February 3, 2026
Senior leaders are emerging as the highest-risk users of artificial intelligence in UK organisations, according to new research which suggests AI-related business failures are being driven more by leadership behaviour than by technology or junior staff. (more…)
February 3, 2026
Wellbeing has overtaken financial security as the primary concern for UK employees, according to new research from Mercer, reflecting a shift in workforce priorities after several years of economic and social disruption. The findings come from Mercer’s Inside Employees’ Minds: Building Confidence in a Changed World 2025 to 2026 report, based on responses from more than 4,000 UK workers. While financial pressures remain widespread, concerns around physical, mental and emotional health now dominate. The study found that 32 percent of employees report poor mental health, with higher prevalence among younger workers. (more…)
February 2, 2026
A new white paper offering practical guidance for employers on how to recognise, understand and respond to trauma in the workplace has been published by Nottingham Business School (NBS), part of Nottingham Trent University. Recent national figures show that more than 8.5 million adults in England and Wales are survivors of childhood abuse, underlining the scale of trauma?related experiences within the UK workforce. Managing Trauma in the Workplace: Strategies for Wellbeing and Organisational Resilience brings together research, survivor perspectives, and evidence?based recommendations to help HR professionals and managers create psychologically safe working environments. (more…)
January 27, 2026
Being forced to fake their emotions in the workplace is causing leaders to burn out, according to new research by emlyon business school. The researchers say that this ‘surface acting’ creates a scientifically proven exhaustion loop that drains the very resources necessary to function well in interpersonal environments. As a result, cognitive capacity declines, authenticity erodes, and team trust suffers in ways that makes engaging in leadership more difficult in the future. (more…)
January 27, 2026
Artificial intelligence appears to be contributing to a net loss of jobs, according to a new analysis of how organisations are adopting the technology across their operations. Research by Morgan Stanley, based on responses from nearly 1,000 companies that have been using AI for at least a year, suggests that British firms have shed more roles than they have created as a direct result of AI deployment. The study indicates a net reduction of around 8 percent of roles in the UK over the past twelve months, a higher figure than reported in comparable surveys of companies in the United States, Germany, Japan and Australia. (more…)
January 18, 2026
International Workplace is doing its bit to ease the New Year’s blues today by equipping small businesses with the tools to champion mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. ‘Blue Monday’ – the third Monday in January each year – is often cited as the most challenging day of the year for the UK workforce. With the festive season over, wintery weather taking its toll, and a long wait for payday, it’s a time when a little extra support from managers can make all the difference. (more…)
January 15, 2026
New research by specialist employment law firm Littler, based on 2024-25 data from HM Revenue & Customs, suggests there has been a 12 percent rise in the number of people working past retirement age over the past five years up from 1.39 million in the year to March 31 2020-21 to 1.56 million in the year to March 31 2024-25. The firm claims that, with the number of older people in the workplace growing, employers need to be more proactive to avoid age discrimination and prevent conflicts from developing between workers of very different generations. Although these conflicts are often seen as just workplace ‘banter’ they can cross the line to the point an employee feels they have been unlawfully discriminated against. For instance, where workplace ‘jokes’ have a repeated ageist element or stereotypes about young or old people stray into being seen as unlawful harassment. (more…)
January 14, 2026
WORKTECH Academy has published a new trends report setting out what it describes as the key forces reshaping work, workplace and workforce strategy in 2026. The report, The World of Work in 2026, claims to identify twenty trends grouped into four “megatrends”: Human Performance Reset, Workplaces Without Walls, Sustainable Growth and Back to Basics. Together, they suggest organisations are moving away from short-term fixes and “spectacle”, and towards building long-term resilience through adaptability and human capability. (more…)
January 14, 2026
Fashion and interior design have always moved in parallel, reflecting both personal identity and the emerging needs of society. For example, corporate dress codes shifted to be more relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic, coinciding with the increase in remote and hybrid working patterns. This relationship is more visible than ever, as the aesthetics of today’s fashion week runways, and the re-emergence of mid-century design come full circle to influence the look and feel of our commercial office spaces. (more…)
January 12, 2026
The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is accepting nominations for its Young Professional Industry Experience. The programme provides aspiring young people working in the industry a unique opportunity to visit sector leading companies and understand all areas of the wider trade, including materials, designing, manufacturing, pricing, marketing, sales and customer service. (more…)
January 9, 2026
Hobbies could do more than improve your personal life, they could make you more creative and better at work, according to new research published today. The study by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Erasmus University Rotterdam explored how ‘leisure crafting’ – intentionally shaping your free time through goal setting, learning and connection – does not just boost well-being outside the office but can spill over into creativity, engagement, and meaning at work, especially for older employees. Published in the journal Human Relations, the findings show that giving people simple, doable advice about how to grow through their hobbies can make a real difference in their daily lives. (more…)
January 28, 2026
Intentional AI adoption is a leadership challenge, not just a technology problem
by Molly Lebowitz • AI, Comment