The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: AI adoption is rising, and fast, but employee training and trust lag behind. From manual finance processes to stigma around health, workplace challenges reveal a widening gap between leadership ambition and employee reality.
Learning’s human heartbeat: L&D then and now
Recorded live at TJ’s 60th Anniversary Conference, the latest TJ podcast sees Andrew Jacobs take over the mic. Andrew, Laura Overton and Kirsty Lewis explore what L&D has gained and lost over six decades. They dig into where learning really happens, what we might have sacrificed in the rush to scale and digitise, and what L&D’s “real work” needs to be now.
To boost AI adoption, CIOs lean on training
CIOs have long been trusted to steer technology adoption for their organizations, highlighting valuable use cases as they go. But the influx of AI tools into the workplace, sometimes through unauthorized channels, has become a major challenge.
Fewer than half of businesses have standardised AI governance policies in place, according to Collibra data, and access to employee AI training is lagging across the workforce. Just like with any other workplace tool, employees need training before they can reap value from AI, according to Guy Fruda, chief customer experience officer at professional services provider Deloitte.
Most executives say refusing to adopt AI poses bigger career threat to workers than AI itself
Across industries, senior executives say acquisition of artificial intelligence skills is essential for long-term career success, but workers still aren’t convinced, according to a report from Kelly Services, a talent solutions provider. In fact, 69% of executives said that ignoring or refusing to adopt AI poses a greater threat to an employee’s job than the technology itself. Beyond that, 59% said they’d replace workers who resist adopting AI tools.
However, only 47% of workers reported time savings from AI tools, and 32% said they aren’t seeing the benefits of AI, revealing a disconnect between leaders and employees on the impact of the technology, Chris Layden, CEO of Kelly, said in a statement.
Chiesi launches ‘Look Beyond the Bias’, as 70% report hiding health conditions due to fears of judgement
Chiesi UK and Ireland launch Look Beyond the Bias, to shine a light on the harmful impact of stigma and bias faced by people living with health conditions. The campaign is informed by new UK survey data from 1,148 people living with chronic or rare conditions, including: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rare diseases, those who have undergone organ transplants and parents of children born prematurely. It demonstrates a stark warning: bias may impact access to fair and inclusive care.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 70% have experienced stigma, judgement or blame based on their health condition
- Over 60% of people have hidden their condition from colleagues or their employer
95% of finance teams still use manual spreadsheets to manage invoices
95% of finance teams still use manual spreadsheets to manage invoices, limiting business expansion, according to new research. These spreadsheets are enhancing financial risk, creating audit challenges and limiting business scalability that is preventing growth into new markets.
The findings come from Basware’s Beyond the Checkbox: Compliance as Strategy Report 2025, conducted by independent research firm Financial Times Longitude, which surveyed 400 finance leaders around the world. Increasing financial regulatory demands combined with fragmented internal systems are creating a ‘compliance breaking point,’ preventing businesses from reaching their full global potential.
UK is performing well for workplace inclusivity but challenges persist
Over three-quarters of U.K. employees (76%) feel part of an “inclusive team” according to O.C. Tanner’s latest Culture Report. This is considerably higher than the global average of just 32%, suggesting that the UK is heading in the right direction with diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I). Inclusivity challenges still persist, however, with the report advising that more needs to be done at a team level to ensure all employees feel included, valued and respected.
O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report 2026 gathered insights from more than 38,000 employees across 24 countries, including 1,668 from the U.K. The insights reveal that while 85% of global companies say that diversity and inclusion is a priority, less than a third of employees worldwide feel that their team is inclusive. This is in sharp contrast to U.K employees, with the majority feeling part of an inclusive team.
Online searches for apprenticeships more than doubled in the past five years, Indeed says
The share of searches for apprenticeship opportunities has steadily increased since 2020, more than doubling in the past five years and rising 35% in 2025 alone, according to a report from Indeed Hiring Lab.
The number of apprenticeships has grown in recent years, particularly in fields such as mechanics, electrical and manufacturing, alongside greater efforts from local school districts, community colleges, workforce development groups and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Howden advocates for stronger workplace support following Men’s Health Strategy
The launch of England’s first Men’s Health Strategy for England has highlighted persistent health inequalities among men. Howden Employee Benefits (Howden) is urging employers to respond, as men continue to seek less mental health support than women and need better workplace provisions.
The new 10-year strategy highlights that men die on average 4.5 years younger than women, with lifestyle-related conditions, delayed diagnoses, and poor mental health among the key drivers. With 75% of all suicides in the UK involving men, the plan places mental health front and centre.
The global sentiment survey is open
Donald H Taylor’s L&D Global Sentiment Survey, now in its 12th year, once again asked two key questions of L&D professionals worldwide: What will be hot in workplace learning in 2025? And What are your L&D challenges in 2025?
Contribute to the 2026 survey.
Learning News Bulletin
A bite-sized round-up of popular stories on Learning News presented by Rob Clarke. AI in Learning – What’s L&D’s future?; ESG Reporting Skills Gap; Learning Evaluation – Obsessed With ROI?; The Empathy Problem
