AI promises to remove bias and free up time for human connection – but what happens when algorithms miss the nuance that matters most? Sarah Lardner from Innecto Reward Consulting examines whether AI can truly support empathetic HR practices, or if we risk reducing people to data points in pursuit of efficiency. The post Are AI and empathy mutually incompatible? appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
As Black History Month celebrations draw to a close, what does your organisation do next? Put the work into designing real inclusion, or shut down the campaign until next year and maintain an air of ‘polite inclusion’? Judith Germain of The Maverick Paradox invites you to reflect honestly on your organisation’s approach, and offers strategies for redesigning systems that merely present an illusion of progress. The post Black History Month: Polite inclusion at work is keeping people com...| HRZone
As firms introduce closer monitoring of employee activity, managers risk abusing their power. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers how surveillance harms employee wellbeing and productivity, asking, ‘Is ‘bossware’ merely evidence of weak leadership and a failing culture?’ The post ‘Bossware’: How workplace surveillance harms wellbeing and productivity appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Domestic abuse affects one in four employees, yet Black victim-survivors face unique barriers that keep many suffering in silence. Susan Bright and Kristin Thue from the Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) explore why systemic racism, cultural stigma and institutional bias demand a more thoughtful response – and what you can do to create truly safe workplaces. The post How to support Black employees impacted by domestic abuse appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Family care breakdowns are an unavoidable part of life. But these disruptions don’t just affect your caregiving colleagues – their impact ripples outward to the wellbeing, morale, and productivity of your wider workforce, too. Here, Chris Locke of Bright Horizons highlights the real cost of care-related absences and strategies for reducing them. The post The business impact of family care breakdowns and what employers can do appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Without tailored support for menopause caused by cancer treatment, organisations risk losing valued talent and gender diversity in leadership. Barbara Wilson of Working with Cancer sheds light on this hidden HR issue during both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Menopause Awareness Month. The post Menopause after cancer: The missing workplace conversation appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
A recent employment tribunal ruled that a manager’s desk change at estate agency Robson could be reasonably interpreted as a demotion and was in breach of employment law. Legal expert Rhys Wyborn examines where the company went wrong and how other employers can avoid desk dramas escalating into legal action. The post Desk-gruntled: Seating arrangement sparks legal repercussions for estate agency Robsons appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
The winners of our 2025 Culture Pioneer Awards are revealed here! Discover the organisations and leaders building thriving workplace cultures that boost loyalty, inclusion and performance. The post Winners announced for 2025 Culture Pioneer Awards appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Blended workforces demand more than just flexibility. Sara Daw, Group CEO at The CFO Centre and Liberti Group, reveals why psychological ownership is essential to transform external relationships into genuine partnerships. Discover the three key elements that foster commitment and belonging among freelancers, contractors, and part-time leaders. The post Why psychological ownership is key to a successful blended workforce appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
What if your performance management system is solving yesterday's problem? Zhanna Zhuravleva, HR & Culture Transformation Leader, introduces the Compass: a dynamic tool that helps you move beyond tick-box HR by tracking where your organisation creates value in real time. It's designed for the uncertainty and speed of today's AI-enabled workplace. The post The Compass: A dynamic tool to help end tick-box HR appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Senior leaders now widely recognise the strategic value of workplace culture. But not all bosses embrace the challenge of changing a problematic one. Ella Overshott, Director of Pecan Partnership, outlines the reasons why so many resist or ignore the problem, and how you can overcome (or divert) their defiance. The post How to drive culture change when your boss doesn’t want to appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Naysayers – colleagues who see nothing but gloom – drain energy and obstruct change in almost any organisation. But do they also offer a hidden value? Quentin Millington of Marble Brook explores the root causes of doom-mongering and shows how everyone can benefit from pessimism within the team. The post Naysayers and the hidden value of workplace pessimism appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Do you look after equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in some capacity at work? Inclusion specialist Shakil Butt offers a practical guide to understanding what EDI really means and how to turn good intentions into everyday actions. Here, HRZone offers a snippet from his new book. The post Book excerpt: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Explained by Shakil Butt appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Most workplaces chase productivity metrics, but this approach often backfires. Jacqueline Towers of HubStar explores five critical pitfalls of measuring productivity – from outdated metrics to damaged wellbeing – and reveals what truly drives performance. Discover why trust, autonomy and psychological safety matter more than monitoring, and what your organisation should focus on instead. The post Five pitfalls of measuring workplace productivity appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Men are not simply ‘for’ or ‘against’ engaging with gender equity issues. A new global study reveals a developmental pattern at play – four progressive stages that men move through towards allyship. Here, Dr Debbie Bayntun-Lees of Hult International Research School outlines the study’s key findings. She also introduces a diagnostic model to help HR leaders identify and support each stage. The post Four progressive stages of male allyship – and how HR can support the journey appe...| HRZone
Algorithms excel at efficiency, but can they replace the human bonds that spark original ideas and give organisations competitive edge? Sanjay Lobo MBE, CEO and Founder of OnHand, believes not. Here, he explores the hidden cost of AI's rapid advance – the erosion of workplace relationships that drive trust, creativity and innovation. The post Trust, creativity and the bonds AI can’t replace appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Rather than rejecting leadership, Gen Z is reshaping it, argues Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote. Here, she challenges outdated models and pushes companies to reimagine leadership as flexible, authentic, and aligned with values. The post Are we really facing a leadership crisis. Or is Gen Z simply changing the rules? appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
What if you could decode the invisible forces that shape how your team really works together? Perry Timms and Kirsten Buck of PTHR reveal how the Big Five personality traits act as the hidden operating system behind team dynamics. By understanding these psychological patterns, HR leaders are better equipped to engineer high-performing teams that harness everyone's unique strengths. The post The Big Five at work: Engineering personalities into collective strength appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
Carers of people with cancer are an often unseen part of the workforce, balancing professional responsibilities with the relentless demands of caring. Barbara Wilson, Founder of Working With Cancer, explains the challenges carers face and outlines how HR leaders can provide meaningful support. The post Why HR must do more to support carers of people with cancer appeared first on HRZone.| HRZone
HR and reward leaders, be warned. While 60% of your profession believes they deliver an excellent employee experience, only 19% of employees agree. How can you combat this disconnect? By making the process of accessing benefits less mystifying, time-consuming and stressful, says Oliver Atkinson, Senior Wellbeing Lead at Benifex.| HRZone
HRZone is a leading digital publication for the HR community, providing guidance, insights, and networking opportunities for people professionals.| HRZone
Rising pressure for managers to be productive all the time is leaving little time for them to stop and listen to their teams. It’s time to switch to a coaching culture where individuals feel listened to, valued and able to reach their full potential.| HRZone
Remaining ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing world of HR means embracing AI-powered chatbots and their compelling implications.| HRZone
Five ways to drive positive behaviours and enhance your workplace culture| HRZone
How can an organisation turn a defensive culture into one where best intentions are assumed? Melissa Cochrane of Pharmacist Support shares her experiences of navigating this behaviour change at the charity.| HRZone
Discover how Wurzak Hotel Group went from worst to first on Glassdoor, earning the 2024 Culture Pioneer Awards.| HRZone
Explore how to cultivate caring communities in the workplace and foster a supportive culture of belonging.| HRZone
Explore the BBC workplace culture review through the eyes of a seasoned expert in organisational culture.| HRZone
Discover effective ways to change workplace culture in 100 days. Create meaningful shifts with this tried-and-tested roadmap for success.| HRZone
What to do past June’s Pride and other similar initiatives, to increase impact once the calendar page turns.| HRZone
Managers often fall into the ‘tactical hell’ of micromanaging, but there are ways to extricate themselves from this bind.| HRZone
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s look at the true meaning of resilience and how we can be more resilient.| HRZone
With growing concerns about the impact of hybrid working on connection, team management and culture, is the focus on employee wellbeing being prioritised over that of the needs of organisations and customers?| HRZone
Nine in ten British employees are disengaged at work, yet, 80% of employees actually enjoy the work they do. So if their role isn’t the problem, what is? Sanjay Lobo, CEO of OnHand, highlights why lack of purpose is draining the spark from your teams – and three ways to turn this around.| HRZone
Research from Robert Walters finds half of Gen Z don't want to take on a middle-management role. How can we reverse this 'conscious unbossing' trend?| HRZone
Do Gen Z myths hold water? Discover insights that debunk common perceptions about this younger generation in the workplace.| HRZone
Jürgen Klopp will be stepping down as Liverpool FC manager. During his time in this role, he has transcended the realm of football to become a well-respected and inspiring figure. What lessons can we learn from Klopp to elevate our own leadership skills?| HRZone
No one likes to admit it, but many workplaces have an issue with Queen Bee Syndrome. Queen Bees are women in the workplace that treat colleagues in a demoralizing, undermining or bullying manner. Queen Bees should NOT be confused with strong, ambitious women in the workplace (which we applaud). Queen Bees are adult versions of […]| HRZone
Learn how to navigate six essential workplace conversations in HRZone’s new toolkit, created in partnership with Flow. Effective conversation is a critical workplace skill – especially for HR professionals. People are at the heart of your role, and you cannot meaningfully support them without open, candid – and sometimes difficult – discussions. In today’s tech-enhanced […]| HRZone
Your employees are using AI at work, whether or not you 'allow' them to. To tackle covert AI use, employers should embrace purposeful adoption.| HRZone
Human experiences are under threat from our obsessions with efficiency, cost, and, now, AI. As the world becomes lost in these imperatives, HR must step up and work across the boardroom to show how the doorman exists not merely to open doors, but to create value that lasts.| HRZone
Explore the importance of social connection in the workplace and why RTO mandates are not the answer to team disconnection.| HRZone
Learn why respect at work matters more than ever and how it influences job satisfaction and workplace dynamics.| HRZone
2024 Gallup research reveals workplace wellbeing is deteriorating despite efforts to improve it. How should HR respond to these concerning findings?| HRZone
Explore the quiet crisis affecting small businesses in the UK as employees take on second jobs to cope with rising costs.| HRZone
Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey reveals over half of younger employees live paycheck to paycheck and one-third experience work-related stress. Blaire Palmer, CEO of That People Thing Ltd, examines the study’s key findings, providing HR solutions to increase workplace happiness.| HRZone
In the race for AI, firms have already begun to make redundancies. But a recent survey reveals that over half of business leaders now regret their decision.| HRZone
The University of Edinburgh has had to pay out over £1 million to an engineering professor for unfair dismissal. What can employers learn from this?| HRZone
Explore the implications of performance-related pay in the UK Civil Service and its potential impact on bureaucracy.| HRZone
New research reveals Gen Alpha will reshape workplace expectations, with 77% demanding mental health support and half seeking neurodiversity support.| HRZone
Explore the complexities surrounding the executive bonus debate in privatised firms providing public services and its implications.| HRZone
In the final part of their series on self-management, Perry Timms and Kirsten Buck examine frameworks where co-created purpose and good governance overarching this have shaped cultures where people feel more liberated, connected and respected.| HRZone
We look at the employee life cycle and apply self-management ideology and practices: performance, learning and reward.| HRZone
Temperatures are (slowly) rising, which impacts productivity and wellbeing. By taking heed of these expert tips, employers can strike a healthy balance between the two.| HRZone
New Benifex research reveals that smarter benefits tech offers organisations real wins through unified platforms and innovative strategies.| HRZone
With one in five UK employees experiencing domestic abuse, workplaces can be one of the few safe spaces a victim-survivor can turn to for help. Here, Susan Bright, CEO of EIDA (Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse), shares guidance for HR teams on handling domestic abuse disclosures with compassion and clarity.| HRZone
Learn more about the smarter work revolution and how HR can remove productivity blockers to enhance workforce efficiency and engagement.| HRZone
An exploration of the value of being ’thoughtful’, and what three central imperatives mean in practice.| HRZone
New research highlights the Values Void in benefits. Learn why investment in employee support may not yield expected results.| HRZone
Explore the risks associated with using AI tools in your organization and how they may compromise your data security.| HRZone
It’s natural to want to avoid a tough conversation, but silence has a cost. By choosing Catalytic Conversations, you can learn to spark change that matters.| HRZone
Explore effective strategies to manage workplace conflict and enhance connection and psychological safety in your team.| HRZone
Discover how Shadow AI is affecting workplaces as over half of employees use AI tools without approval.| HRZone
Culture clashes are one of the top reasons M&As fail – yet many leaders still overlook this critical factor. Ella Overshott, Partner at Pecan Partnership, shares five practical steps HR leaders can take to ensure cultural integration drives, rather than derails, deal success.| HRZone
Culture Pioneers is a campaign proudly powered by HRZone. We are on a mission to both support organisations driving impactful culture change, and commend those who are leading forward and challenging the status quo at work| HRZone
Last week the chief executive of BT Allison Kirkby said the group’s ambitions to harness the “full potential of AI” may involve more layoffs than her predecessor had outlined in 2023. Here, Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers four ways leaders can ensure artificial intelligence strengthens – rather than weakens – their team’s value.| HRZone
At a time when conflict is growing over return-to-office mandates, Paul O’Donnell, Managing Director of CMP, considers how HR can defuse tensions and help shape a new ‘normal’ for working practices.| HRZone
With a recent tribunal ruling that sighing is a form of discrimination, HR adviser Kate Palmer explores how employers can better support neurodiverse employees and champion a diverse and inclusive culture.| HRZone
Explore the significant wellbeing gap between CEOs and employees found in a 2025 global study from WellHub.| HRZone
AI in graduate recruitment is transforming how employers attract, assess and engage young talent. Discover strategies to improve quality, enhance your employer brand, and stay ahead.| HRZone
When a tribunal found Dermalogica guilty of unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and breaching part-time workers’ rights, the legal implications were clear. In this expert analysis, employment lawyer Sandeep Leighs, Partner at Shakespeare Martineau, breaks down what went wrong – and what you must do to avoid making the same costly mistakes.| HRZone
Pride flags are flying this month, as they are every June. But in this period of anti-DEI rhetoric, your team is watching – now more than ever – how your organisation responds. Kerry Nicholson, Chief of Operations for Brand Champions, explores the feelings of exclusion and exhaustion felt by the LGBTQ+ community today, and how organisations can be genuine allies amid increasing DEI resistance.| HRZone
Productivity unleashed: How to forge the future workplace| HRZone
Small shifts in daily habits can transform workforce health – and your bottom line. Conor Barry, Physical Wellbeing Lead at Benifex, unpacks the latest evidence on how movement, micro-breaks and mindfulness can help reduce absenteeism, boost mental resilience and improve sleep. If you want to build a culture of proactive wellbeing, this is where to start.| HRZone
With men making up 75% of suicides, leadership coach Thom Dennis urges employers to rethink how they support men's mental health. During Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week, he highlights the power of peer-led support groups at work.| HRZone
Use this risk assessment form for sexual harassment to check that your organisation is complying with regulations.| HRZone
The AI revolution is here, but organisations are struggling to develop practices to integrate the new technology fully and safely into their business.| HRZone
Sabina Mehmood, Pay Equity Leader at Brightmine, explores the latest updates on EU Pay Transparency Directive.| HRZone
According to Deloitte’s Gen Z and Millennial Survey, today’s younger employees are highly purpose driven. If we don’t provide opportunities for our employees to find personal meaning in what they do, we risk being unable to attract or retain purpose-driven people who willingly go over and above for the business.| HRZone
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report makes for bleak reading. Last year, employee engagement fell by 2%, equating to US$438 billion in lost productivity. Here, HRZone’s Managing Editor Becky Norman explores the study’s major findings and shares responses from industry experts and practitioners.| HRZone
Progressive organisations are ditching hierarchy and embracing self-managed approaches. What can we learn from these managerless businesses?| HRZone
Explore neuroinclusion and its importance in the workplace. Learn how to foster support for neurodivergent employees.| HRZone
In the first instalment of a three-part series on self management, Perry Timms and Kirsten Buck delve into recruitment and selection, looking at two unorthodox approaches to hiring in unorthodox organisations. What can we learn from these managerless, self-managed organisations?| HRZone
Over the past 10 years, Britain's Healthiest Workplace has gathered deep insights into some of the main challenges facing employers and their employees. Vitality's 10-year report marks a key milestone, drawing conclusions from a decade of research and offering insights on the physical and mental health of employees and how it is intrinsically linked to their productivity at work.Discover the cause. Discover the solution.| HRZone
UK economic inactivity has been making headline news since the pandemic. This life-changing outbreak in 2020 is often pinpointed as a key turning point at which our nation’s productivity problem came sharply into focus, alongside the nation's declining health.| HRZone
With boosting productivity a key priority for business and government, here are three tips for getting the most out of your people in the workplace.| HRZone
What does the state of trust look like in 2024, against a backdrop of technological innovation? Leadership coach Blaire Palmer examines findings from the Edelman Trust Barometer 2024 and offers leaders guidance on building trust in an AI era.| HRZone
Thom Dennis, CEO of culture change and leadership specialists, Serenity in Leadership, delves into the growing trend amongst businesses of prioritising transparency over opacity to build trust.| HRZone
The social model of disability offers a proven framework for HR teams to create inclusive workplaces, by removing barriers.| HRZone
Content series Disability History: Lessons for Future-Proofing HR Practices For Disability History Month, Diversity and Ability, explores the crucial role of disability inclusion in the workplace. Topics include leveraging the social model for broader inclusion, addressing the disconnect between ERGs and disclosure, and transforming EDI resistance into opportunities for collective growth and understanding. Brought to […]| HRZone
Gethin Nadin recommends five creative ways to put more money into your employees’ pockets in 2024.| HRZone
What are the signs and differences between burnout and companion term ‘rust out’, and how do we address this issue?| HRZone
Blaire Palmer, CEO of That People Thing, shares four 2025 HR and work trends trends (and challenges) to prepare for.| HRZone
Learn the four principles of open, helpful career conversations between managers and employees within your organisation.| HRZone
Workaholism has severe implications for a person's health and wellbeing and has a high risk of resulting in burnout.| HRZone
An annual teambuilding event does not support the effective practices of daily teamworking. Andrew Loveless of Pecan Partnership outlines why organisations need to redefine teamwork to drive 360 collaboration, offering seven practical ways to get started.| HRZone
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is facing backlash, with objections like cost, fairness and division dominating debates. Here, Atif Choudhury explores these concerns, debunks myths, and highlights the transformative potential of an ‘anticipatory welcome’.| HRZone
What caught your attention in the 2024 HR sphere? It’s time to reveal our 12 most popular reads on HRZone…| HRZone
Do you have bustling employee resource groups but low formal disclosure rates? Find out the missing link...| HRZone
