Are UK employees crying out for financial wellbeing training?
UK employees face mounting financial stress, with only 15% living comfortably and one in four struggling with money worries at work. Organizations lose £120 billion annually to financial stress-related productivity losses, making financial wellbeing training essential rather than optional.
Social media: working for the wellness of workers
Social media offers workers benefits including improved communication, learning opportunities, and wellbeing tools, but HR professionals should also consider potential negative impacts on employee wellness. This article examines how social platforms affect workplace wellbeing and explores practical steps HR can take.
How far up your list of priorities are you putting yourself?
Prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential for managing modern stress and maintaining the strength needed to support others. This article explores why self-care should top your daily list and how neglecting personal wellbeing ultimately undermines your ability to meet life’s demands.
Who are you under your suit?
Research shows intuition is more powerful than intellect, yet most people ignore their inner voice amid the demands of busy professional life. By slowing down and developing inner speech, you can strengthen self-awareness and make better decisions in hiring, team placement, and personal fulfillment at work.
5 Things We Can Learn From Disengaged Employees
Disengaged employees often care deeply about their work and careers. When given the opportunity to communicate their needs, they reveal valuable insights into what’s driving their disengagement—such as desires for career development, challenging projects, and meaningful work. Organizations can re-engage these employees by understanding that disengagement stems from unmet individual needs, not indifference.
“The wellbeing field is so fast-changing that there is always something new & interesting to discuss.”
The wellbeing field evolves rapidly, presenting constant challenges and opportunities for professionals. Paul Barrett, Head of Wellbeing at Bank Workers Charity, shares how he stays current with research and trends while managing diverse responsibilities in this dynamic sector.
How to get off your smartphone and start being super-productive
Smartphones trigger dopamine rewards that make constant checking irresistible, destroying focus and productivity. Learn how understanding this brain mechanism can help you regain control and accomplish more by breaking the cycle of digital distraction.
Tackling health and wellbeing: why we created the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work
The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work was created to address rising mental health issues and low productivity in UK workplaces. Led by major employers and public sector organizations, the forum aims to change workplace health policies and practices through evidence-based action rather than discussion alone.
Learning analytics, wellbeing training and new vs. old talent management
This week’s L&D news roundup covers key topics including business simulation gaming, talent management evolution, learning analytics implementation, and mental wellbeing training initiatives. The curated selection highlights leadership development, digital talent strategies, curriculum design, and workplace mindfulness practices from industry experts and leading publications.
Uber-problematic – reflections on taxi drivers and the “agents of de-skilling” of the modern world
The Knowledge—London’s rigorous 2-4 year taxi driver certification requiring mastery of 20,000 landmarks and 25,000 streets—represents genuine expertise that cognitive science shows physically changes drivers’ brains. Yet Uber’s app-based model replaces this skilled training with low-wage, precarious work, exemplifying how technology can deskill professions and devalue workers rather than truly disrupt industries.
Return to Work Interviews: what HR is doing right (and wrong)
Return to Work Interviews (RTWIs) help reduce absence rates, but many organizations struggle with implementation due to poorly trained line managers who lack confidence discussing sensitive health issues. Effective RTWIs require tailored questions and proper manager training to welcome employees back, assess welfare needs, and identify absence trends.
What could personal resilience training look like?
Personal resilience training helps employees build emotional readiness through self-awareness, self-confidence, and support networks to manage workplace stress and maintain mental health. This training is becoming essential in HR wellbeing strategies, enabling staff to perform well while caring for their own mental health.
Prioritising mental wellbeing in the retail sector
Asda has launched a Wellness Hub at its Leeds headquarters to support employee mental health, addressing one in four colleagues facing mental health difficulties annually. The colleague-led initiative provides a quiet space for reflection, private consultation rooms, and mental health resources aimed at reducing stigma and supporting staff wellbeing across the retail sector.
Let’s have a “comfort break”
The author critiques overcomplicating language in training and business settings, calling out terms like “comfort break,” “plenary,” and “action learning set” as unnecessarily jargon-heavy. They invite readers to share which trainer phrases irritate them most.
Breaking the stigma: why every office needs a Mental Health First Aider
Mental health issues in the workplace cause significant absenteeism and presenteeism, costing organizations millions in lost productivity. Mental Health First Aiders can help break down stigma, provide support to struggling employees, and challenge misconceptions about depression and anxiety that prevent people from seeking help.
Coffee briefing: Design thinking, leadership training and the bad side to getting a PhD
This week’s L&D round-up covers design thinking’s impact on employee learning, the hidden costs of pursuing a PhD, why leadership training often fails, and insights into workplace behavior and communication trends across generations and cultures.
What your voice in the workplace says about you
Your workplace communication style shapes how others perceive you and your ability to influence outcomes. By understanding the three key voice patterns—exploring, positioning, and controlling—you can develop a more flexible communication approach that drives results in any business situation.
Mental health first aiders – yay or nay?
Mental health first aiders can provide valuable workplace support, but experts debate whether employee training or direct referral to professional counselors is more effective. This article explores the benefits and limitations of both approaches.
The importance of a financial education
Financial education is crucial for people of all ages, yet many lack access to essential knowledge about managing their finances. Schools, universities, and businesses must work together to provide comprehensive financial literacy programs that adapt to different life stages and economic circumstances.
Is YOUR job boring?
Explore what makes a job boring and why it varies from person to person. This article examines boredom as a workplace stress factor and invites you to participate in a survey identifying the key elements that create job dissatisfaction.