HR
The latest research from The Global Payroll Alliance (GPA), reveals that since Labour’s Autumn Statement in October 2024, the number of PAYE staff in the UK has fallen by -334,748, equivalent to -67,000 people going off the books every month as businesses battle to reduce overheads under the strain of increased staffing costs.
With almost half (48%) of UK companies now offering a four-day working week, new research from hybrid meeting technology leader Owl Labs reveals that UK workplaces are on the brink of a major shakeup in working patterns. Employees aren’t just embracing shorter weeks; they expect the four-day model to become standard in the next five years.
These numbers might get you rethinking employee benefits: nearly three-quarters of American workers would accept a slightly lower salary in exchange for better healthcare benefits. In the UK, 98% of employees actively use supermarket discounts offered through their benefits package, saving an average of £725 per year. Notice a pattern? The takeaway is that employees value benefits that provide real, lasting impact.
Pay transparency has been a topic of quiet contention in business for years. In the past, most businesses have kept proposed salaries, or even salary ranges, hidden from job adverts. The idea is that this allows them to attract as many candidates as possible without showing their cards to prospective employees or other prying eyes.
As major corporations reinstate return-to-office mandates, smaller and more agile companies are taking a different path. While Amazon, Apple, and other large employers ask workers to resume full-time office presence, startups across Europe and beyond continue to embrace remote and hybrid models, not as a short-term fix, but as a deliberate growth strategy.
A startup is an exciting business venture for any enthusiastic entrepreneur. However, your company’s success hinges on an innovative and resilient team to propel it to new heights. Of course, hiring your first employees is difficult when you are just beginning. Here are ways to recruit your first top candidates for your emerging enterprise.
April’s Stress Awareness Month is a timely reminder that the wellbeing of globally mobile employees is more than just a tick-box exercise – it’s a business essential. For expats adjusting to life overseas, the stresses and emotional burden of relocating can be subtle, slow-burning, and all too easily overlooked.
As the UK government continues to implement its AI Opportunities Action Plan, British business leaders are pinning their hopes on technological innovation alongside HR strategies, such as offering hybrid work, to boost employee morale and productivity, according to research by Celonis, the global company in Process Mining and Process Intelligence.
Most businesses now provide some form of mental health training for employees. But do you know what should be included in this training to ensure it is effective and impactful? With an estimated £42-£45 billion being lost each year due to presenteeism, sickness absence and staff turnover from poor mental health, mental health training can play a crucial role in the wider success, happiness and productivity of your employees.
Building a startup is a healthy mix of energy, optimism, and of course, risk. The focus is often on product development, funding rounds, and scaling up fast. But in the rush to get off the ground, people management – the heartbeat of any organisation – can often skip a beat. And while it’s understandable, ignoring tried and tested HR best practices early on can be a costly mistake.
As employers brace themselves for hikes in National Insurance contributions (NICs) on 6 April 2025 and the reduction in the threshold at which they are due, GRiD has found that over a quarter (28%) of senior HR decision-makers believe that increased costs imposed by government such as higher employer NI contributions will present a significant challenge to their business in the next 12 months. Broken down by size of company, 30% of SMEs see this as a challenge, compared to 25% of large corporates.








