The latest L&D news, reports, research and company updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook
Five myths about working in high temperatures exposed
Myth 1: There’s a Maximum Legal Temperature for Work
Contrary to popular belief, there is no legally mandated maximum temperature at which work must cease in the UK. However, employers have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their employees, which includes providing a comfortable working environment.
Emotions wellbeing at work – survey
Wellbeing and emotions at work are an important topic, one that can make a positive or toxic place. TJ blogger and Founder of Emotion at Work, Phil Wilcox, is doing some research in this area and we invite you to contribute.
Shortage of high-quality data ‘threatens AI boom’
An Open Data Institute (ODI) white paper has identified what it says are significant weaknesses in the UK’s tech infrastructure that threaten the predicted potential gains – for people, society, and the economy – from the AI boom.
Significant challenges and risks are attached to widescale adoption, including – in the case of generative AI – reliance on a handful of machine learning datasets that ODI research has shown lack robust governance frameworks.
Fertility in the Workplace launches Clinic Pledge
Employees struggling with fertility challenges often express concerns that treatment could impact their career prospects and affect their productivity at work.
In a recent survey of fertility patients conducted by Fertifa and Fertility Network UK (2023), 75% of those interviewed said their productivity at work was strongly impacted by fertility challenges, and more than a third (37%) said that they received very little or no support from their employer. A CIPD (2023) survey found that 40% of employers don’t have a fertility policy and don’t plan to introduce one, leaving those impacted by this medical condition feeling unsupported, isolated and in fear of discrimination.
Over a third of people cry at work
According to a new study by Vision Direct, more than a third of Brits have, at least once, cried at work in the past year.
The survey on 2,000 people across the UK showed that 66% of the people who couldn’t suppress tears in front of their colleagues were women, while only 34% who cried at work were men.
Expressing their emotions in the workplace is also something younger generations are more likely to do, as more than a third (34%) who admitted that they cried at work were Gen Z, followed by Millennials (27%) and Gen X (16%), while only 7% of Boomers had been brought to tears by their workplace.
Fiverr shows its transformation from a services marketplace to a hiring platform
Fiverr, the company changing how the world works together, launches its new summer product release, commencing its expansion from a services marketplace to a hiring platform.
“Major shifts in the workplace, including heightened focus around skills and upskilling, diverse new roles from seasoned fractional executives to first-time side hustlers, and the introduction of new technologies, demands new solutions,” said Micha Kaufman, founder and CEO of Fiverr.
This change to the platform means that Fiverr “are providing an expanded breadth of options for businesses of all sizes to recruit skilled talent and integrate freelancers into their workforce. By elevating how freelancers are featured to include their full set of skills and providing flexible options for working hourly, hiring managers and businesses can better recruit the talent they need.”
1 in 3 students don’t feel confident when applying for jobs
By next year it’s predicted that 27% of the workforce will be Gen Z. A research team spoke to nearly 2000 students about jobs after uni, and they’re not all feeling great about the prospect of entering the job market. With a third of students feeling unconfident about job applications, a strategic approach is needed.
Over a third of workers believe their employers have the greatest responsibility for their health
More than a third of workers believe their employers have the greatest responsibility for their health, according to new research from leading independent healthcare provider Spire Healthcare.
The research reveals that 38% of the UK workforce believes the onus is on employers when it comes to responsibility for their health, which rises sharply to 46% among those aged 35-44.
HIVE: The exclusive summit for senior leaders working in Early Careers
Learning and Development experts The Smarty Train (TST) have today launched this year’s HIVE summit, an exclusive event and community for leaders responsible for recruiting people early in their careers at global organisations.
Taking place online on Tuesday 24 September, HIVE features expert speakers from the global Learning and Development community, with dynamic sessions focused specifically on the Early Careers space.
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Code-Dependent-Living-Shortlisted-Non-Fiction/dp/1529097320/
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