The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: From compliance concerns to AI recruitment shifts and changes, UK employers face rising pressure. Training gaps, data law risks, and emerging AI-only rivals highlight urgent needs for readiness, resilience, and rethinking workplace priorities.
TJ conference panel urge action
The TJ60 debate panel, hosted by Andrew Jacobs, tackles what L&D must let go of, and double down on, to deliver real business value. 60th Anniversary Conference panellists Laura Overton and Kirsty Lewis will probe the “conspiracy of convenience,” how we show up as practitioners, and how to move from borrowed strategy to trusted evaluation. It will be a fast, practical conversation with takeaways you can take back to the office.
‘Mobilising Generation Numb’, a whitepaper revealing a rising workplace malady: numbness.
The modern workforce is undergoing a fundamental shift. Global upheaval, chronic economic instability, the insidious after-effects of the pandemic, and digital saturation are shaping a workforce that is numb: cynical, stuck, longing for connection, and hunting for a renewed sense of identity at work.
Pairing insights drawn from Sponge’s consultancy with leading global brands, along with fresh survey data, the paper’s findings urge leaders to rethink how they communicate, train, and inspire their workforce to ensure they can maintain the momentum required to stay competitive in today’s ‘VUCA’ world.
More than half of US workers say profits come before safety
A revealing new survey conducted in August 2025 found that the majority of employees believe their companies prioritise profits over protection, while also revealing that workers face threats that employers aren’t prepared for. From active shooter scenarios to toxic coworkers, the modern workplace presents dangers that traditional safety programs simply don’t address.
Key findings:
- Mental health is the top safety reason for skipping work
- 61% of employees feel their employers are unprepared for an active shooter
- One in three employees reports feeling unsafe due to coworkers
How employers can create ‘future-ready’ workers
Employers can help create and encourage “future-ready” workers through skills-based career support and clear work objectives, according to an Adecco Group report.
These workers are “proactively upskilling and adapting to new technologies,” such as artificial intelligence tools and automation, Adecco said, and can be empowered with the right training to drive growth at organisations.
New findings highlight gaps in how leaders assess high-potential talent
New research from Talogy, a global leader in talent management, reveals a significant gap between organization’s commitment to high potential (HiPo) programs and their reliance on subjective identification methods, increasing the risk of bias and limiting predictive accuracy.
- 91% of HR and 88% of leaders use subjective performance ratings
- Just 45% of HR and 30% of leaders use psychometric assessments
- 67% of high potential (HiPo) employees say identification has a significant impact on career goals
HR professionals boost compliance spending following concerns over lighter regulation
More than half of HR professionals report high concern over the legal liability and regulatory risks posed by lighter regulation under the government’s Leeds Reforms, according to new research.
- 53% of HR professionals have a high level of concern over increased legal and regulatory risks under Leeds Reforms
- Despite this, over half (55%) anticipate that lighter regulation will have a positive impact on operations and processes
- 61% of HR professionals increased compliance spending in the last 12 months
How can businesses close the AI adoption gap? Start with your recruitment teams, new LinkedIn research shows
New research from LinkedIn reveals that unlocking AI’s full potential is not just a tech challenge, but also a talent challenge – with businesses turning to recruitment teams to play a leading role in using AI to build the workforce of the future.
- Only 4 in 10 of business leaders are satisfied with their progress on AI, with talent leaders saying their executives are concerned the workforce doesn’t have the skills to execute on business strategy
- Business leaders are turning to recruiters to solve the skills gap challenge, with 86% of recruiters saying their CEO is relying on them to build the workforce of the future
Recruitment tops list of employers’ biggest challenges
Recruiting enough qualified workers, retaining existing talent, and managing rising costs are among the biggest challenges facing UK organisations right now, according to new research by HR and payroll software provider Ciphr.
300 UK HR decision-makers were asked to share their views on the most pressing workplace issues for their organisations in the year ahead (to July 2026). The majority cited at least two or more causes for concern (five was the average). Recruitment – attracting and engaging skilled candidates – was revealed as the biggest worry for UK businesses, with 29% of those surveyed calling this a major challenge.
Why CEOs need to prepare for AI-only rivals
A fully autonomous, AI-only firm is not yet a reality—but major investments and technological progress are paving the way. Here’s how firms can compete against these uniquely capable rivals.
- As technical and regulatory hurdles are overcome, AI-only firms—networks of specialised AI agents operating without human employees in the loop—will emerge
- AI-only firms will have unique competitive advantages, including lower cost, higher uptime, and instantaneous adaptation to small-scale strategic adjustments or even large-scale change programs
- To compete against these new rivals, incumbents need to become AI-first firms, embrace uniquely human capabilities, and position themselves as valuable nodes in the AI-only business ecosystems of the future
Training failures leave UK firms exposed under new data law
New research conducted by VinciWorks, the compliance training and software provider, has revealed that the majority of UK organisations are unprepared for the Data Use and Access Act (DUAA), with widespread uncertainty and a critical lack of training, leaving companies exposed to compliance breaches.
The survey of 373 compliance professionals found that just 1.6% of organisations say they are fully ready for the new law, which will replace parts of the UK GDPR in 2025. Almost three-quarters (77%) admit they are either not prepared, unsure, or only beginning preparations.
