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Employers are extending screening beyond hiring as workforce risks rise. First Advantage data points to a shift towards rescreening and continuous monitoring as organisations respond to fraud, identity risk, and declining trust across recruitment.
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New carers’ rights could reshape absence policy for employers. Ministers are consulting on paid carer’s leave, return-to-work protections, and stronger support for parents of seriously ill children.
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Graduate recruitment is becoming a test of AI fairness now. New research shows candidates increasingly use AI in applications while resisting employer use in assessment.
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UK employers are choosing flexibility as permanent hiring weakens again. KPMG and REC data shows permanent placements falling while temporary hiring rises, reflecting caution over cost, demand, and uncertainty.
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Ministers are tying AI adoption directly to workforce skills today. A new £200m-plus package links business productivity, trade union engagement, SME support, and early-career pathways as the UK pushes for faster AI adoption.
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OECD forecasts point to another difficult year for UK growth. The organisation expects GDP to rise by 0.9% in 2026, while unemployment is forecast to reach 5.5%.
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AI errors are exposing a widening workplace trust gap. New research suggests employees are seeing harmful AI outputs but do not always feel safe reporting concerns internally.
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Zero-hours reforms would reshape workforce planning across exposed sectors. The government is consulting on guaranteed hours, reasonable notice, and cancellation payments, with employers facing new compliance, scheduling, and cost pressures.
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CIPD warns zero-hours reforms could create unintended workforce insecurity risks. It said complex rules may push employers towards contractors and fixed-term arrangements, weakening opportunities for some young workers.
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Salary sacrifice reforms could weaken pension saving for millions nationally. LCP says more than 2.8 million workers are expected to reduce contributions after the 2029 cap takes effect.