First published on Thursday, October 16, 2025
Last updated on Thursday, October 16, 2025
Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we take a look at the week’s most pressing HR and employment law stories. With over 18 years’ experience in employee relations, I give my opinion on current trends impacting your business, as well as my own personal commentary on all things HR and legal.
79% of UK businesses are positive about AI adoption: BrightHR report
We’ve been talking to businesses across the world about the impact of AI. In a survey of nearly 80,000 clients, the UK results revealed a higher uptake of AI than expected: from 45% in 2024, to 64% now. And 4 in 5 business owners feel positive about AI technology.
The statistics reveal some unexpected insights too. Although many workers fear being replaced by AI, the report shows a lower impact than expected. Just 17% of businesses reported an impact on headcount due to AI in 2025, compared to almost a third in 2024. And 57% of businesses are definitely not planning on replacing people with AI. You can read the full report here, along with some practical recommendations about how to use AI in your workplace.
Workplace temperatures: the office hot topic
It’s that time of year again. The sun’s setting earlier and rising later. The leaves are changing colour. And with the changing seasons comes the sound of office workers arguing about the air con.
It’s impossible to please everyone – just ask any boss. But there are reasonable adjustments you should make if a person has an underlying health condition which affects their temperature. Consider providing fans and heaters and making sure paths of communication are open. You can mediate before the issue escalates to needing disciplinary action.
I’ve seen time and again that shared workspaces come with conflicts and compromises. Small disagreements can easily escalate into larger conflicts. And it’s important for employers to manage this in the workplace before it boils over into unacceptable behaviour. Download our free guide to managing difficult conversations at work, and find out how to manage disputes.
Lunch is not for wimps
Two in five office workers regularly eat lunch at their desks. If they’ve decided to do so, fine. But if they’re eating at their desks because they don’t feel they have time for a break, it’s time to step in. For me, it’s important to lead by example. Managers should think about staff culture and wellbeing and be seen to take lunches and shorter breaks.
It’s part of the Working Time Regulations to make sure people take meaningful breaks. If your teams are worried about workload, have a chat with them and make sure they’re prioritising their wellbeing. Make sure you’ve got realistic objectives and goals set with performance management reviews.
At BrightHR HQ, we’ve put in coffee machines, equipped kitchens and a variety of seating to encourage people to step away from their desks. You may have seen our breakout areas in our video celebration of International Week of Happiness at Work. Watch our teams taking time out with a baking competition, a ‘friendly’ game of bingo and a raffle.
And that’s a wrap from me. Tune in next time for my take on the latest headlines and employment law stories, helping keep your business ahead!
