Workforce planning | What questions should HR ask before reducing headcount?

The economy is growing, but it remains a tight and tricky period for most UK businesses.

Employers a feeling the squeeze, particularly with National Insurance contributions set to increase as a part of the upcoming Autumn Budget—and the prospect of a £5billion cost attached to Labour’s employment rights bill to boot.

Amid a cooling employment market, a fifth of HR leaders in the UK have reported a hiring freeze, according to LHH’s 2024 Outplacement and Career Mobility Trends Report.

Moreover, over half of UK HR leaders (51%) say they have either undertaken or are considering layoffs this year, while almost two-thirds (65%) have considered redeployments as an alternative.