Strategic HR Digest Newsletter | Urgent need for UK employers to tackle mental health issues

AI is rapidly transforming HR—from streamlining recruitment to automating compliance and workforce planning. But with new opportunities come new challenges. Join Katie King, leading AI strategist and Top 10 AI Influencer, for an advanced session on the biggest AI trends shaping HR in 2025. This webinar will explore how AI is reshaping recruitment, workforce planning, and employee engagement, while tackling compliance risks and ethical challenges.

What you’ll learn:

💡 Stay until the end for a live Q&A with Katie King, where you can get expert answers to your top AI and HR questions.

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HR LEADERSHIP STRATEGY

Brian Heger's 2025 HR template offers a decisive pathway for HR leaders to concentrate on significant initiatives by distinguishing essential tasks from obsolete ones. This strategic foresight aligns organisational efforts with leadership priorities, ensuring HR activities contribute meaningfully to overarching objectives. Though initially HR-focused, the template can be adapted for strategic leadership across various domains, promoting career growth and transformational leadership in dynamic settings.

WORKFORCE DYNAMICS ANALYSIS

PwC's survey highlights a troubling trend: a quarter of young UK workers are considering job exits due to mental health concerns, signalling potential HR challenges. With economic inactivity rising and mental health emerging as a pivotal issue, strategic collaboration between employers and policymakers is vital to curtail workforce attrition and ensure sustainable economic progress.

WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION

ADP’s findings reveal over 30% of employees are worried about AI job displacement, with younger workers more hopeful. The tech and finance sectors display greater positivity towards AI compared to personal services or healthcare. Prioritising effective communication in organisations is pivotal to dispel fears and optimise AI's collaborative potential, enhancing strategic HR leadership.

GCC WORKFORCE EXPANSION

GCC organisations' planned 20% workforce expansion in 2025 reflects strategic diversification and transformation goals, focusing on competitive pay and career progression. With a 52-day role-filling metric tempered by significant probationary dropouts, HR leaders must seamlessly integrate financial attraction strategies with robust employee experience initiatives. This approach is pivotal in navigating the competitive talent marketplace while fostering long-term organisational commitment.

March's CIPD Student Conference recorded unparalleled participation, engaging nearly 1,200 burgeoning HR professionals worldwide. This cornerstone event in the HR calendar meticulously dissected the profession's future, offering a stage for strategic thought leaders like CIPD Chief Executive Peter Cheese to articulate the pressing challenges posed by economic dynamics and AI. Participants gained insight into the necessity of adaptability and perpetual skill enhancement within a fluid job market.

Miriam Stephens outlined the CIPD Profession Map as an essential tool for plotting strategic HR success, while Dr Daniel Hulme expounded on AI's transformative potential in shaping business landscapes. The conference solidified CIPD membership as a vital asset, offering comprehensive resources—from practical strategies to expansive networks—crucial for elevating career trajectories. As HR landscapes evolve, this event affirmed the need for leadership capable of leveraging these insights, setting the benchmark for groundbreaking organisational impact.