AI continues to dominate headlines and social media. For good reason. It’s already helping many businesses work faster and smarter. The global AI market was worth more than $279 billion last year. It’s expected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2030. That kind of growth tells you how quickly things are moving.

The classic “Summer Friday”, once the preferred seasonal reward for office workers, has evolved into something far more transformative for UK businesses. Research from Owl Labs reveals that the four-day work week is rapidly replacing temporary summer perks in the “Big Summer Flex”, with permanent, flexible ways of working that are reshaping workplace culture, for good.

One in five employees across the UK, equivalent to 6.8 million employees, are not receiving any coaching or awareness-building for gender specific issues, such as menopause, fertility, and screening programmes for gender-based cancers, according to research by Towergate Employee Benefits.

With the enforcement of the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive approaching, startups – and all businesses for that matter – must start preparing before it comes into force next June. Those with operations in member states will face new reporting responsibilities and the rules will put pressure onto others to follow suit to stay competitive – even if only operating locally.

A new survey has revealed that sexual harassment remains widespread and underreported in UK workplaces, prompting renewed pressure on employers to act as legal reforms advance.

New research from International Workplace Group has revealed that over half (58%) of UK parents are stressed about arranging childcare ahead of the upcoming school summer holidays. 72% of parents surveyed said they would utilise a local workspace or nearby office, closer to home, in order to reduce this stress.

If you are a manager or startup founder reading this – and you probably are, based on the title of the magazine – then you are probably already overloaded with ambiguous, random advice on how to build culture. Or you’re inundated by LinkedIn posts telling you how you’re a terrible person if you don’t let your staff work from Bali year-round on a four-day work week. Or you’ve read a couple of Walter Isaacson biographies and now you’re thinking the trick is to act like a dictator.

New research from Boostworks, a provider of employee reward, recognition, and benefits solutions, has revealed that Generation Z workers are facing significant financial strain, and they are increasingly turning to their employers for practical support.

The conversation around workplace mental health has evolved dramatically in the past few years. What was once considered a 'nice-to-have' employee benefit has become critical to business, and the numbers tell a compelling story that no organisation can afford to ignore.

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the workplace at unprecedented speed, new insights from Instant Offices suggest that Gen Z employees are already embracing AI tools far more fluently than many of their employers, highlighting a critical knowledge and leadership gap that UK businesses must urgently address.

Entrepreneurs have more choice than ever before when it comes to where to set up their business. The UK’s business taxation regime means the country is becoming less attractive to startups and entrepreneurs and, as a result, more UK businesses – especially in the highly mobile services sector – are considering their options when it comes to where to locate their business.

New research shows a growing wave of anxiety amongst office workers. As more firms order workers back to the office, more than a third (36%) of European workers worry that being 'out of sight' means that they are 'out of mind' when it comes to career progression or advancement opportunities, a figure which is even more pronounced in the UK (40%).  

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.