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 Mental Health Awareness Month this May, there’s a growing recognition that wellbeing in the workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a business essential.

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.

Nearly half (49%) of employees said that people that are perceived not to be doing their job properly is the thing that makes them angriest at work according to a new survey.

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.

Closing out the financial year remains a major challenge for businesses. Reports identify 55% of organisations still struggle with outstanding invoices from the previous tax year, while 20% of unpaid invoices are reconciled four to six months late.

Despite the rise of hybrid work, the physical office remains vital for today’s workforce, serving as a place for social bonds and knowledge sharing.

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.

Large companies like Google are pulling employees back to the office in hybrid arrangements, requiring staff on-site at least three days a week. Many corporate leaders fear that productivity or culture will suffer if people aren’t physically together.

In the heart of every successful and healthy partnership between investors and IT companies lies the art of negotiation, a crucial element in today’s ever-changing landscape of tech investments.

As the working world rapidly evolves in an effort to keep up with fluctuating trends, AI advancement, and automation-driven changes to the employment landscape, the resulting skills shortages are hitting SMEs the hardest. 

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.  

April is Stress Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is about approaching people with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter what challenges they face. Dr Glenn Mason, Head of Adult Psychological Therapies, Onebright, discusses supporting employees with stress in the workplace

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.

elementsuite, a Zellis company, HR and workforce management provider, announces new research into the state of HR in 2025 in the UK.

Insights, a global provider of workplace learning and development solutions, launches the Insights Discovery API.