Human Times
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UK Edition
14th January 2026
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THE HOT STORY

CEOs shoulder the burden alone

Chief executives are contending with "mounting pressure and [are] increasingly bearing the weight of that accountability alone" as other senior staff do not share the same urgency, according to a study by consulting firm AlixPartners. The survey of 3,200 executives across 11 countries revealed that 70% of CEOs are facing pressure from high levels of disruption or challenges to their businesses, while less than 40% of their C-suite colleagues share this sentiment. In the UK, over 40% of CEOs believe their leadership teams lack the agility to keep pace with their competitors. Warning of a "growing disconnect" at the top of businesses, Rob Hornby, co-CEO of AlixPartners, said: "Today's CEOs are full-time stakeholder managers, grappling with a relentless and increasingly complex wave of disruptive forces."
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HR PRIORITIES 2026

Top HR Priorities for 2026: Is your strategy ready?

As HR leaders look toward the year ahead, the landscape is shifting rapidly. From significant employment law changes to the transformative power of AI, 2026 promises to be a year of both challenge and opportunity. Strategic planning is no longer optional, it is essential for risk reduction and organisational success.
Based on our latest research with organisations, we have identified the critical initiatives that will define HR strategies in 2026.
Stay ahead of change and download our comprehensive whitepaper to explore the top priorities shaping the future of work.

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LEGAL

ICO quizzes Lloyds over pay data

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating Lloyds Banking Group for a potential data privacy breach involving 30,000 staff accounts. The bank accessed aggregated financial data during pay negotiations, raising concerns about consent. If the ICO identifies a breach, it could launch a full investigation and, if found guilty, Lloyds could face fines of up to £1.36bn, based on its 2024 earnings. Accord, a staff union, said Lloyds has assured it that the information was fully aggregated, with no individual information reviewed by negotiators. An Accord spokesperson said: "We need an independent assessment to review what took place and if anything untoward was found to have been done, to ensure it never happens again."

Plans for mandatory digital ID for workers dropped

The government has dropped plans to require workers to enrol in a digital ID scheme to prove their right to work, shifting from a previously mandatory approach to an optional one. While right-to-work checks will be fully digital by 2029, ministers say the policy will now focus more broadly on improving access to public services rather than clamping down on illegal working. A government source commented: "Stepping back from mandatory use cases will ­deflate one of the main points of contention. We do not want to risk there being cases of some 65-year-old in a rural area being barred from ­working because he hasn’t downloaded this app."

Judge rules against police gender bias

Two male officers from Suffolk Constabulary were unlawfully discriminated against based on gender, a tribunal has ruled. The force replaced them with female officers to improve "gender balance" after a female officer left. Despite being advised by human resources that the action was discriminatory, the decision-maker proceeded. The force acknowledged the tribunal's findings and committed to ensuring such incidents do not recur, emphasising the importance of fairness and accountability in policing. Emma Arthurs, Suffolk Police Federation representative and equality lead, said: "Discrimination has no place in policing."
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WORKFORCE

Maternity pay errors hit pensions

Many mothers are losing significant amounts from their pensions due to errors in maternity pay calculations. Analysis by the Times shows that some employers reduce pension contributions based on lower maternity pay, contrary to legal requirements. Errors often stem from human mistakes and payroll software issues, disproportionately affecting women in the private sector. Analysis by AJ Bell shows that a woman earning £30,000, with a £50,000 pension pot, who took maternity leave at 30 could be more than £2,000 worse off by the time she retired if her employer based her pension contributions on statutory pay instead of her real salary.

Nuclear workers could strike

Workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) could strike over a reorganisation that may lead to job losses. The union Prospect claims AWE's management has mishandled consultations, increasing the potential redundancies from 500 to 800.  Prospect's general secretary Mike Clancy said workers "deserve to be treated with significantly more respect by their employer." A ballot for strike action will begin on Monday and last for three weeks.
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STRATEGY

Citigroup set to cut about 1,000 jobs

Citigroup is set to cut about 1,000 jobs this week as part of a plan announced two years ago to reduce its workforce by 20,000 by the end of this year. “We will continue to reduce our headcount in 2026,” a Citigroup spokesperson said. “These changes reflect adjustments we’re making to ensure our staffing levels, locations and expertise align with current business needs; efficiencies we have gained through technology; and progress against our transformation work.”
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TECHNOLOGY

DfE plans to use AI to help answer emails

The Department for Education plans to implement an AI tool to draft responses to 80% of its external correspondence, reducing response time from 30 minutes to just one minute. The tool, developed using Microsoft's Open Azure AI, will assist staff in creating initial replies, which must be reviewed before sending. While the DfE said it aims to enhance efficiency and prioritise complex tasks, concerns have been raised about the tool's ability to convey nuance and the potential impact on jobs.
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REGULATION

UK competition watchdog cleared every merger in 2025 after government pressure

The Competition and Markets Authority did not block any deals last year after the agency came under government pressure to be more business-friendly, according to data shared with the Financial Times.
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CORPORATE

Games Workshop reports record half-year profits of £140.8m

Games Workshop has posted a record interim performance, with pre-tax profits rising to £140.8m and revenues reaching £316.1m in the 26 weeks to November 30th. The growth was fuelled by strong global sales of new and existing Warhammer products, with profitable growth reported across all 23 core markets. The group also said that it is taking a "very cautious" approach to artificial intelligence technology, and has banned employees from using it in its content and designs. Chief executive Kevin Rountree added: “We will be maintaining a strong commitment to protect our intellectual property and respect our human creators."
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INTERNATIONAL

Colorado cracked open the culture of secrecy around salaries

Bloomberg reports on how Colorado sparked an international trend for salary transparency when it started forcing employers to include pay ranges in job postings in 2021. Since then, about a dozen other US states have adopted similar requirements, and the European Union will follow suit later this year. Colorado’s law mandates employers to specify pay ranges, and also related benefits such as healthcare, in all job postings. The rule also prohibits employers from asking job candidates about their pay history or using it to determine wages. Such practices have been identified as perpetuating the pay discrimination often faced by women. 

Samsung issues English translation of collective bargaining agreement

The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) has translated its collective bargaining agreement into English for the first time, making it accessible to foreign employees. Previously available only in Korean, the agreement outlines essential employment terms and protections. Acting chair Woo Ha-kyung said: "Publishing the collective bargaining agreement in English lays the groundwork for eliminating blind spots in the working conditions of foreign employees."

Job losses in European car parts sector top 100,000 in two years

European car parts suppliers have announced more than 100,000 job losses in the past two years as they suffer from low demand for vehicles and fierce competition from Chinese rivals.
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OTHER

Children are being home schooled out of desperation, Ofsted boss says

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver warns that increasing numbers of children in England are being home schooled out of "desperation" rather than genuine choice because parents feel mainstream or specialist provision cannot meet their needs. Home schooling in England is lightly regulated, with no requirement to follow the national curriculum or register with local authorities. Officially recorded numbers rose 38% to 111,700 in 2024-25, though the true figure is likely higher. Parents cite mental health, dissatisfaction with schools, and special educational needs as key reasons for the decision to home school. New legislation will introduce a national register and tighter safeguards, particularly where child protection concerns exist. Ofsted says schools’ ability to include and support pupils will be scrutinised more closely, amid wider concerns about absence, children missing education, and social isolation.
 
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