Five mistakes companies make when approaching DEI
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become strategic priorities across Southeast Asia, particularly as organisations expand regionally and operate in multicultural environments. However, despite strong public commitments, many companies struggle to translate intent into meaningful progress. DEI efforts often stall due to structural gaps, inconsistent leadership support, or a lack of measurable accountability. In markets […]
HR Tech Update: Supporting employee identity through responsible HR tech
Employee identity is becoming a more visible consideration in HR technology as organisations seek to create inclusive and respectful workplaces. Across Southeast Asia, HR systems increasingly capture data related to gender, background, and personal circumstances, often with the intention of improving inclusion. At the same time, this raises important questions around privacy, consent, and trust. […]
The First Word: Securing real-time digital trust systems
Cyber sports and esports were never meant to behave like traditional sports. They are always on, globally distributed and natively digital, with every movement, interaction and outcome existing first as data before becoming a viewing experience, competitive moment or commercial transaction. In Asia-Pacific, where esports accounts for well over half of the world’s audience and […]
Five ways organisations can build everyday inclusion
Inclusion in Southeast Asia extends beyond diversity representation to everyday behaviours that shape belonging. Multicultural, multilingual workplaces are common across the region, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia, making inclusive practices essential for cohesion and performance. While formal diversity initiatives signal intent, inclusion is experienced daily through communication, decision-making, and recognition. Employees often evaluate belonging based […]
HR Tech Update: Strengthening payroll resilience through technology
Payroll remains one of the most critical and sensitive HR functions across Southeast Asia. Errors or delays have immediate consequences for employee trust and organisational credibility. As workforces become more complex, payroll resilience has emerged as a key priority for HR technology investment. In 2026, payroll is no longer viewed as a purely administrative process. […]
Five ways HR can normalise mental health conversations at work
Mental health awareness has increased across Southeast Asia, yet workplace conversations remain cautious in many organisations. Cultural stigma, fear of judgment, and hierarchical dynamics often limit openness. HR professionals, therefore, play a critical role in creating safe structures for dialogue. In markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, corporate wellbeing initiatives are expanding, but uptake varies. […]
HR Tech Update: Workforce risk analytics beyond turnover metrics
Turnover has long been used as a primary indicator of workforce risk. While important, it offers a limited view of organisational health. Across Southeast Asia, HR and learning teams are recognising the need for broader analytics that capture earlier signals of risk related to engagement, capability, and sustainability. In 2026, workforce risk analytics are evolving […]
The First Word: Why deep reading matters more in an AI-driven world
Young people now encounter more words than perhaps any generation before them. They read captions, messages, subtitles, slides, search results, prompts, summaries and AI-generated explanations throughout the day. In one sense, they are reading all the time. What is less clear is whether this constant exposure to language is making them better readers. It may […]
Five leadership habits that protect team wellbeing
Leadership behaviour significantly influences employee wellbeing. Across Southeast Asia, where cultural norms often discourage open discussion of stress, leadership habits can either amplify pressure or create psychological safety. In high-growth markets, sustained performance expectations make protective leadership behaviours particularly important. Wellbeing cannot be delegated solely to HR policies. Daily leadership actions shape workload norms, communication […]
HR Tech Update: Managing multi-country compliance through HR systems
Managing compliance across multiple countries remains one of the most complex challenges for HR teams in Southeast Asia. Differences in labour laws, reporting requirements, and employee entitlements create ongoing operational risk, particularly for organisations with regional footprints. HR systems play an increasingly important role in navigating this complexity. In 2026, compliance is no longer treated […]
