Too much noise, not enough signal. Each week, we scour the global HR landscape to bring you the stories that matter. From boardroom shifts to regulatory changes, we’ve done the reading so you don’t have to – here’s your curated briefing on what’s shaping the world of work. 🐼
Employee engagement hits historic lows
New research from the Achievers Workforce Institute paints a troubling picture for 2026. Just 26% of employees globally report feeling engaged at work, while more than half (56%) are considering leaving their current employer. Only one in four workers sees a long-term future with their organisation. The findings underscore a growing disconnect between workforce expectations and workplace reality, with appreciation emerging as a critical yet neglected driver of loyalty. Employees who feel valued are 17 times more likely to envision a lasting career with their company.
Read more: Achievers
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UK employment law overhaul takes shape
The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent in December, ushering in the most significant changes to British employment law in a generation. Key reforms rolling out across 2026 include statutory sick pay becoming a day-one entitlement from April, the National Living Wage rising to £12.71, and extended time limits for tribunal claims moving from three to six months in October. The unfair dismissal qualifying period will reduce from two years to six months from January 2027, with the compensation cap also set to be removed – a change employers are already preparing for.
Read more: CIPD
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AI productivity promise meets workforce reality
Cognizant’s latest research reveals AI is now capable of handling $4.5 trillion worth of US work tasks, potentially impacting 93% of jobs. However, the report cautions that human involvement remains essential to capturing AI’s full value. Meanwhile, Oxford Economics suggests companies may be using AI as a convenient explanation for routine headcount reductions rather than genuine automation-driven displacement. The IMF has warned that while AI-related skills command wage premiums, employment levels in AI-vulnerable occupations have actually declined – particularly for entry-level positions.
Read more: Fortune
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January layoff wave batters logistics and manufacturing
US logistics and manufacturing firms have started 2026 with a surge of job cuts affecting over 2,200 workers nationwide. Major announcements include Tyson Foods eliminating 4,900 positions across Nebraska and Texas facilities, UPS continuing its ‘Network of the Future’ restructuring with 48,000 planned cuts through 2026, and RailCrew Xpress laying off 400 employees after losing a major CSX contract. A Resume.org survey found that while 92% of companies plan to hire in 2026, more than half also expect layoffs – highlighting the simultaneous hiring and restructuring defining this labour market.
Read more: Freightwaves
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Young workers bearing brunt of job market slowdown
Research from the Dallas Federal Reserve confirms what many graduates already sense: young workers in AI-exposed occupations have experienced a 13% employment decline since 2022. In the UK, Totaljobs reports that 48% of workers aged 18 to 29 are actively seeking new roles or plan to do so this year. The ‘Great Stay’ phenomenon – where low hiring and low firing create stagnation – is hitting early-career workers hardest, with entry-level hiring at major tech firms down 25% year-on-year. Career setbacks in these formative years can affect lifetime earnings and development.
Read more: HR Magazine
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India emerges as global hiring bright spot
India’s job market closed 2025 with hiring activity up 15% year-on-year, with AI-related roles projected to grow 32% to nearly 380,000 positions in 2026. Major corporations including EY India, Tata Motors and Diageo are expanding recruitment, while a survey of employees at global firms including Google, Amazon and Microsoft found 93% reported plans to expand India operations. The country is expected to create 12.8 million new jobs this year, with demand concentrated in AI engineering, cloud architecture, cybersecurity and healthcare services.
Read more: Business Standard
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The Takeaway
Last week’s news reveals a workforce caught between transformation and turbulence. While AI promises productivity gains, the human cost is becoming clearer – particularly for younger workers locked out of entry-level opportunities. Engagement continues to erode even as regulatory frameworks evolve to strengthen worker protections. For HR leaders, the message is stark: technology alone won’t solve the retention crisis, and the organisations that invest in skills, appreciation and genuine career pathways will be best positioned to navigate what lies ahead.
