Hays UK jobs and employment blog

For many within the life sciences profession, the pandemic has brought a flurry of activity. This has meant for some organisations that priorities had to shift away from ‘business as usual’ in order to handle the immediate impacts of the pandemic. Six months on from the commencement of lockdown in March, we are able to get a better sense of just what these impacts on the profession have...

Dr Megan Jones Bell, Headspace’s Chief Strategy & Science Officer, discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic could give organisations the chance to make a step change in caring for their employees’ wellbeing. Sometimes it takes experiencing a personal challenge to find our path, and this was certainly the case for Dr Megan Jones Bell, Chief Strategy & Science Officer at Headspace. ...

For Generation Z, those who are beginning their career journeys are facing difficult challenges as they try to navigate the current uncertain climate. As a result, approximately one in four ‘Gen Z’ employees have sought support with their mental health since the pandemic began. So today, in support of World Mental Health Day, we are joined by Leadership Coach Simi Rayat,...

This year’s World Mental Health Day feels different. For most business leaders, supporting positive mental health practices – both personally and amongst our employees – is a priority every year. But, this year has taken its importance to a whole new level. Mental health has fallen under the spotlight with increasing regularity throughout the course of this year, and with good reason. The...

From navigating furlough to adjusting to mass remote working, the pandemic has impacted some of the core functions of the HR profession. There is no denying that there will be further changes and challenges ahead, but months on from when lockdown first commenced in March, we are able to get some sense of just how much the HR has changed as a result of Covid-19. According to research...

The life sciences industry is growing, and it’s not just because of the pandemic. As I explained in my last blog, we are still trying to conquer diseases for patients with unmet medical needs like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Crohn’s disease and rheumatology that affect millions of people every day. Cancer, Haematology and Neurology dominate in the arena of new treatments being made...

With report of mental health issues on the rise a result of the pandemic, it’s important to remember to prioritise your mental health as the world around continues to change, often with little warning. Of course, for those suffering, there are some fantastic resources out there, reminding us of the things we can do to help ourselves keep mentally healthy during these difficult times (and...

I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree back in 1982, almost 40 years ago. Similar to the Class of 2020, I also graduated into a world of global economic volatility and recession. At the time, it was considered to be the worst economic climate since the Second World War. However, what today’s young graduates are facing is undoubtedly far more challenging on so many levels and from so...

Cybersecurity breaches have recently made global headlines, many of which have been attributed to a rapidly expanded online world because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, there is a heightened push not only to prevent such attacks from happening, but to develop IT and security infrastructure that can deal with these differing and increased online demands. Therefore, there has never...

The life sciences/pharmaceutical medicines industry is an exciting and challenging sector to work within. After all, scientific advancements and new breakthroughs happen every single day. Every job within the industry requires a high level of motivation and competence. It’s a growing and demanding sector in which hard work is well rewarded. It’s also one which is always searching for new...

Whilst consumer preferences for online channels were unquestionably present prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the unexpected global events of 2020 accelerated this trend on an unprecedented scale. Many businesses reacted to the crisis by fast-tracking their digital transformation initiatives, and there was a sharp increase in the number of businesses switching their primary focus to online...

Covid-19 has forced a revolution in the workplace, and professionals looking for jobs may find the generalist office roles of the past more difficult to come across. Because of the new skills and expertise employers need to complete transformational projects, you’re more likely to succeed in your job search by positioning yourself as a specialist. But if you’re in a general office...

The world of work has seen revolutionary changes this year and the marketing profession is no exception to this. ‘Business as usual’ took a back seat as organisations handled the immediate impacts of the pandemic and huge numbers of professionals switched to working remotely almost overnight. It’s only now, six months after the Covid-19 lockdown commenced in March, that we are able to start...

Our world of work has undergone seismic shifts this year and the procurement profession is no exception. ‘Business as usual’ took a back seat as organisations handled the immediate impacts of the pandemic and huge numbers of professionals switched to working remotely practically overnight. Now, six months on from when lockdown commenced in March, we are able to get some sense of the impact...

Accountancy and finance organisations were impacted hard by Covid-19. ‘Business as usual’ took a back seat as organisations handled the immediate impacts of the pandemic and huge numbers of professionals switched to working remotely practically overnight. Priorities shifted, and areas of focus, like equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I), could easily take a back seat. Months on from...

The way we think about the office is changing. Covid-19 has forced a revolution in the workplace, and many organisations are rethinking the skills that they require from their teams in order to stay ahead. 72% of office administration and contact centre employers say the skills their teams need to meet key organisational objectives have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s clear to all...

How are you feeling? Really? I’ve spoken to lots of people recently who are putting a brave and happy face on things, but underneath, they’re struggling, they’re feeling despondent and finding it hard to motivate themselves at work. They feel as if they’ve lost their work mojo. The summer holidays they were looking forward to were different from what they had planned for or perhaps didn’t...

In the current chaos and uncertainty combined with the pace of change and fragility of our lives, making time for reflection becomes a necessity for sanity and effectiveness, rather than a simple luxury. I would like to share with you the analogy of the ‘dancefloor and the balcony’ When we are rocking our moves on the dancefloor, we are in the middle of the hustle and bustle, and although...

At the beginning of this year – which feels like a lifetime ago – the jobs market here in the US was on track to thrive with record low unemployment rates and a very bullish economic outlook. Then, out of nowhere, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and turned the global economy on its head. As a result, the hiring landscape has shifted significantly, with industries experiencing severe...

The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly brought tragedy and turmoil, there’s no understating that. However, some genuinely positive changes have come about as a result of the disruption. In the early stages of the crisis, you might have understandably imagined that the initial interruption to our lives would only be temporary, and that after a little while, things would generally return to...