The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: From quiet AI adoption and side-lined HR leaders to cardiac emergencies and culture crises, the latest research shows workplace learning is under pressure, yet moments of innovation and celebration can still shine through.
CLO100, Dods and TJ celebrate L&D leaders at 60th anniversary event
TJ has just announced a set of special mini awards recognising standout L&D professionals and events. From championing the profession and shaping policy to bold new festival-style learning. Meet the winners, hear what it means to them.
HR is ‘often side-lined’ when it comes to workplace AI transformation, Beamery says
While HR leaders largely said they have more input into which tasks are selected for automation than they did two years ago, only 30% said they were involved from the outset on artificial intelligence strategy. That shows a strong disconnect from other C-suite leaders, 60% of whom said HR is involved from the start.
In fact, HR is “often sidelined” when it comes to workplace AI transformation, HR data vendor Beamery said in a report. When asked to pick the two most influential decision-makers on AI, survey respondents picked the CEO (81%), digital transformation lead (50%) and CIO (36%) among the top three. CHROs trailed at 12%.
“If HR doesn’t get a seat at the table, workforce considerations, skill gaps, and employee engagement may not be fully accounted for in AI-driven transformation,” Beamery said.
Up to three million UK jobs at risk over the next decade, says report
Up to three million UK jobs in declining occupations could disappear by 2035, largely due to AI and automation – more than previously forecast. This is one of many findings published in an NFER report saying extensive changes are required to build a system of lifelong learning from cradle to grave, ensuring people possess the necessary skills for life and work in a labour market drastically altered by technology.
The paper says jobs in at-risk occupations such as administrative, secretarial, customer service and machine operations, are declining at a much faster rate than previously predicted, and that between one and three million could vanish by 2035.
Inspiration drought: 33% of UK employees feel uninspired at work
A third of U.K employees are feeling uninspired in their workplace, weakening workplace culture, stifling innovation and destroying productivity. Just 19% of UK workers admit to thriving in their role, highlighting how organisations are missing the mark when it comes to inspiring their people to break new ground and aim higher.
These are the findings from O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report 2026, which gathered insights from more than 38,000 employees across 24 countries, including 1,668 from the UK.
One in seven cardiac arrests happen in the workplace, but two-thirds of people lack confidence to use life-saving defibrillators
Research from health charity St John Ambulance shows that a quarter (25%) of UK adults have experienced a cardiac arrest incident in some way, either as a first aider, bystander or patient. With more than one in seven (15%) cardiac arrest incidents occurring in the workplace, access to defibrillators is critical.
To address workplace cardiac emergencies, St John Ambulance has launched its easy-to-use HEART defibrillators to empower employees to act quickly to save lives. Prompt CPR and defibrillation – which delivers an electric shock to restore someone’s normal heart rhythm – can more than double survival rates during cardiac arrest. Yet, over half (53%) of people don’t know how to give CPR, while almost two-thirds (65%) lack confidence to use a defibrillator.
AI use is ‘happening in silence’ amid lack of training, survey finds
Even as 80% of U.S. employees use artificial intelligence at work, 57% say they’re reluctant to tell their manager or colleagues they do, according to results of a survey by software company Cornerstone OnDemand Inc., released Wednesday. However, rather than being driven by embarrassment, shame or fear of job loss, workers are staying silent because they lack training, the survey found.
Human brain cell communication observed with “Zap and Freeze” technique
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have used a “zap-and-freeze” technology to watch hard-to-see brain cell communications in living brain tissue from mice and humans.
Findings from the new experiments, supported by the National Institutes of Health and published Nov. 24 in Neuron, could potentially help scientists find the root causes of nonheritable forms of Parkinson’s disease, the researchers say.
Digital Learning Realities 2025 new series
Now in its 11th year, Fosway’s Digital Learning Realities research explores how L&D teams rise to the challenge of a fast-changing business environment and tech landscape. The key story doesn’t come as a surprise. AI is transforming L&D teams and the future of L&D lies in the balance, as economic pressures and the changing of both work and the workforce go through a major shift.
Speexx Exchange 2025 welcomes new speakers and tts as event sponsor
Speexx, the leading people development platform, has announced exciting updates for Speexx Exchange 2025, taking place on December 3 at the InterContinental Hotel Berlin and online for the global HR and L&D community.
This year’s event will feature several new voices shaping the future of people development:
- Genc Begolli, Cyber Security Specialist, Audi
- Clare Walker, Coaching & Mentoring Lead at Vodafone,Executive Coach and Founder of A Coaching Conversation
- Laura Granel Mene, Learning & Development Manager, Southern Europe at Cinesa
- Johannes Wendt, AI Officer at tts, who also joins as an official event sponsor
