In case you missed it: Navigate AI adoption, support youth employment and build more inclusive workplaces

This month we've published practical guidance to help you adopt AI responsibly, new research on youth employment challenges and support for building more inclusive workplaces.

These resources help you keep pace with change and support your continuing professional development (CPD). They're designed to give you what you need to make an impact in your role.

In this story

• Employment Rights Act 2025: paternity leave and unpaid parental leave changes
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week: supporting autistic employees
• New AI resources: practical guidance for responsible adoption
• Salary sacrifice cap 2029: what it means for employers
• Your opportunities: awards, events and professional development
• Youth employment: tackling the talent crisis
• HR30 deadline extended
• Festival of Work returns in June
• CIPD in Ireland Annual Conference
• CIPD Masterclasses: practical skills development

Employment Rights Act 2025: paternity leave and unpaid parental leave changes

Changes to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave come into force from April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025. We've put together a resource hub with everything you need to prepare.

You'll find factsheets, guides and employment law overviews in one place. The hub covers current requirements and what changes when the new rules take effect.

Youth employment: tackling the talent crisis

With employment costs rising and uncertainty about the impact of AI, some organisations are rethinking their entry-level roles. But cutting these positions could create talent shortages down the line.

Our latest podcast looks at why this matters and what you can do about it. The conversation covers the risks of becoming a net consumer rather than developer of talent, and shares practical ideas for redesigning roles to protect your future pipeline.

This challenge extends beyond individual workplaces. In response to the government's Spring Forecast, we've called for urgent action to support young people entering employment. We're pushing for an Apprenticeship Guarantee for 16 to 24-year-olds and asking the government to review how quickly the Employment Rights Act 2025 measures are introduced to avoid creating further barriers to job creation.

New AI resources: practical guidance for responsible adoption

As part of the UK government-fundedInnovate UK BridgeAI programme, we've worked with partners to create resources that help you handle AI adoption, governance and skills development.

Three new guides launched this month tackle the real challenges people professionals face:

• Navigating AI standards: a practical guide for people professionals breaks down the complex landscape of AI standards and shows which ones matter for HR teams.

• How people professionals can develop, deploy and use AI in an ethical, legal and sustainable way provides a framework for making sound decisions about AI that protect your organisation and workforce.

• How organisations can take a people-centred approach to AI adoption demonstrates how to keep people at the heart of technology change, making sure AI supports rather than undermines good work.

Salary sacrifice cap 2029: what it means for employers

National Insurance relief on pension salary sacrifice gets capped at £2,000 per employee each year from April 2029. Many organisations will see employment costs rise as a result.

Charles Cotton, our Senior Reward Adviser, explains the practical implications in a new blog. Our Labour Market Outlook survey shows just over half of employers expect higher wage bills. Large organisations and certain sectors - information and communication, manufacturing, finance - face the biggest impact.

The blog walks through what you can do now to get ready, despite 2029 being a few years away.

Neurodiversity in the workplace: supporting autistic employees

Find out how to support autistic people at work with our blog examining the government's response to the Autism Act review and what it means for workplaces.

The blog makes the case for people professionals to lead on inclusion for autistic employees. It covers practical changes to recruitment, onboarding and daily work that make a difference - not just for autistic staff, but for everyone.

Your opportunities: awards, events and professional development

People Management Awards 2026 now open

Entry is now open for the People Management Awards. Show what great work looks like in your organisation and recognise the people professionals driving change.

HR30 deadline extended

You still have time to nominate for the CIPD HR30 2026 - our list of 30 influential HR leaders who've delivered transformational change this year. The deadline has been extended.

Festival of Work returns in June

The CIPD Festival of Work takes place on 10-11 June at Excel London, and you can attend for free. This year's theme is shaping future-ready organisations. Expect 130+ speakers, 150+ sessions and 140+ activities across seven stages, plus 210+ exhibitors.

Alongside free attendance on the day, you can get a Festival on Demand Pass for £125 + VAT, which includes 90 days of recordings.

CIPD in Ireland Annual Conference - 16 April

The Ireland conference explores people, purpose and performance with sessions on HR leadership, the human-technology frontier and inclusive leadership.

If you're grappling with AI governance or adoption challenges, the conference tackles exactly these questions in dedicated roundtables. With AI moving fast, this is a chance to hear what's really working, so don't miss out.

CIPD Masterclasses: practical skills development

Ready to sharpen your skills? We've launched three masterclasses to help you tackle your trickiest challenges:

• Absence and Wellbeing Masterclass

• Recruitment Masterclass

• Performance Management Masterclass

Learn techniques you can apply immediately.