From sore heads to disciplinary hangovers: Time to rethink your work Christmas party?
As Christmas party season approaches, HR adviser Kate Palmer explores how changing drinking habits – particularly among Gen Z – are reshaping workplace celebrations. With one in three UK workers calling in sick after drinking with colleagues, and younger staff feeling pressured to drink, it’s time to rethink traditional festivities and ensure inclusive alternatives.
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.
Your absence policy isn’t enough: Why cancer needs its own framework
With 96% of UK organisations lacking dedicated cancer policies, more than one million working-age employees are left navigating life-threatening illness through generic frameworks. Veronica Foote from Working With Cancer explains why this gap matters and how cancer-specific policies can transform workplace support.
The UK’s financial inclusion strategy signals a new era for workplace financial wellbeing
Following the launch of the HM Treasury’s strategy on boosting UK financial resilience, Gethin Nadin highlights the central role of employers in this mission. Companies like Bupa and Suez are already making strides here – will your organisation follow suit?
Strategic stress management: HR can’t be left out of the equation
On Stress Awareness Week, Dr Jo Burrell explores how chronic stress is harming the HR profession – and why only systemic solutions will create lasting change.
What’s on your HR agenda for 2026?
The data tells us HR is stretched, expecting big recruitment challenges ahead and focused on AI integration. But does this reflect your experience? We’re asking HR professionals to share what’s really on their minds as we head into 2026 – because your honest perspectives matter to us.
‘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?’
How to support Black employees impacted by domestic abuse
Domestic abuse affects one in four employees, yet Black victim-survivors face unique barriers that keep many suffering in silence. Susan Bright and Kristin Thue from the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) explore why systemic racism, cultural stigma and institutional bias demand a more thoughtful response – and what you can do to create truly safe workplaces.
The business impact of family care breakdowns and what employers can do
Family care breakdowns are an unavoidable part of life. But these disruptions don’t just affect your caregiving colleagues – their impact ripples outward to the wellbeing, morale, and productivity of your wider workforce, too. Here, Chris Locke of Bright Horizons highlights the real cost of care-related absences and strategies for reducing them.
Menopause after cancer: The missing workplace conversation
Without tailored support for menopause caused by cancer treatment, organisations risk losing valued talent and gender diversity in leadership. Barbara Wilson of Working with Cancer sheds light on this hidden HR issue during both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause Awareness Month.
Why HR must do more to support carers of people with cancer
Carers of people with cancer are an often unseen part of the workforce, balancing professional responsibilities with the relentless demands of caring. Barbara Wilson, Founder of Working With Cancer, explains the challenges carers face and outlines how HR leaders can provide meaningful support.
How wellbeing platforms can boost benefits engagement
HR and reward leaders, be warned. While 60% of your profession believes they deliver an excellent employee experience, only 19% of employees agree. How can you combat this disconnect? By making the process of accessing benefits less mystifying, time-consuming and stressful, says Oliver Atkinson, Senior Wellbeing Lead at Benifex.
Quiet cracking: A buzzword masking a mental health crisis at work
A ‘new’ trend has hit the workplace (and our Instagram feeds). But what does ‘quiet cracking’ actually mean? How does it impact performance? And is it actually new, or just an existing problem rebranded? Culture transformation expert, Deborah Hartung, uncovers what HR needs to know.
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.
From 30% to 50% satisfaction: How Refresco’s employee benefits strategy won over a deskless workforce
When only 30% of your workforce feels they have “special and unique benefits,” you know something needs to change. In this revealing case study, Sarah Tomson, Head of HR Services and Reward at Refresco, shares how her team transformed not just their benefits offering, but also rebuilt trust from the ground up.
40% of workers experience weekly financial stress, as wages fail to keep pace with inflation
New research reveals the stark reality of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, with two in five workers experiencing weekly financial stress while wages stagnate and essential spending cuts become the norm.
Over three-quarters of Gen Alpha prioritise wellbeing over wealth and traditional workplace perks
New research reveals the next generation of employees will reshape workplace expectations, with 77% demanding mental health support and nearly half seeking neurodiversity-inclusive employers.
Here comes the Sun: How to boost productivity and wellbeing this summer
The UK has already hit it’s third heatwave of the summer. How can employers keep productivity flowing while also allowing extra flexibility? Five HR experts share their tips.
HR’s role in handling domestic abuse disclosures
With one in five UK employees experiencing domestic abuse, workplaces can be one of the few safe spaces a victim-survivor can turn to for help. Here, Susan Bright, CEO of EIDA (Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse), shares guidance for HR teams on handling domestic abuse disclosures with compassion and clarity.
The loneliness-conflict loop: How HR can break the cycle
The rise of social isolation among employees has coincided with another worrying trend – an increase in workplace conflict. How can HR leaders break this concerning cycle? Anna Shields, Director at Consensio, explores how emotional intelligence, manager training and early intervention can help teams reconnect, communicate better – and handle conflict with confidence.