Human Times

UK Edition

15th September 2025

Together with

THE HOT STORY

A third of UK firms use ‘bossware' to monitor activity

Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) indicates that a third of UK employers use "bossware" to monitor employee activities, including emails and web browsing. The survey suggests a rise in workplace surveillance, with one in seven employers recording screen activity. While some managers believe monitoring prevents insider threats, many express concerns about trust and privacy. The CMI study found that more than half (53%) of managers support monitoring of employees' online activities on employer-owned devices, while 42% oppose it. Petra Wilton, the CMI's director of policy and external affairs, said: "If it is being used, it is incredibly important employers are open." The Information Commissioner's Office has warned that excessive monitoring can infringe on privacy rights, especially for remote workers.

The Guardian

FREE EBOOK

A retention strategy for every generation

The cost of replacing an employee can be devastating – from 16% to over 200% of their annual salary.

And the more senior they are, the higher the price you pay.

One of the biggest drivers of retention? An employee value proposition (EVP) that resonates across generations.

Reward Gateway | Edenred’s free eBook offers you a guide, helping you to:

Download your copy and start reducing turnover today.

👉 Get the Guide

TECHNOLOGY

Workers hide AI use from bosses

Research by Ipsos reveals that 33% of UK workers do not disclose their use of AI tools to their bosses due to fears of being judged. Only 13% openly discuss AI with senior staff, because many believe it could indicate a lack of competence. Concerns about AI's impact on social structures are prevalent, with 63% doubting its ability to replace human interaction.

The Guardian

HEALTH & WELLBEING

A third of young adults may need mental health support

A poll commissioned for University College London's Grand Challenge of Mental Health and Wellbeing has found that 64% of those aged 16 to 25 in Britain report experiences of mental health problems, with around a third expecting to need mental health support over the coming year. Professor Essi Viding said the results could "reflect increased awareness and improved identification of mental health problems," and said more research is needed "to understand how we can prevent mental health problems from emerging and how we can support those with the most serious needs to access quick and effective evidence-based support." Such support, she said, "can include school-based social and emotional skills interventions targeted at young people with mild to moderate mental health challenges, something that my group is currently researching."

London Evening Standard

The Independent UK

LEGAL

Ministers urged to protect Employment Rights Bill

The Employment Rights Bill represents a critical opportunity to address the gender pay gap, according to leading women's organisations who have warned Business Secretary Peter Kyle against accepting amendments from the House of Lords that could weaken the Bill. The Women's Budget Group, the Fawcett Society, Young Women's Trust, Rights of Women, Women's Resource Centre, Pregnant Then Screwed and Maternity Action have warned that the proposed measures are essential for improving women's living conditions and reducing inequality.

The Independent

New rules to tackle wage gaps

Large employers in the UK will soon be mandated to publish gender pay gap action plans under the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). The new requirement aims to enhance transparency and accountability in addressing wage disparities. Analysis by law firm Pinsent Masons shows a slight decrease in the average hourly median pay gap to 11.28% for 2024-25. While women's representation in top salary quartiles has improved, they still dominate lower-paid roles, making up 54.72% of the lowest quartile.

The Scotsman

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Asda's chairman sends managers on a reading spree

Asda chairman Allan Leighton has sent 700 store managers copies of the 1988 book Zapp! The Lightning of Empowerment to energise staff and support a company turnaround. He urged managers to read the book before attending a "maverick" leadership course, describing it as a guide to empowering employees, improving stores daily, and restoring "Asdaness" across the retailer after years of declining sales. The book uses a fable to teach managers how to make staff feel ownership of their roles, and aims to boost motivation and drive performance.

The Daily Telegraph

WORKPLACE

PwC opens new Glasgow office

PwC has officially opened its new office in the refurbished Aurora Building in Glasgow. Jason Morris, regional market leader for PwC in Scotland, commented: "It's probably the most tangible thing that the business community can do." The firm now employs around 1,200 people in Scotland and has seen an increase in office attendance as staff are encouraged to work on-site three days a week. Carl Sizer, chief markets officer for PwC in the UK, noted that the new office has uplifted staff morale and contributed to the city's recovery post-pandemic.

Herald Scotland

STRATEGY

Deloitte plans job cuts in Aberdeen

Deloitte is set to reduce its workforce in Aberdeen as part of a restructuring plan. The firm, which employs around 150 people in the city and 24,000 across the UK, confirmed it is reviewing a "small number" of roles. The internal services teams in the UK may be affected. This decision follows Deloitte's recent move to new offices in the Silver Fin building on Union Street. A spokesperson said: "We are reviewing our operations to ensure efficiency."

The National

HIRING

Retail thefts hinder youth recruitment

Jonathan James, the owner of Select Convenience, says young people fear working in stores due to the likelihood of attacks by thieves, making recruitment and retention difficult. Britain's retail sector is facing a shoplifting crisis, with over 1,400 thefts a day and violent incidents towards staff rising to 2,000 daily, according to the British Retail Consortium.

The Daily Telegraph

Daily Mail

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

TfL spends £1m on diversity training

The Sun reports that Transport for London (TfL) has spent up to £1m for bus drivers to attend diversity training. Over 24,000 drivers have had training delivered by Equality Works Ltd in the past two years. A source said: "The drivers were taught to use inclusive language to not marginalise people." Commenting on the training, TfL said: "It ensures [drivers are] aware of legal obligations under the Equality Act."

The Sun

INTERNATIONAL

South Korean workers detained in US raid arrive home

More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia have arrived home. A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers and 14 non-Koreans who were also detained in the raid took off from Atlanta at midday local time on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly chosen to stay in the US to seek permanent residency. Korean companies would be "very hesitant" about investing in the US following the raid, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday. "The situation is extremely bewildering," Lee observed, while noting it is common practice for Korean firms to send workers to help set up overseas factories. "If that's no longer allowed, establishing manufacturing facilities in the US will only become more difficult . . . making companies question whether it's worth doing at all," he added. On Friday, the South Korean foreign ministry said it had called for the US Congress to support a new visa for Korean firms.

Macquarie places avatar workers in HR

Australian multinational financial services group Macquarie is set to trial digital workers in its finance and human resources departments, partnering with Future Secure AI. While automating tasks is common, replacing entire jobs remains challenging due to the need for human interaction and tacit knowledge. “While we are early in the journey, we are supporting our people as they explore and adapt to new technologies, including through initiatives such as Future Secure AI’s digital co-workers to work as part of our teams,” a Macquarie spokeswoman said. “This particularly addresses repetitive, high-volume and uniform processes, so teams can better manage workloads, deliver outcomes more quickly at reduced cost and with reduced risk of manual error, and focus on more strategic initiatives.”

Financial Review

OTHER

Anti-migrant protests could deter international students

The Universities and College Union (UCU) warns that the growing frequency of anti-migrant protests and disputes over flags could deter both international students and staff from heading to the UK's universities. The UCU said many staff and students from overseas are "disturbed by the recent rise in anti-migrant sentiment." Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of The University Alliance, said a "sense of students not feeling that they'll be welcome" will "definitely" have an impact on numbers. Global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds said a survey of more than 68,000 students last year found that 52% said a welcoming country was a key factor in deciding where to study.

The I

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe