What’s new?
The fortnightly read for people building employee experience.
For the senior people in HR and EX, and those on their way there.
AI is starting to redraw the org chart: four companies changing how work gets done
Within three days, HENNGE launched a company with no dedicated employees, BMW set out plans for 20% leaner management structures, Millennium expanded personalised AI twins and Whitbread described AI as its “third workforce”. Together, they offer a glimpse of what happens when AI moves from being a tool inside a job to becoming part of the organisation itself.
4–7 minutesLeaders Say AI Is Saving Time. Workers Are Less Convinced.
Vertage research finds 71% of leaders say AI adoption has increased capacity, against 43% of workers. What HR should ask about the time AI frees up.
2–3 minutesEmployer mental health support reaches 91% of staff, but only 37% would use it
Employer mental health support is offered to 91% of staff at large UK firms, yet 37% would use it. The barriers are trust and consequence, not speed.
3–4 minutesOffice Christmas Party London: 6 Ideas Beyond the Pub
An office Christmas party London teams still talk about in January needs more than a booked table and a bar tab. December pubs are loud and packed. The quieter half of the team often slips home by nine.This guide covers six bookable Christmas party ideas London teams can act on, all from suppliers in our…
5–8 minutesAI and Labour Relations: Employers Expect Organising, Few Feel Ready
Only 9% of employers feel very prepared for AI and labour relations, yet 87% expect unions to use AI fears to organise, a Littler survey finds.
3–5 minutesCulture is what people do next
Convene Associates CEO Courtney Ellul on what a viral dance and Gen Alpha can teach leaders about how culture moves, and how to build a culture system people can read.
4–6 minutesForget the Four-Day Week. What Happens When AI Does a Third of Your Job?
At Employee Benefits Live 2026, conversations about AI, fair pay, childcare and employee wellbeing led me to a question for HR and reward leaders: if AI frees up 12 hours of someone’s working week, does that time belong to the employer or the employee?
5–7 minutesThe software changed. The shift didn’t.
Former CQC Registered Manager Mafalda Carvalho on what a care software rollout taught her about technology and AI adoption, and six practices that help frontline teams use new tools.
6–9 minutes20 Christmas Party Ideas for Work That Go Beyond Drinks
Most work parties come down to a venue, a bar tab and a playlist. If you want Christmas party ideas for work that more of your colleagues will enjoy, start here. This list has 20 options, from free office games to bookable experiences.Each idea says who it suits: team size, budget, remote staff and non-drinkers….
7–10 minutesCable supplier reports staff retention nearing 90% after adopting Real Living Wage
Eland Cables says paying the Real Living Wage has helped it retain experienced warehouse staff, reduce recruitment costs and improve the reliability of customer orders.
2–4 minutesWhy Culture Budgets Are Moving from Perks to Performance
TeamBonding founder David Goldstein on how to give culture budgets a purpose this fall, from choosing what teams need to practice to measuring what changes afterward.
3–5 minutesBeyond the Away Day: Why Nature Could Change the Way We Think About Workplace Wellbeing
Workplace wellbeing has moved up the agenda, yet we keep asking overwhelmed people to learn more techniques when they may need different conditions in which to be human.
4–6 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…
In partnership with EXM Sponsor
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