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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.
The Future Leaders Hiding in Your Recognition Data: A Conversation with Workhuman’s KeyAnna Schmiedl
In conversation with KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer, Workhuman Workhuman has spent 25 years telling companies that recognition matters. Its newest product argues recognition data can identify your future leaders years before your succession planning would. I sat down with KeyAnna Schmiedl, who runs the entire people function at Workhuman and lives with this…
5–7 minutesAI Was Cited in Over 100,000 Layoffs This Year : What That Means for HR
In the first six months of 2026, the 101,743 cuts attributed to AI indicate a massive acceleration in technology adoption
5–8 minutesYour H2 2026 Events Calendar: What’s Coming Up in EX, HR, DEI and Future of Work
The second half of 2026 is busy. Between massive tech showcases in Las Vegas and intimate leadership summits in London, the calendar is full of opportunities to refine your people strategy. Staying updated on the latest shifts in employee experience (EX) and workplace culture is a full-time job. Attending the right events helps you cut…
6–8 minutesWhy 41% of Workers Would Trade a Pay Rise for Better Training
By Esther Smith Talent and Lifecycle In a Nutshell A survey of 505 US hospitality workers found that 41% would choose better workplace training over a 5% pay rise. Among 25 to 34 year olds, that rose to 54%, making this the only age group where training beat pay. The more interesting finding is not…
5–8 minutesHow HR teams can turn recognition into a driver of trust, retention and performance
The stereotype of the British workplace is polite, understated and a balance of professional diligence and social camaraderie. Brits are not known for effusive praise or open displays of appreciation.
3–4 minutesThe Death of the Ping Pong Table: Why Perks Never Solved the Real Problem
Global employee engagement fell to 20% in 2025, the lowest level Gallup has recorded since 2020. That marks two straight years of decline.
4–6 minutesFeeling Less Motivated After Your Performance Review? You’re Not Alone
New Robert Walters research highlights growing pressure on employers to balance workforce engagement, progression expectations and cost control
2–3 minutesMenopause Support in the Workplace: Bridging the Policy Gap
Despite new government mandates for large employers, a recent study reveals a stark lack of menopause policies across UK businesses, costing the economy an estimated £1.7 billion annually. A recent study has revealed that less than half of UK working women feel comfortable discussing the menopause at work. Furthermore, just 18% of women report that…
2–3 minutesThe recognition gap: are we solving for the right thing?
There is a familiar moment in employee experience work when the engagement survey closes. The comments are read, themes are lifted into a narrative, and it is no great surprise when recognition surfaces as one of them. What usually follows is a hive of activity around recognition programmes. Either a relaunch of the one that…
4–6 minutesThe skills your organisation needs may already be in the room
In a Nutshell Most organisations are used to talking about skills gaps. The phrase has become part of the furniture in workforce planning, learning strategy and transformation conversations. New research from TalentLMS suggests the more immediate issue is visibility, because organisations often cannot see, track or unlock the skills they already have. The company’s Skills…
4–5 minutesFive eating habits that may signal burnout at work
In a Nutshell Burnout does not only show up in absence data, engagement scores or productivity reports. It also shows up in the small habits of the working day: skipped meals, stress snacking, caffeine dependency, energy crashes and reaching for whatever is quickest because there is no time or headspace to choose anything else. New…
4–6 minutesPartner spotlight: Navigating the future of work at UNLEASH Paris 2026
The future of work conversation is moving quickly, and nowhere is that more visible than in the HR technology market. AI promises are everywhere, platforms frequently overlap, and systems do not always speak to each other. As a result, people leaders are under increasing pressure to make smarter decisions about where to invest, what to…
1–2 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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