Investing in the future leaders today
The life sciences sector in Scotland is an important part of Scotland’s economy. It has contributed groundbreaking innovations to areas like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturing. The sector contributes nearly PS10bn to Scotland’s economy. Life sciences exports are worth PS4.3bn. Scotland’s academic strength, combined with a large talent pool, and the Scottish Government’s life sciences […]
Kimberly Silva opens doors to neurodiversity
Leading global organisations are beginning to recognize the value that neurodivergent employees bring to the workplace. These leaders believe that neurodivergent people are a great asset to their organisation. They drive innovation, improve teamwork, and contribute greatly to its success. The workplace research also tells the same story. Research shows that a greater diversity of […]
Ageism at work: Three ways to foster intergenerational inclusion
It’s time we switched the focus from generational stereotyping to intergenerational inclusion. For the first time ever, five generations are working side by side. Teams include varied levels of experience, backgrounds, values, and beliefs, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Younger employees may also be leading older team members – introducing new, sometimes tricky, dynamics […]
Is it the end of ‘Fire & Rehire? What HR professionals should know about the new ban
New UK legislation is poised to curtail the controversial practice of ‘Fire & Rehire,’ where employers terminate their contracts and offer reemployment with revised terms. Although it is often portrayed as an exploitative practice in the media, some employers use this tactic as a last-resort to manage operational pressures. This era could soon be gone. […]
Employers need to know about the new parental right to pay for and leave for a newborn.
Employers’ Need to Know about Parents’ New Rights to Neonatal Leave and Pay By Gareth Matthews, Employment Partner at HF The Government has announced a new right of neonatal pay and leave, which will be effective on 6 April 2025. The aim of the Neonatal Leave and Pay is to support parents who have newborns […]
After being dismissed from work on a day off, a consultant was awarded PS24,000
An employment tribunal has found that a part-time facilities consultant was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against after being selected for redundancy during a surprise video call on one of her non-working days. Joanne Neill, who worked for skincare company Dermalogica UK, was awarded PS24,042.08 in compensation. Neill, who was struggling with mental health issues at […]
More than half of employers worry that students are misrepresenting their skills by using AI.
According to new data, employers are increasingly worried that students are misrepresenting themselves in job applications if they rely on AI. It is possible that many graduates and school-leavers are not meeting the workplace expectations, despite having submitted strong applications. According to the annual report of the Institute of Student Employers, around half of employers […]
How can businesses protect gig workers?
Platform or gig workers are often overlooked when it comes safety and employment protection. The Employment Rights Bill, which will be introduced in the near future, will clamp down on “exploitative”, zero-hours contracts. However, Labour’s promise of simplifying and streamlining worker status, is not included in the proposed legislation. In its most recent report, Building […]
Government defends NIC relief in UK-India trade deal
The UK’s business and trade secretary defended the UK and India free trade agreement, saying that critics were “confused” if they thought the deal “undercut” British workers and businesses because Indian companies and individuals will not be required to pay National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to the UK. Jonathan Reynolds claimed that Conservatives and Reform UK […]
The median private sector pay increase remains at 3.5%
According to Incomes Data Research, the median pay award in the private sector was 3.5% for the three-month period ending March 2025. It had fallen to 3.5%, from 4%, in the previous three-month period ending February. The latest figures for pay settlements are based on an analysis of 93 awards made between 1 January to […]