By Roddy Adair, Director of Hays Personal & Executive Assistants 2020 was quite a year and one in which we saw huge changes to our world of work. We set out to understand how PAs and EAs were affected by the consequences of the pandemic and what lies ahead in 2021. Highlighting themes of skills, […]

By Dr Lynda Shaw, neuroscientist, business psychologist and change specialist During these unprecedented times, more and more people are feeling overwhelmed, with women in particular taking most of the brunt of working from home whilst simultaneously juggling the children who may or may not be at school. A recent survey in Canada found that younger […]

The New Year is traditionally a time for looking at starting afresh, whether that’s to get fit and healthy or, often, to look for new career opportunities. With this in mind, the personal finance experts at Ocean Finance have uncovered ten ways in which you can enhance your employability… Consider utilising this lockdown to learn […]

Despite home working remaining firmly on the agenda for the near future, more than a third of people (37%) admit they still don’t have a dedicated space to work from at home. What’s more, just a quarter of home workers have invested in comfortable seating (26%) or a desk (27%). The research, conducted by online […]

Making your work more playful and seeking challenges in your job increases performance, especially on days with lower work pressure, according to new research from BI Norwegian Business School. Associate Professor Olav Kjellevold Olsen, and colleagues, investigated the relationship between job crafting, playfulness in work, and job performance. Job crafting involves employees redefining their job tasks […]

Three in five bosses (60%) say that the pandemic has unexpectedly impacted the productivity of their workforce in a positive way. The new research from Hitachi Capital Business Finance has also revealed that one in five say their staff are now more independent since working from home (20%). The survey of over 1,000 small businesses asked […]

Now is an opportune moment for corporate travel teams to get their travel programs ready for the future. Amex Global Business Travel has highlighted seven areas to assess: Shore up duty of care gaps In 2020, some companies discovered weak spots in their duty of care programs, while executives recognised the importance of having one. […]

More than a fifth of workers are planning to throw a virtual office Christmas party – at home. A study of 2,000 employed adults found 22 per cent will have an online celebration with their colleagues this festive period to avoid missing out on the annual festive get together. Almost a quarter will make their […]

By David Price, CEO, Health Assured While it may be a ‘jolly’ season for some, the festive period can be a difficult time for many, often contributing towards mental health conditions including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), anxiety and depression. It’s no secret that many people struggle with their mental wellbeing during the winter months. The […]

A new survey has revealed what people have been getting up to when they should have been working from home. The research by Cartridge People has found that a shocking one in ten Brits have drunk alcohol during ‘office hours’ at home. And a third of people surveyed have admitted to exercising when they should […]

New data from global HR software and employment law advice service BrightHR has revealed there has already been a surge in 2021 annual leave requests by UK workers, following the news that the UK’s medicines regulator has authorised a COVID-19 vaccine and rollout of the injection is imminent. Over the past few weeks, 42,010 users […]

After being confined to our home offices for nine months, many of us have hung up our work uniforms, and have swapped them out for comfy pyjamas, no bras and minimal makeup. But have we swapped out our heels for slippers for good? Some 1,000 UK office workers were surveyed by Moneypenny to see whether […]

UK workers are increasingly seeking leadership traits such as empathy and vulnerability in the workplace – but bosses aren’t demonstrating or rewarding these behaviours, according to new research. The Masculinity in the Workplace study, conducted by culture change business Utopia and inclusion consultancy The Hobbs Consultancy, found that three in five (62%) workers think empathy is critical […]

A new report has revealed that post pandemic, almost 95% of meeting rooms within organisations are inadequately equipped with the technology needed to conduct productive and engaging meetings. As the Work From Home situation continues following advice from Government and health officials, keeping employees engaged, productive and connected is essential for future business gains. The […]

Working in pyjamas, having a weekday lie in and fibbing about lack of internet connection to avoid video calls are among Brits’ top ‘lockdown confessions’. A study of 2,000 adults found 78 per cent admitted to a minor ‘offence’ this year. In fact, the average person has committed seven misdemeanours each, with 13 per cent […]

By Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director, Peninsula Christmas is usually a time of cheer and celebration, and the perfect way for employers to incorporate this in the workplace is by organising a Christmas party for their staff. However, things will have to be a little different this year due to the ongoing disruption […]

Sarah Jones, Administration Manager at Key2, has won a competition run by recruitment specialist Hays, recognising her efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hays Shout Out competition set out to reward and recognise admin staff who have taken on extra responsibilities to support their organisations during the pandemic. Employers were invited to nominate their chosen employee […]

By Thom Dennis, CEO at Serenity In Leadership There has been a huge cost to the pandemic but there has also been a lot of necessary learning which needs to be integrated into current organisational cultures to be sustainable, resilient and to last beyond the pandemic. Whilst the pandemic is likely to have increased anxiety and difficulties, […]