Joanne Caine

The benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce are numerous, and the number of reports that give substantial evidence to this claim are great. A 2018 McKinsey study, for example, highlighted just how much more profitable a diverse workplace is compared to its non-diverse counterparts.

At the end of 2020, it was reported that three-quarters of UK workers had experienced burnout as a direct result of the workplaces changes brought about by the pandemic – notably being thrown into working from home with no choice. And in 2021, this worrying trend has seemingly continued with 1 in 5 employees reporting to feel unable to manage the pressures and stress levels at work.

While it may seem hard to comprehend moving jobs in a pandemic, there’s never been a better time than the present. For the first time in nearly a year and a half, the landscape is on more level footing and employers are desperate for talent. Such a candidate-led market is rare, and this is a brilliant opportunity to make the most out of taking your next step.

At the start of the pandemic, it was recorded that by May 2020, the UK’s demand for casual and loungewear had skyrocketed by 49 per cent. With no reason to leave the house, especially in the initial months of lockdown, formalwear sales dropped by 25 per cent and slipper sales boomed by a whopping 285 per cent.

In April 2021, vacancy growth for temporary roles rose at the quickest rate since October 2014, according to the REC. And, as the economy continues to reopen and organisations look to plug skills gaps without going over budget, the demand for temporary workers is set to continue.

While many employees have craved the return to the office, ridding themselves of social isolation and the same four walls, not everyone is excited about the return to work. And even though over half a million Brits won’t be returning to the office full-time, the idea of going back to ‘normality’ at all is nerve-wracking for many.

If you’re in the process of job hunting, here are three ways you can protect your wellbeing during this time.

At the end of that day, we have all been battling an invisible enemy for over a year, and the barriers we have had to put in place to protect ourselves, our teams and our families have been nothing but robust. The thought of having to break down these barriers and open ourselves back up to potential threat will, of course, be distressing – no matter how much we’ve missed and craved human contact.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, the use of technology, software and innovation to adapt to the ‘new normal’ has skyrocketed. From the boom in use of applications such as Microsoft Office, to the creation of new apps to make virtual business work seamlessly, the need for comprehensive and experienced IT and Tech talent has never been so high.

As Autism Awareness Week drew to a close last week, we reflect on how businesses can break down existing barriers to help support neurodiverse talent through the hiring and onboarding process and begin making positive change.

Knowing what to wear to an interview can be a difficult process at the best of times, but in this ‘new normal’ of Zoom interviews, it can be downright confusing.

With over 27 million people in the UK having now received their first vaccination against COVID-19, employers are beginning to feel more hopeful that their workforce will be able to safely return to the workplace in just a few months’ time. However, there’s been increasing debate about whether employers should expect employees to be vaccinated before returning to work – and for agency workers, discourse gets a little more complicated.