HR News Roundup - April 2025

Welcome to our April HR News Roundup! As April is Stress Awareness Month, we are focusing this edition on the workplace pressures faced by organisations across the UK. Themes covered include reskilling, resilience, tech-related stress, financial inequality, workplace discrimination and support for working parents.

It does sound bleak, but we promise our Roundup is not all doom and gloom! While The HR Director has branded this month ‘Awful April’, the articles we’ve collated contain helpful pointers on how HR teams and leaders can tackle current issues and support your employees to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. We say roll on ‘Magnificent May’!

Enjoy this edition and please get in touch if any of the articles relate to current challenges you are dealing with. We are here to support you with all things HR, wellbeing, learning and development. 

Employee wellbeing

Combatting stress in the workplace

Did you know the average person feels stress for 123 days a year? That’s around four months of stress every single year! When you think about it in these terms, it’s unbelievable just how resilient we human beings are.

To mark Stress Awareness Month, Nathan Shearman of Red Umbrella has penned this guest blog for HR News on tackling workplace stress. In it he discusses the ‘Boiling Frog’ analogy of how stress can affect employees at work, the visible and hidden risks involved, and share some pointers on what organisations can do to increase stress awareness. 

How can HR reduce tech-related workplace stress?

One in five UK workers say that technology-related stress has caused them to experience mood swings, irritability or lose sleep at night. The survey, conducted earlier this year by WalkMe, highlights an imbalance of tech literacy in the workplace, and anxiety exacerbated by artificial intelligence and data security regulations.

HR teams must remember that not everyone is equally competent, comfortable, skilled or experienced using software and apps, and that training, support and regular check-ins are essential to allow every employee to thrive at work.

Is technology causing your team unnecessary stress and anxiety? Why not book a call with one of our HR Consultants to discuss your challenges and find solutions.

Learning and Development

Reskilling is top challenge for UK employers

Skill gaps, upskilling and reskilling emerged as the number one HR challenge for employers in the UK, according to European-wide research by SD Worx. This was closely followed by:

• Talent acquisition and recruitment

• Employee wellbeing

• Employee experience and engagement, and

• Employee retention and turnover.

This summary of the findings on HR News shares that some challenges are being reported more often in the UK than they were last year. It’s no surprise to find compliance with labour laws and regulations, and payroll optimisation at top of the list. Mental health and wellbeing and high levels of stress at work are also key concerns.

Take a look at our learning and development solutions to learn how we can support your team to achieve their full potential.

Spring Statement

Apprenticeships for the over 50s

HR Magazine has collated leaders’ reactions to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, featuring responses, including Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD. While most in the HR sector were disappointed at there being no relief or further support for businesses, there was positive news in the announcement of an apprenticeship scheme for people over 50.

New apprenticeship opportunities will help employers to recruit from a broader talent pool, attract older workers back to the workplace, and go some way to tackling age discrimination. The P3 team is monitoring developments in this area and we will share any updates as soon as they are announced.

Call 0161 941 2426 to learn how our consultants can support your business with complex HR Projects & Expertise.

Diversity and Inclusion

Gender pay gap ‘largely unchanged’

Government figures show that 78% of UK employers continue to have a pay gap in favour of men, though the median hourly gap has fallen from 8.95% to 8.6%. Experts are forecasting that it could take up to 40 years to close the gender pay gap in the UK.

The annual report also highlights that women remain underrepresented in senior roles, with the biggest gender pay gap currently in the finance and technology sectors. Read more in HR Review.

What can HR do to tackle LGBTQ+ inequalities?

People Management reveals that almost half of LGBTQ+ employees feel unsupported at work. The ‘Barriers to LGBTQ+ career progression’ UK survey identified systemic issues including a lack of inclusive policies, biased recruitment practices and experiences of discrimination. A lack of role models in leadership roles and significant obstacles linked to identity were two of the biggest issues.

The findings highlight the need for better training to equip managers to respond to issues effectively, with care and empathy. 

UK workplaces are failing working mothers

A joint survey by the recruitment agency Randstad UK and mumsnet has found that 75% of working mothers believe that having children has negatively impacted their career. Almost 70% of respondents said they had to pass up promotion opportunities due to their parental responsibilities.

The report, which summarises the responses of 1,000 working parents, covers themes of Navigating Work & Parenthood, Flexible Working and Work-Life Balance. View a summary of results and download the full report.

Download our e-learning catalogue and turn to page 70 for details of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion courses to promote positive understanding across your organisation.

And finally…

Relationship building is the most in-demand skill

LinkedIn’s ‘Skills on the Rise 2025’ list reports relationship building as the number one skill required by employers hiring through the platform. The annual list charts the changing demands of employers over time. In the UK, relationship building is closely followed by strategic thinking and AI literacy. The latter is rapidly moving up the charts across the world.

With heightened levels of workplace stress impacted by technology, inequality and the rising cost of living, perhaps we should focus on developing this vital soft skill. The perfect way to boost our spirits and leave ‘Awful April’ behind would be to get out and meet colleagues, connect with new people, and practise those in-demand social skills.

How can we help?

To discuss any of the issues or challenges arising from this HR News Roundup, get in touch with us today on 0161 941 2426. We’re here to help.