First published on Friday, January 23, 2026
Last updated on Friday, January 23, 2026
With the data we compiled from our HR software in 2025, we've been diving into the numbers and pulling together the biggest HR trends from 2025. Our analysis provides a fascinating insight into evolving workplace trends and employee habits.
Not only is it great to reflect upon the year just gone, but these insights provide the foundations for your business to better prepare for the biggest HR challenges of 2026. So, what are you waiting for? Let's dive in!
Before we jump in, here’s a quick rundown:
In our new infographic, you’ll learn about 2025’s holiday trends, HR queries, and reasons for sickness and lateness, including:
The wide range of HR questions answered by our AI-powered chatbot
The total number of expenses claimed for fast food
Wild reasons for lateness, from an escaped horse to some bad sunburn!
Last year highlighted just how much us Brits love our bank holidays. With 3x more holidays booked before or after a bank holiday than average!
Our AI-powered chatbot answered over 30,000 queries in 2025. With some typical and some not so typical…
With e-learning becoming one of the most popular ways to upskill staff, some businesses were looking to cover niche topics in 2025.
Expenses can be tricky to manage but with the right expense tracking, it doesn’t have to be! Even expenses for the most random items including toilet roll and pet food were claimed back in 2025.
Staff lateness certainly keeps business owners on their toes, especially in busy periods. Our wheel of misfortune can reveal over 150,000 reports of lateness were recorded in the absence management software last year.
According to our proprietary data, sickness records have increased year on year. 2025 saw a 16.2% spike in absences!
Some insights from payroll now…
With the complexities of payroll, we’re not surprised to hear that 89% of professionals reported making payroll errors in 2025. Which is why so many businesses opt for a managed payroll service.
Acknowledging the hard work of employees is an effective way to boost morale and improve employee wellbeing! Our clients have been singing the praises of their employees from the rooftops with 13,323,665 Praise points awarded within the employee recognition platform.
With BrightHR you are always a winner, saving up to £20,000 per year. Cut the admin time, reduce the risks and stay compliant with BrightHR in 2026.
