Appeals court rules that Georgia county can exclude gender-affirming surgeries from insurance coverage

Appeals court rules that Georgia county can exclude gender-affirming surgeries from insurance coverage Summary A federal appeals court sitting en banc has ruled that Houston County, Georgia, did not violate Title VII by excluding gender-affirming surgeries from its health insurance plan for employees. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a May 2024 panel […]

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Quarter of UK Financial Services Candidates Failed Background Checks in last 12 Months – HR News

Quarter of UK Financial Services Candidates Failed Background Checks in last 12 Months – HR News Summary New data from background-checking platform Zinc shows the Financial Services sector had a 23% candidate failure rate in background checks over the past 12 months — well above the 16% average for other industries. Only heavily regulated sectors […]

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Nearly Half of HR Leaders Consider Leaving Field due to Emotional Toll, 83% Optimistic About AI – HR News

Nearly Half of HR Leaders Consider Leaving Field due to Emotional Toll, 83% Optimistic About AI – HR News Summary Lattice’s 2026 State of People Strategy Report, based on a survey of 1,002 HR leaders and managers, finds HR teams under pressure but increasingly open to AI. Performance management and employee engagement top priorities as […]

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Hybrid working risks alienating younger staff unless managers take action – HR News

Hybrid working risks alienating younger staff unless managers take action Summary A survey of 1,000 UK employees by IRIS Software Group flags that hybrid working can leave younger staff feeling disconnected and undersupported. Around half of under-35s say hybrid makes them feel less connected to their organisation (52% of 18–24s; 49% of 25–34s) compared with […]

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Augmented talent: Could AI skills reshape pay equity?

Augmented talent: Could AI skills reshape pay equity? Author: Gethin Nadin (Chief Innovation Officer, Benefex)   |   Date: 2025-08-28T07:00:00+00:00 Summary The article examines how AI is creating “hyper-personalised productivity” — where employees in the same role and on the same pay can produce vastly different outputs depending on their use of AI tools. This […]

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Has AI been given a promotion? One in three Gen-Z professionals now ask AI before their manager – HR News

Has AI been given a promotion? One in three Gen-Z professionals now ask AI before their manager Summary Research from Robert Walters shows AI is becoming the go-to for workplace questions, especially among Gen‑Z. One in three Gen‑Z professionals (33%) now consult AI tools before asking their manager or colleagues. Across all age groups, 39% […]

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Five psychological safety challenges for hybrid workplaces

Five psychological safety challenges for hybrid workplaces Summary This piece from Jacqueline Towers (HubStar) outlines why psychological safety matters in organisations and the extra friction hybrid working creates. It lists five common barriers to a speak-up culture in hybrid teams and gives practical, everyday fixes leaders can apply to reduce risk, build trust and keep […]

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