. The problem isn’t how much employers are spending, Gethin Nadin argues, but whether that spending is actually reaching people.
When policy isn’t enough: Why judgment matters as much as process
Employment law specialist Phil Pepper explores why enforcing policy and protecting reputation aren’t always the same thing, and advises on what HR can do about it before the next incident.
When the heat is on: HR’s heatwave action plan
A red heat health alert is a workplace health and safety event, and HR needs to be ready for it. From risk assessments to reasonable adjustments and flexible working, Emma O’Connor sets out the duties, decisions and practicalities every HR team should have covered.
Five ways to close the workplace AI perception gap
New research from Zellis highlights that misalignment in how employees and business leaders use and perceive AI is causing stress, corroding trust and costing money. Steve Elcock has five fixes you can (and should) implement today.
Five steps: Stop running HR. Start running the business
Kerry Unflat has put together a practical guide for CHROs who want to move from programme ownership to operational ownership, with a five-step framework for becoming the function that makes the business actually work.
Why brain-healthy organisations will win at AI transformation
Organisations are pouring money into AI transformation and not seeing the returns. Samantha Howarth argues the missing variable isn’t the technology, it’s the brain.
Why global expansion fails before hiring even begins
The expensive part of global expansion isn’t hiring. It’s fixing what wasn’t set up correctly before hiring began. Milena Mladenović Krušić outlines how to establish the right foundations.
Five steps: Stop senior meetings ending in agreement but no action
“It’s the same conversations in the same meetings, then everyone goes back to their desks and carries on as before.” If this sounds familiar, Penny Haslam has five practical techniques to help HR break the cycle and head off issues of demotivation, retention and productivity.
CIPD Festival of Work 2026: Key takeaways for HR leaders
More than 12,000 people professionals gathered at this year’s CIPD Festival of Work. Here’s what the sessions actually said about the current state of HR and where the profession needs to go next.
Do your employee benefits work when people need them most?
When did your benefits last get tested against real life? Thom Groot argues that for most HR teams, the honest answer is never, and that the gap between what your benefits promise and what they deliver under pressure is probably wider than you realise.
HR’s game plan for the World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup kicks off today and, with it, comes the potential for HR headaches. Employment lawyer Emma O’Connor advises on how to manage the workplace impact of the biggest World Cup yet.
Self-Assessment Framework: Are you an enterprise CHRO or function head?
Board & C-Suite Advisor Dési Kimmins provides a self-assessment framework for CHROs who want to close the gap between HR delivery and strategic business impact. This framework gives you a practical way to audit your own strategic impact across five key areas.
Why CEO burnout is undermining your wellbeing strategy
Work-life balance is the number one priority for today’s job seekers. But when senior leaders publicly embrace long hours and an always-on mentality this undermines wellbeing strategies, writes Chris Britton.
What meaningful menopause support actually looks like: From someone on the ground
Menopause coach Julie Cosgrove explores what a meaningful Equality Action Plan actually looks like for menopause support, from someone who works with these women every day.
