HR News Roundup - February 2025

Welcome to our February HR News Roundup! It’s the month of love, so we were slightly shocked to read the results of a study by the Chartered Institute of Marketing which found that 45% of business leaders have reservations about the levels of professionalism across HR, marketing and sales. A little more love would be appreciated. So from the P3 team to all our clients, you’re doing a brilliant job!

Which brings us to this month’s summary of issues affecting the work we love…  

We start with the impact of forthcoming legislation on employee reward and recognition. There are useful tips on improving your health and wellbeing strategy and assessing the impact and effectiveness of your programmes. Then we have some positive news about DEI, a slightly controversial opinion about swearing in the workplace, and we ask the question, can you lead without a degree? Enjoy this bite-sized roundup and do get in touch if any of the articles spark questions in your team or organisation.   

Reward and Benefits

Brace yourself: reward storm incoming

HR teams will have a busy spring ahead as pay structures look set to come under scrutiny. HR Magazine points out that April’s rise in the national living wage coupled with the increase in NICs is likely to put pressure on businesses and squeeze pay pots. They predict that this will lead to a substantial portion of workers being unhappy and underwhelmed by their pay offers this year.

The article suggests that organisations must prepare to handle disappointment among their best performers, and that clear communication of how pay decisions are being made will be important in explaining them to the workforce.

Employee support is key to recruitment and retention

According to research by Towergate Employee Benefits, 61% of employers believe the way they support employees will play a crucial role in recruitment and retention this year. 

Research suggests 39% of UK employees are considering looking for a new job in the next 12 months, so employers need to work hard to keep and retain top talent. This article in Employer News goes on to highlight health and wellbeing support with competitive, targeted benefits that match employee needs as key to attracting and retaining talent. Communicating your benefits offer well will ensure it is recognised, used and valued.

Does your organisation have a Recognition strategy? Book a call with one of our HR experts to discover how we can support your efforts.

Health and Wellbeing

Assessing your workplace mental health strategy

Statistics indicate that around 15% of working adults are living with a mental health condition, with anxiety, depression, and stress being the most common. UK workplaces are responding, with around 96% of the UKs top companies now offering some type of mental health support to their employees. A mentally healthy workplace enhances employee morale, reduces turnover, and strengthens an organisation’s reputation as an employer.

This article by Alison Bromley at Onebright explains the four steps to assessing the value and impact of a mental health strategy. In summary,:

1. Carry out a mental health audit to highlight areas for action and improvement.

2. Focus on manager and employee training, including mental health champions.

3. Provide therapy services, such as counselling and CBT. If you have an EAP, check that mental health support is included in your offer.

4. Collect and analyse data to ensure your strategy is effective and generating return on investment.

Tips to improve workplace wellbeing

Nathan Shearman, director of therapy and training at mental health training provider Red Umbrella, shares seven tips on how to improve wellbeing in the workplace. Our favourites include:

• Never underestimate the power of positive feedback

• Think about what can cause stress in your workplace

• Check in on your employees regularly.

Does your health and wellbeing strategy match employee needs? We’re here to help. Call 0161 941 2426 to request a review.

Diversity and Inclusion

Three-quarters of UK firms are still running DEI programmes

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been a hot topic this year, with some high-profile companies taking the decision to pull back on their commitments. Despite this, we’re happy to learn that DEI remains a top priority for the majority of UK organisations.

At a time when budgets are under pressure, a survey of 1,000 firms by Censuswide found that 74% of UK firms are running a DEI programme and consider this to be a valuable investment. In fact, many are building DEI into their core business operations as a way of reducing financial pressures. Read the full article in HR Director.   

Leadership

Can you lead without a degree?

As university admissions decline for a third consecutive year, not everyone with aspirations of leading a team will have access to a degree education. Research by Cambridge Advance Online has found that 47% of managers, directors and senior officials in the UK do not have a degree, equivalent or higher qualification. Researchers also analysed 34,000 job listings and discovered that more than half do not ask for any type of degree.

These insights highlight the growing popularity of non-traditional career paths, such as NVQs, apprenticeships, and online qualifications, and the shift towards skills-based recruitment where employers are prioritising skills over education and experience. This places the onus on organisations to provide access to a range of learning and development opportunities to their support employees to grow.  

Call 0161 941 2426 to discover how our NEW online e-learning platform supports team learning and development at every level.

And finally...

Is swearing common in the workplace?

A survey by LCF Law has revealed that 52% of workers hear swearing every single day in their workplace. The survey was carried out following a recent employment tribunal where the judge said that swearing, “is especially common in the North of England”. As proud Northerners, we beg to differ!

LCF Law asked 100 people across a number of industries and sectors, how common swearing is in their workplace and only 12% of people stated they never hear anyone swearing at work. Do you have a policy in place to set out expected behaviours and manage complaints about language in the workplace? Talk to our team for guidance in this area.

How can we help?

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