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The fortnightly read for people building employee experience.
For the senior people in HR and EX, and those on their way there.
Global hiring update: UK Demand for AI Talent to Narrow the Eastern European Tech Pay Gap By 10 Points By 2028
New global hiring analysis finds growing international demand for AI, cyber and cloud talent is reshaping global salary expectations London, UK, 1 July 2026 – Rising demand from UK businesses for AI, cyber and cloud talent is expected to accelerate salary growth across emerging tech markets over the next three years, according to new research from…
2–4 minutesThe Great Unbossing: How a Flat Hierarchy Killed Middle Management at 4 Companies
As companies lean into AI and autonomous workflows, the case for multiple approval layers looks weaker.
4–7 minutesNeurodiversity at Work: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Hiring and Retention in 2026
According to 2026 data from Understood, 78% of neurodivergent candidates report that traditional hiring processes create significant disadvantages.
5–8 minutesDespite $113 Billion Leadership Market, 58% of New Managers Receive No New Manager Training
The global leadership development market reached a record $113 billion in 2026. Data shows that developing middle managers has remained the top priority for HR leaders for three consecutive years. Yet a stark paradox remains at the heart of corporate Britain and beyond. Despite this massive investment, 58% of people promoted into leadership roles receive…
4–6 minutesToxic Leadership: 6 in 10 Workers Have a Toxic Boss and the Problem Isn’t Personal — It’s Systemic
Toxic leadership is a pervasive epidemic in the modern workplace. You’ve probably had a bad boss or experienced toxic leadership, I know I have. Recent data reveals that 6 in 10 workers currently report to a toxic boss. This is not a matter of a few bad apples or individual character flaws. It is a…
5–7 minutesShorts in the Office: What 68% of Britons Tell Us About Trust at Work
Allowing shorts in the office is a small win for employee experience. The conversation around dress codes is really a conversation about autonomy. But the underlying trust is the real prize.
7–10 minutesEU Pay Transparency Directive: The 6-Month Prep Guide for HR Leaders
The EU Pay Transparency Directive sets minimum rules for pay transparency, equal pay enforcement, and employer reporting across EU member states.
5–7 minutesWelcome to the Tokenpocalypse: Why AI ROI is Forcing a Spend Crackdown
The era of unlimited AI experimentation has ended. Boards and C-suites have moved from “implement AI at all costs” to “show me the money.”
4–7 minutes60 Years of Women In Leadership Data: Women Still Aren’t Judged the Same as Men at Work
Sixty years of data show that the path for women in leadership remains paved with double standards. In 1965, Harvard Business Review (HBR) launched a longitudinal study to track how executives perceive gender and authority. They repeated this research in 1985, 2006, and 2026. The results confirm a frustrating reality. While open hostility toward women…
4–6 minutesThe Botsitting Tax: Your AI Productivity Gains Are Costing You 6 Hours a Week
Artificial intelligence promised to liberate your workforce from the mundane. Instead, it created a new category of labor that is currently draining over six hours of productivity from every employee each week. This hidden workload is called botsitting, and it represents the invisible friction between AI generation and human-ready output. While 92% of business leaders…
5–8 minutesThe Ultimate Guide to the HR Value Chain: Everything You Need to Turn People Strategy into Business Profit
Most business leaders see HR as a “cost center,” meaning a department that only spends money without bringing any in. The HR Value Chain changes this. It is a mathematical way to show how hiring, training, and supporting people leads directly to higher profits and better business results.
5–7 minutes100% Completion, 96% Retention: Inside DXC’s Neurodiversity Programme That Actually Works
DXC Technology’s Dandelion Program designed the Dandelion Programme as a two year journey for neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
6–9 minutes
What’s coming up in EX
12 — 13 Jun
Unleash World
Lisbon · ExCeL
14 Jun PM
CIPD Festival of Work
ExCeL London
9 Jul
Future of Work Summit
London, UK
17–18 Jul
EX Tech Europe
Amsterdam, NL
From Our Partners
Three places HR is overpaying on health insurance: how tech-driven benefit platforms improve compliance and cost savings
Healthcare premiums are projected to climb 9 to 10 per cent in 2026. Compliance complexity is up. Headcount is under scrutiny. The Hartford’s 2026 Future of Benefits Study found that 73 per cent of HR professionals have seen their day-to-day responsibilities increase, 60 per cent actively worry about maintaining compliance, and 64 per cent struggle…
In partnership with EXM Sponsor
The UK’s ‘Green Credibility Gap’: Employee Trust Trails HR’s Sustainability Ambitions
UK companies are leading Europe in integrating sustainability into their HR strategies (68% vs. 55% European average), even outpacing countries facing strict EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) rules. However, new research from SD Worx reveals an urgent problem for British organizations: a significant 18% credibility gap exists between what employers claim about their sustainability efforts and what…
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