In this episode we take an in-depth look at the rise of costs and challenges associated with the National Living and National Minimum Wage.

Steve Herbert is joined by Tim Kellett of pay and benefits benchmarking experts Paydata and Ian Hodson, Director of People & Culture at employer Housing21.

Return-to-office mandates are a topic that’s generating plenty of heat in the media, but how closely do the headlines match workplace reality?

In this episode, one of a three-part series of 10-minute podcasts, hosts Claire Churchard and Steve Herbert discuss data that shows remote or home working is on the rise.

We look at what this means for HR, from balancing employee flexibility with business needs, to ensuring benefits packages remain fair and accessible. We discuss the pinch points, and the opportunities, in building the new normal of work.

The 10,000 step rule has been wellbeing gospel for decades. But what if the science says otherwise?

Fresh data is challenging old assumptions and opening up new opportunities for HR to support employee health in smarter, simpler ways.

In this episode, part of a trio of 10 minute podcasts, hosts Claire Churchard and Steve Herbert ask: why has this myth stuck for so long, and how can employers use the new evidence to boost health, engagement and productivity?

As the professionals responsible for helping their organisations navigate NI hikes, rising employee stress levels and looming redundancies, the pressure on HR, reward and benefits teams has never been greater.

HR is expected to lead with strength and compassion. But who is supporting the supporters?

In this episode of Benefits Unboxed, co-hosts Claire Churchard, Carole Goldsmith and Steve Herbert explore the emotional and ethical pressures HR face today, from managing redundancies to implementing complex legislation. They discuss why HR’s own wellbeing may not be the first topic of conversation, the risks that poses to employers, and the practical steps businesses can take to better support the wellbeing of the people who support everyone else.

This conversation shines a light on the resilience of the profession and why looking after HR is not just the right thing to do, but a business imperative.

The US retreat from diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) is making waves far beyond the country's borders. In the wake of President Trump’s executive order abolishing DEI across federal government departments, global firms like Goldman Sachs and Accenture have rapidly dialled down their own efforts.

The influence is being felt in the UK too. However, the UK operates under a different legal framework. It has stronger workplace protections and a government actively looking to enhance employee rights through its Make Work Pay agenda. But as US firms reposition their approach to DEI, UK subsidiaries could find themselves caught between conflicting priorities.

In the latest Benefits Unboxed podcast, co-hosts Claire Churchard, editor of Benefits Expert, Carole Goldsmith, HR director at the Royal Horticultural Society, and Steve Herbert, industry veteran and reward and benefits consultant, discuss how the US DEI rollback might impact UK businesses.