Colleague Experience & Engagement

As global economic uncertainty escalates, redundancy threat remains a cause of stress for many. This is compounded by high levels of consumer debt – data shows many lack adequate savings to buffer against unexpected job loss. Alongside, shifts in UK demographics and spending habits mean retirement is increasingly unaffordable and too few people feel they possess the acumen to confidently plan their financial futures. Employers can do a lot more to help educate colleagues on financial wellbeing and security.

In the first episode of 2026, Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation returns to the podcast to discuss labour market trends with Jen, Dom and Cat. The REC’s monthly report on jobs, produced by S&P Global in association with KPMG, has become a go-to resource for enhanced understanding of UK labour market dynamics. Hiring, employment, redundancies, unemployment, salaries and wage inflation or stagnation all have implications for internal communicators and the way they interact with colleagues and other stakeholders.

Few jobs will remain unchanged by AI and automation. According to the World Economic Forum, 59% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2030. Within the realm of internal communication, developments in GenerativeAI mean any work that involves writing and documentation is set to be transformed by increasingly sophisticated digital tools that promise enhanced operational efficiency. What does this mean for internal communicators? In this episode Jen, Dom and Cat chat with IoIC fellow Joe Salmon to explore the future of internal communication.

Since the start of 2025, many organisations have reduced or cancelled DEI activities in deference to the rise of illiberalism across the globe. Already marginalised groups are increasingly nervous that a new wave of right-wing politicians is endorsing racism, sexism, homophobia and other prejudices. In this episode, Dom, Jen and Cat meet with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, to explore why inclusion remains a mission-critical issue for organisational performance.

Today, a constant stream of corporate scandals show the extent to which a lack of oversight causes chaos, disruption, sizeable financial losses or worse, loss of life. But in the lead up to such events, how many people will have been privy to impropriety but felt unwilling or unable to speak up? This episode, Jen and Cat are joined by Shaun Keep and Paul Adams, co-founders of Say-So, an organisation helping employees voice legitimate safety and wellbeing concerns, safely and anonymously.

‘Busyness’ is increasingly seen as a badge of honour and productivity is regularly measured and rewarded at work. Despite all we now know about workplace stress, anxiety and burnout, we seem to be doing little to address the destructive pace at which we are living our lives. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Megan Reitz and John Higgins about their latest research, on the topic of spaciousness and how to find it.