According to the latest Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index, small business employment in the UK with one to nine employees fell by 24,900 jobs, a 0.59% drop from March, ending four consecutive months of growth. Total employment for businesses with 1-9 employees is now at 4.2 million.

As we mark International HR Day on 20th May, we reflect on a whirlwind year that has redefined the function of global HR. From updates to employment law and return to office debates to shifting visa policies for international hires and mounting compliance pressures, in just 12 months, HR leaders have had a significant influx of changes to respond to.

The latest research from Towergate Employee Benefits shows that only 39% of employers believe their employees have a good understanding of the full range of employee benefits provided.

Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced major enhancements that bring AI-driven insights, automation, and seamless connectivity to Sage 50 customers in the UK. Sage 50 has just become more powerful, connected, and secure while preserving the features SMBs know and trust.

Whilst quiet quitting might be a healthy boundary-setting response to overwork, the latest workplace phenomenon, ‘quiet cracking’, describes a much more troubling deterioration of the employee-employer relationship.

In today's fast-paced and often high-pressure work environment, stress has become part of working life. So, what can leaders do to mitigate its impact on their teams? One very effective yet often overlooked way to reduce workplace stress is by building trust.

Nearly half of business leaders have seen an increase in employee turnover after delaying pay rises for professionals and white-collar workers, according to new research from global talent solutions business Robert Walters.

Less than two-thirds (57%) of employers are ‘very confident’ that their pension scheme is compliant with automatic enrolment regulations, according to new research by Towergate Employee Benefits. This is leaving businesses open to the possibility of non-compliance notices and fines.

Launching a startup is a complex and multifaceted process that involves more than just ideas, technology, and interpersonal relationships. It also includes legal aspects that should be addressed from the very beginning. Mistakes made in the early stages can be costly – ranging from loss of control over the business to legal disputes with partners or investors.

Against an ever-changing economic backdrop, UK companies have cited employee benefits costs as a pressing challenge, according to Gallagher’s Workforce Trends Report. The report also found that organisations are looking to adapt their benefit strategies to address economic pressures and the diverse needs and expectations of their workforce.

Ask a Brit how much they earn, and you’re likely to be met with awkward laughter or a change of subject. But while we’re famously tight-lipped about pay, that cultural discretion is being quietly eroded, at least on job ads. In fact, UK employers are now leading the way in Europe when it comes to salary transparency in job postings.

Office use across Europe has returned to around 70% of pre-pandemic levels, prompting businesses to rethink how they bring employees back into physical workplaces. Many are investing in technology that encourages collaboration, streamlines operations and supports sustainability goals.

New research from Virgin Media O2 Business reveals small and medium sized enterprise (SME) directors are spending an average of 10 hours per working week on tasks outside of their core expertise, as recent ONS data shows falling UK employment levels.   

New data from Fiverr’s third annual UK Future Workforce Index reveals that over a third (35%) of UK businesses are saving over £40,000 per month by turning to freelancers – with the average monthly saving exceeding £33,000 – highlighting the hard value of workforce flexibility in today’s challenging economic climate.

Six in ten (60%) UK business travellers believe their employer could do more to ensure their safety while travelling for work, according to a new Opinium survey of 500 business travellers, commissioned by World Travel Protection.