Sam Forsdick
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Covering the latest business trends for @Raconteur // words for @NSBusinesshub @NewStatesman @PressGazette @gigsoup
Articles by Sam Forsdick
The IPO hype cycle returns
Illustrated by Liverpool-based designer Stephen Chan, the Feb. 1, 2016, cover of Fortune warned of a fast-approaching reckoning for the tech sector's billion-dollar unicorn IPOs. The illustration depicts a stampede of unicorns racing for the exit, while the cover line warns of a broken IPO market.
Marketing’s new mandate: Why AI is forcing CMOs to think like ‘mini CEOs’
Treseder agrees:"It has never been easier to make something beautiful, polished, and completely forgettable." As AI-generated content floods digital channels, she argues that human taste, judgment, and originality are becoming more valuable. "AI is raising the floor, but it is human ingenuity that is going to give you your competitive advantage," Treseder says.
The Iran conflict saw jet fuel prices soar—when you use 1.88 million tonnes a year, how you respond really matters (just ask DHL)
While DHL Express has sought to keep prices competitive, it has had to increase its fuel surcharge for air shipments in order to maintain margins. The surcharge—which is used to offset spikes in fuel costs and is calculated on the average daily price of kerosene—peaked at 48.75% and currently stands at 40.75%. "It's not a mechanism to make money, it's a mechanism to protect costs," Parra explains.
Roche and Nestlé fear talent crunch as Switzerland puts population cap to the polls
EU citizens have held the right to reside and work in Switzerland since an agreement on the free movement of people was reached in 2002. Since then, Switzerland's population has grown by almost 2 million people, while its GDP has increased from $314 billion to more than $1 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund. "This is the first time a fixed population size is being defined for a country.
Why Sheffield Mind is revamping its approach to staff wellbeing
The mental health charity has introduced more structured supervision sessions and given employees more freedom by Sam Forsdick This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members: sign in to your account CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below.
Collective redundancy changes: what HR needs to know
From 6 April 2026, the penalty employers have to pay if they fail to comply with redundancy consultation rules will be increased from 90 to 180 days’ pay for each affected employee. The collective redundancy protective award applies to employers that are proposing to make 20 or more redundancies at the same establishment, within a 90-day period. The changes will double the maximum penalty employers have to pay if they do not comply with redundancy consultation rules.
Expert panel: What do recruiters want from their next HR hires?
With employers now seeking a broader range of skills from people professionals, a panel of experts explains how they can ensure they stand out by Sam Forsdick This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members: sign in to your account CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below.
CIPD urges government to pass employment rights bill, despite concerns
Six business groups, including the CIPD, have called on the government to get the employment rights bill passed through parliament this week. The key piece of legislation, which includes trade union reforms and day-one rights for workers, has been stuck in parliamentary ‘ping pong’ as the House of Commons and House of Lords have failed to reach agreement on the final wording of the bill.
Day-one right to unfair dismissal dropped from employment rights bill
The government has ditched plans to introduce day-one protections from unfair dismissal for workers, replacing it with a six-month qualifying period. The policy had been a key part of the employment rights bill, which also includes measures to strengthen trade union rights and a ban on “exploitative” fire-and-rehire practices, and was one of Labour’s manifesto commitments.
Axa UK’s CPO on her boomerang career and creating a high-performance culture
This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below. Please ensure you are using the same email address and password that you use for your CIPD membership registration.
Does HR need a helping hand?
The pressures on people professionals are causing rising levels of burnout, so what, if anything, can be done to extinguish the threat? by Sam Forsdick This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members: sign in to your account CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below.
Meet the specialist stars
This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below. Please ensure you are using the same email address and password that you use for your CIPD membership registration.
Meet the people specialists redefining the HR profession
The rise of HR specialisms has reshaped the profession. People Management talks to those on the frontlines to find out how evolving business pressures are transforming their roles – and what lies ahead for the next generation of specialists by Sam Forsdick This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members: sign in to your account CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website.
CMA issues guidance on competing for talent after sports broadcasters fined £4.2m for pay collusion
The Competition and Markets Authority has warned HR professionals and recruiters of the legal risks of collusion when hiring workers and setting pay, after several major sport broadcasters were fined for wage-fixing practices. In guidance published on Tuesday (9 September), the watchdog said the idea that competition law did not apply to agreements between employers on wages and working conditions was a “myth”.
Expert panel: How can employers help close the social class pay gap?
This article is only available to CIPD members. To continue enjoying it, please choose one of the following options: CIPD members have access to all articles on the People Management website. If you are already a CIPD member, sign in below. Please ensure you are using the same email address and password that you use for your CIPD membership registration.
Lidl commits to tougher anti-sexual harassment measures as part of deal with EHRC
The British arm of supermarket chain Lidl has signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The deal follows a 2023 employment tribunal, which found the supermarket failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of a female member of staff.
‘Learning can be deprioritised when work is busy’: why Canva gave all its staff a week off to experiment with AI
Global head of people Jennie Rogerson explains how the graphic design company overcame the ‘logistical puzzle’ of giving employees time off to trial the technology, and the benefits of company-wide learning by Sam Forsdick To continue enjoying articles on the People Management website, please register for free or sign in below.
One in 10 workers spends more than 15 hours a week in meetings
Work meetings can be useful for brainstorming ideas, disseminating important information, aiding decision-making or improving culture. But many employees today are feeling overwhelmed by excessive meeting invites, unannounced check-ins, “quick” chats and company updates. Almost one in 10 employees spends more than 15 hours per week in virtual or in-person meetings, and nearly one in five (18%) spends more than 10 hours per week in meetings.
Tech CEOs are sending their AI avatars to meetings
One of the oft-cited benefits of generative AI is that it will be able to perform menial tasks and relieve us of workplace drudgery. For those at an executive level, that will most likely involve assisting with one task in particular: meetings. According to a Harvard Business School study of 27 CEOs and 60,000 hours of work, 72% of chief executives’ time is spent in meetings.
Is the office dress code dead?
Tracing the history of office workwear, it’s clear there has been a general trend towards wearing more casual clothing to work. This perhaps reached its zenith during the pandemic – when one-third of people swapped their usual work clothes for pyjamas. Despite the post-pandemic return to the office, formal workwear is no longer required at most organisations.
Hiring taskforce to transform ‘medieval’ recruitment process
A newly announced hiring taskforce is aiming to overhaul the recruitment process in the UK and develop a national strategy to make hiring faster and simpler. Speaking last week at the launch event in the House of Commons, the chair of the Better Hiring Institute, Keith Rosser, criticised the outdated recruitment process used by almost all employers.
How to conduct a culture audit
Last month, the BBC pledged to take “immediate action” to address organisational failures, following the publication of an independent review of its corporate culture. 2024 was a challenging year for the broadcaster. Its lead news presenter, Huw Edwards, received a six-month suspended jail sentence in September for accessing indecent images of children.
How will Labour’s immigration plans impact recruitment?
Following a surge in support for Reform UK, which promotes anti-immigration policies, Labour has prioritised tightening rules on immigration. UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer pledged on Monday to overhaul the system to encourage companies to “back British workers”, rather than relying on overseas talent. The government has suggested that the proposals in its immigration white paper could reduce the number of low-skilled and care workers coming to the UK by 50,000.
Boxpark's CEO on the power of purpose and crafting a great team
Mark Snell’s experience in the hospitality industry first began at the age of 10 when he was tasked with collecting glasses at his parents’ pub. He was appointed CEO of Boxpark, the London-based group of street food, retail and entertainment pop-ups, in March 2025, having previously served as chief executive of the restaurant chain Gusto Italian. Since opening its first site in Shoreditch in 2011, Boxpark has expanded to six venues across the UK – five in London and one in Liverpool.
How can companies capitalise on the unretirement trend?
Retirement is typically envisioned as a period of leisure, hobbies and travel, following several decades of hard work. However, heightened living costs, longer life expectancy and a rising state-pension age threatens to disrupt this key part of the social contract. Financial challenges are already driving retirees to return to the workforce in a trend that has been dubbed unretirement.
What does the US-UK trade deal mean for businesses?
The UK secured a trade agreement with the US on Thursday, becoming the first country to do so since the imposition of sweeping global tariffs by Donald Trump. Speaking from the Oval Office, the US president said he was “thrilled” to have reached a “breakthrough deal” with the UK, which includes tariff exemptions for UK automobile exports and imports of US beef and ethanol.
Three-minute explainer on... task masking
Generation Z is apparently devising new ways to avoid the critical eye of management. Shuffling around paperwork, hurriedly moving around the office or wearing AirPods all day to pretend to be on phone calls, are tell-tale signs of ‘task masking’, according to the Daily Mail, which claims that young people are taking to TikTok to share inventive ways to appear busy at work. But while the Mail has blamed zoomers for the phenomenon, task masking is not just a gen-Z problem.
A history of office workwear and what comes next
Among the sea of black gathered outside St Peter’s Basilica for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, one person stood out. US President Donald Trump’s decision to don a blue suit and tie – instead of the customary dark suit that was requested by the Vatican – was considered a faux pas by many.
DIY and DEI: why B&Q is ignoring the anti-inclusion noise
When B&Q published its inclusive language guide for its staff, it was met with a mixed response in the media. The handbook advises B&Q employees to refrain from using words and phrases that reinforce stereotypes or exclude, patronise or trivialise certain groups of people. This includes phrases such as “blind drunk” and “deaf to our pleas”, which the company says could be considered offensive by those with disabilities. First introduced in 2023, it caught headlines again last month.
What does the Supreme Court ruling on gender mean for HR?
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex. The decision means that legally, sex is binary and should only refer to a biological man or woman. For HR leaders, the decision has left a lot to unpack. “In the short-term this ruling has the power to create further division and increase tensions,” warns Phillip Pepper, employment partner at law firm at Shakespeare Martineau.
How can HR navigate the pros and cons of social media?
In today’s digital-first world, social media plays an important role in how people find work and engage with employers. For HR executives, staying up to date with the evolving social media landscape has become essential. More than three-quarters (79%) of candidates use social media in their job search, according to a Glassdoor survey. Social media is even more important for younger jobseekers, with generation Z the most likely to say they found job opportunities through social media.
How Cognizant gets a boost from boomerang employees
Have you ever moved to a new company only to feel a wave of regret as you realise the role description or culture doesn’t live up to the job ad? This phenomenon is called ‘new hire’s remorse’ and it can lead workers to boomerang back to their former employers. A boomerang employee is a worker who voluntarily leaves an organisation and is rehired after working somewhere else. Since the great resignation, in the wake of the Covid pandemic, companies have seen a spike in boomerang hires.
What companies lose when they cut HR departments
When companies set out to reduce headcount, the HR team is often first in line for cuts. The government, seeking to save £2bn from civil service budgets, is planning personnel cuts in Whitehall, according to a report by The Times, and HR staff are atop the list for potential redundancies. Overall, the Cabinet Office is set to shed 2,100 roles.
creating neuroinclusive workplaces
Despite the fact that roughly 2% of the UK population is autistic, only three in 10 autistic people are currently in employment, according to the Autistica charity. This employment gap illustrates how businesses should be doing more to attract and retain autistic talent. While people with autism may need additional support in the workplace, often, simple adjustments are all that’s required for employers to become more inclusive.
Banks buck trend as UK’s largest employers cut gender pay gap
UK companies have struggled to close the gender pay gap, with more than three-quarters of British businesses (78%) paying men more than women, according to the latest data published by the government’s gender pay gap service. All employers with 250 staff or more are legally required to publish data on their gender pay gaps.
Zurich's group CPO on creating a future-proof workforce
The global employment landscape is undergoing a transformation. Technological advances, demographic shifts and geoeconomic pressures will help create 170 million new jobs by 2030, according to The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report. But these factors will also lead to the displacement of 92 million jobs.
Are workplace awards worth the hassle?
Last month, Hilton, Aviva and Servicenow were listed among the UK’s best workplaces by the employer certification company Great Place to Work. The annual list, which bases its verdict on employee surveys and workplace culture assessments, is one of a number of employer rankings. HR leaders are often keen to see their company’s name high up on these lists, as this can help validate some of the hard work that goes into creating a positive company culture and lure in top talent.
Vodafone introduces four-day week for returning parents
Vodafone is offering greater flexibility for new parents as its research shows the majority of people feel burnt out when returning to work after having a child. The UK telecommunications company has introduced a new 80:20 policy that allows parents to work 80% of their usual hours for 100% of their pay for the first six months back at work, with no impact on their holiday entitlement or benefits.
Spring statement 2025: what it means for British businesses
No new tax rises were announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves in Wednesday’s spring statement. Instead, the government announced plans to cut welfare and benefits to plug holes in the public finances. Reeves came to office promising only one major fiscal event per year, the autumn budget, with the spring statement being relegated to a financial update, meaning new taxes or major spending commitments were always unlikely.
Three minute explainer on... meeting hangovers
Meetings are taking up an increasing proportion of the working week. The amount of time knowledge workers spend in meetings has doubled since 2019, to five hours per week, according to the latest State of Work Innovation report by Asana, a project management platform. But few people feel that all of their meetings are necessary, with 61% saying little was accomplished in the most recent meeting they attended. Even worse, meetings are leaving some staff feeling disengaged and unproductive.
The unintended consequences of pay-gap reporting
The UK government’s equality (race and disability) bill includes a new requirement for companies with 250 staff or more to report their ethnicity and disability pay gaps. While this proposal aims to highlight unfair pay discrepancies, such reporting can exacerbate some of the challenges disabled employees face, according to a new report from Business Disability Forum (BDF).
Innocent Drinks' people director on keeping company culture sweet
“We make healthy drinks. Please buy them so we don’t get fired.” That’s the plea in Innocent Drinks’ X bio. The quip is characteristic of the smoothie maker’s light-hearted tone of voice, which aims to persuade consumers to buy its products while also eliciting a laugh.
How are hiring teams coping with the influx of AI-generated job apps?
Last month, Anthropic, an AI company, put out a message to potential job applicants, urging them to refrain from using AI bots in the application process. A message on its online application form states: “While we encourage people to use AI systems during their role to help them work faster and more effectively, please do not use AI assistants during the application process.
How to make business trips safe for female employees
Global business travel has bounced back since the pandemic, with corporate travel spend poised to surpass pre-pandemic levels this year. The trend has been driven by a renewed emphasis among executives in face-to-face interaction. For employees, more corporate travelling means more opportunities for networking, development and career progression.
Workers’ rights strengthened under new amendments to employment bill
More than 200 amendments have been tabled to the government’s flagship employment rights bill, which aims to spur growth, improve workplace security and address low productivity. But, while unions have praised the revisions to the bill, describing them as a “massive step forward”, many of the concerns of the private sector have been overlooked.
GoFundMe’s CEO on how the LA wildfires brought him closer to his customers
GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan was working in his home office on the evening of 7 January when strong Santa Ana winds whipped wildfire flames down the slopes of Mount Wilson and towards his house in Altadena, California. Although Cadogan and his family were safely evacuated within 20 minutes, the Eaton Fire ultimately took 24 days to contain, killing at least 17 people and destroying an estimated 9,400 structures. It was one of eight wildfires to strike California in January this year.
GoFundMe CEO on the power of purpose and crafting a great team
Tim Cadogan received a crash course in leading through a crisis in his first 12 months as GoFundMe CEO. He joined the business in March 2020, a matter of days before the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency in the US. During this period, Cadogan had to swiftly take the company remote and handle a surge in demand for the platform’s services, all while also serving as interim CFO.
Which companies are rolling back DEI policies?
Ongoing pressure from politicians, activist investors and consumers is causing a growing number of companies to review their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Many companies bolstered their diversity efforts in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement. However, the political tide turned in 2023, when the US Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action could no longer be used in university admissions.
Have Apple investors started the anti-anti-DEI movement?
As other tech companies rushed to fall in line with US President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity and inclusion agenda, Apple’s decision to retain its DEI commitments has been vindicated by its shareholders, who voted down a proposal to curb the company’s diversity efforts yesterday. The decision shows why following the crowd is not always the best strategy. Other companies that hurriedly dismantled their DEI programmes are now facing a new wave of opposition themselves.
Tech entrepreneur Mel Morris on how the UK can create its own Deepseek moment
Mel Morris, the tech entrepreneur and former chair of King, the company behind the mobile game Candy Crush, first started working in IT in the 1970s. Back then, he says, computers were “the size of a cabinet and the same power as a tenth of today’s watches”. However, he maintains that it was a good entry point to the technology sector. “Systems were far less sophisticated,” Morris explains.
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