(PR in) HR Pulse | HR News Round-up: April
Photo by Ali Shah Lakhani on Unsplash
The clocks have sprung forward, nature is coming to life, and businesses are gearing up for Q2 of 2025.
As companies explore opportunities for growth, our April newsletter delves into LinkedIn’s latest research on in-demand skills, the risks of corporate espionage, and the impact of epilepsy in the workplace.
LinkedIn’s most in-demand skill – Relationship Building - and a call to action for HR
LinkedIn’s researchers published their ‘Skills on the Rise 2025’ list last week, and despite the rise in AI, the social media platform’s latest data revealed relationship building is the most in-demand skill.
It is thought this skill has reached peak demand following the pandemic which fuelled a drop in face to face meetings, and pushed the importance of forging relationships and trust.
Romina da Costa, director of intellectual property development at TestGorilla, a pre-employment screening platform, told HR Magazine that whilst technical skills can be exceeded by AI, talent has soft skills such as empathy, creativity and personality. Employers recognise these skills can’t be replicated by AI and thus are an important asset to businesses.
LinkedIn’s research highlights the possibilities skills-based hiring could have on the UK jobs market, with expectations that focusing on skills when hiring could expand the UK talent pool in sectors currently experiencing shortages.
Gangotri Bhatt, director of learning and development consultancy Skills Lab, expressed the importance of HR’s role in exploring the key skills needed within the organisation, offering mentorships or offering training to fast-track skills development.
However, AI is still in high demand as a desired skill, with strategic thinking and AI literacy following in second and third place respectively. Raoul-Gabriel Urma, founder of education technology company Cambridge Spark, stressed the need for upskilling where AI is concerned. Bringing human skills together with a deeper understanding of AI will push employees to their full potential. Urma told HR Magazine that “it’s vital that HR leaders take the time to go on courses or deepen their pool of understanding in AI literacy.”
To read more about upskilling, find the article in HR Magazine
HR: You’re only allowed 3 seizures a month
Fear, ignorance and discrimination – workers with epilepsy are often left feeling unheard and unsupported by employers.
Emma Evens, who was a child when first diagnosed with epilepsy, has shared her experiences with the Metro, explaining her struggles with suffering from epilepsy in the workplace, and how people are scared to be around her. She’s been put under discipline measures for excessive sick leave and let go from several jobs. A particular low was when Evens was told by HR she couldn’t have more than 3 seizures a month.
Emma is just one of almost 626,000 people in the UK living with epilepsy, but according to the Metro, a survey by Epilepsy Action revealed 42% of employers admitted they wouldn’t hire someone with the condition.
Kasam Parker, CEO of the charity Voice for Epilepsy, is pushing for employers to understand the impact the condition has on employees and to listen to their needs and make adjustments accordingly.
HR platforms Rippling and Deel go head-to-head amidst corporate espionage accusations
Workforce management platform Rippling has accused rival HR tech firm Deel of stealing confidential business information and poaching employees, filing a lawsuit for corporate espionage.
The two businesses are well-known competitors, both experiencing business growth during the pandemic with similar HR tech platforms.
Ripple believes Deel used a spy within the business to supply them with information on customers that were considering switching to Rippling from Deel. It is alleged that the employee in question searched ‘Deel’ in Rippling’s IT systems on average 23 times a day and downloaded documents such as a ‘competitive intelligence card’ and a ‘churn risk list’ that outlined customers at risk of leaving.
HR BREW reported on the story, looking at how this court case could affect the HR tech market. The obvious rivalry between Deel and Rippling highlights how competitive the HR market is. With news of the feud in the news limelight, concerns are being raised over the breach of trust and safety of data within the firms.
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