Workplace Journal

Employer confidence falls as hiring intentions rise in Q2 2026 – REC Employer confidence in the economy dropped by four percentage points to net -47% between April and June 2026 compared to February to April 2026.  https://lnkd.in/diP-g6yW

One in five workers take no action on pensions despite retirement concerns, research finds The WEALTH at work survey of 2,000 defined contribution pension savers found that 20% had not engaged with their pension in the past 12 months. https://lnkd.in/dhjaBjtw

Banking and finance roles decline as labour market restructures – Employment Hero The data, based on over 3,300 real-time employee records, forms part of a wider trend where employment growth in traditional graduate sectors is stalling. https://lnkd.in/dEEpijzP

JTL adds Stuart Mills to board of trustees Mills brings experience in engineering, digital transformation and workforce development.  https://lnkd.in/dtKEkMjB

Young people are being conditioned to pass exams, not to enter the workplace Macauley Quinn, vice-president of the IOSH, discusses the challenges young people face when transitioning from education to the workplace. https://lnkd.in/d5MDKyDS

BMW uses virtual reality to train factory staff A VR training programme developed by BMW sees staff practice EV battery manufacturing operations in realistic conditions. https://lnkd.in/eZ7viNaG

Shoosmiths strengthens pensions team with partner hire Michael Collins joins from Gateley Legal, where he was partner and head of pensions for almost 20 years.  https://lnkd.in/e_YXNuuP

👋 This week on Workplace Journal:  We’re gearing up for another busy week across the workplace sector – here’s what to watch out for: → International Day of Friendship Taking place on 30th July, the International Day of Friendship calls on us to strengthen cross-cultural connections, promote peace, and foster human solidarity. We’ll explore how workplaces can harness the power of authentic relationships to build inclusive, collaborative cultures – and why kindness belongs at the heart of every team. → Young People: From Exams to Employment   This week, we spotlight Macauley Quinn’s piece on the gap between education and employment. With nearly half of young workers feeling unprepared for workplace realities, he will unpack why life skills, supportive induction, and meaningful mentoring are vital for the next generation – and what employers can do to help young staff build confidence from day one. → Why men aren’t using workplace health benefits   Gethin Nadin explores why men are less likely to use workplace health benefits and how stigma and social expectations play a role. Nadin will look at what employers can do to redesign support, encourage open conversations, and help more men access the benefits available to them. Stay close to Workplace Journal #InternationalDayOfFriendship #YoungWorkers #WorkplaceWellbeing #HealthBenefits

Preventing workplace harm must be a national priority, says IOSH In a letter to the new Prime Minister, IOSH said focusing on prevention would improve lives, boost productivity and help future-proof the workforce. https://lnkd.in/eVrSKwsb

UK pension providers partner to support growth with £1bn scale-up fund The plan is to help promising firms expand faster, turn new technologies into products and create skilled jobs across the country. https://lnkd.in/esF9xNTk