It has been a year of challenges, uncertainty, and confusion for many business owners. A war, the cost-of-living crisis, death of the Queen, political uncertainty, extreme weather, and large-scale industrial action are just some of the major events we’ve seen, all of which have thrown up concerns and queries for HR teams.

The top 10 most asked questions by UK employers in 2022 are:

1. Who is entitled to the day off for the Queen’s Jubilee / Queen’s funeral / King Charles III’s Coronation?
2. Can I make my staff work on Christmas Day / Can I make employees use annual leave for a Christmas shutdown?
3. What is SSP?
4. Could the government remove paid annual leave / Are all employment laws from the EU being removed?
5. How should I deal with employees who are following World Cup 2022 matches on the internet at work?
6. What do I do with staff if we have an enforced energy blackout?
7. What is the maximum / minimum workplace temperature?
8. What is the outcome of the Harpur Trust v Brazel case?
9. How have right to work checks changed?
10. Do I have to give employees a pay rise to help with the cost of living / Do I need a financial wellbeing policy?

But 2022 was also the year when AI showed its worth for HR.

Peninsula’s one-of a kind A.I.-powered tool BrAInbox has been on hand to answer this year’s most pressing questions – almost 160,000 of them since the award-winning platform launched in April.

HR’s answer to Google has helped thousands of businesses get to grips with important updates in the world of work and employment law. And having access to instant answers helped them react swiftly and appropriately.

Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director at Peninsula, says: “This year has been a significant one with several historical and momentous events that many of us have never experienced or managed before, not to mention numerous changes to the HR and employment law landscape.

“Businesses have covered a lot of new terrain in 2022, much of it unparalleled and not all of it expected. They needed expert advice, fast, especially following the death of Queen Elizabeth II when we saw 10,300 questions asked in just one day!

“It’s clear that A.I. is the next big thing in the world of HR and BrAInbox has been a real lifeline for employers looking to get things right. Having access to instant answers at their fingertips has saved businesses 32,000 hours on the telephone this year (the equivalent of 1333 days!)*, freeing up that time to spend on their business.

“With a deadline of 31 December 2023 for government departments to review all laws derived from EU law, under the EU Retained Law (Revocation and Reform), employment law as we know it could undergo significant change this year, making it more important than ever to stay fully up to date and compliant. And with the cost-of-living crisis and recession showing no signs of easing, we anticipate many businesses having to make difficult decisions in the year ahead.

“We also expect to see the use of A.I. platforms such as BrAInbox rise significantly, ensuring businesses are equipped to manage any situation that the coming year will throw at them.”