Inside this issue
Welcome to this week's Employee Experience Magazine newsletter. I'm just back from UNLEASH World in Paris, so this is an UNLEASH issue: my roundup of what I heard on stage and on the stands, and Josh Bersin's view of what HR looks like by 2030.
Also this week: Nat Hawley on the small manager habits that make neuroinclusion real, our directory picks, featured free tool of the week and upcoming events on both sides of the Atlantic.
Featured insights
What should HR leaders take home from UNLEASH Paris 2026?
Across seven stages and a busy show floor, AI was everywhere, and the talks moved beyond "AI is coming" to describe the what, the how and the when, and urged HR leaders to lean in. This is my roundup.
What does HR look like in 2030, when AI agents work alongside your people?
Josh Bersin's UNLEASH keynote argued that with US labour-force growth forecast at only around 3 to 3.5% in total over the next decade, AI has to drive productivity rather than just cut costs. He set out a redesigned HR model built on connected agents, managed like new employees with clear goals and boundaries, and added a fifth R to workforce planning: robot.
From the directory
DIRECTORY PICK OF THE WEEK
Escape rooms, murder mysteries, scavenger hunts and game shows. Most need no special skills, so everyone can take part.
There are 18 games and challenges in the directory. Here are two examples from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
London, Manchester, Leeds, Kent and Surrey | Up to 150 people
Solve a live murder case with professional comedy improvisers as your suspects.
New York and Los Angeles | Any group size
Solve a live murder mystery together, as suspects or detectives, led by actors.
TOOL OF THE WEEK
Ever stared at a blank self evaluation form?
We have put together 224 self evaluation statements across 14 competencies, for a strong, solid or difficult year. A free builder turns your choices into a draft, with a prompt under each statement to add your own evidence.
Useful for anyone with a review form to fill in, from individual contributors to senior leaders.
In other news
Two more from the site this week:
Neuro-aware is not neuroinclusive: seven small manager habits that turn awareness into everyday access to work. Nat Hawley, founder of Divergent Thinking, on clear outcomes, written decisions and support that survives a handover.
The software changed. The shift didn't. Mafalda Carvalho on why frontline technology only works when the working day changes with it.
Events
Find the full calendar of upcoming HR and employee experience events at emexmag.com/events.
FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK
CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition 2026
4 to 5 November 2026 | Manchester Central | Exhibition and Insight stage free to attend
The UK's main gathering for the people profession, this year centred on AI adoption, workforce readiness, employment law and business change. The conference sessions need a paid pass.
US
Ragan Future of Communications Conference 2026
11 to 13 November | Austin
AI governance, crisis comms, measurement and employee engagement, for communicators and HR.
SHRM All Things Work 2026
16 to 18 November | Nashville
Brings together Linkage Leadership, BLUEPRINT for I&D and Skills Accelerator.
UK
IoIC Festival: North 2026
17 November | Manchester
A pick-your-own-sessions day for internal communicators on AI, measuring impact and supporting colleagues through change.
Reward Rewired 2026: AI and Reward Tech Summit
17 November | London
AI in pay and benefits, from job architecture and market pricing to pay transparency, for reward leaders and HR generalists.
Are you doing cool stuff at work?
Are you doing great things to move the dial on the employee experience where you work? We’d love to hear about it and start sharing ideas within the community. Get in touch with [email protected] if you have a project, an observation or a win that we can share and celebrate with you.
