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Human Times helps you stay ahead of the latest news and trends that impact the HR industry. Every weekday, our unique blend of AI and team of expert HR and employment editors and researchers monitor 100,000s of articles, and social posts to create summaries of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow. The award winning Human Times newsletter has four geographical editions with news tailored to your region.
The Social edition makes sense of the hottest HR related issues and opinion trending on social media.
From HR leadership to diversity and inclusion, hybrid working, organisational data, performance management, and retention strategies, Human Times is the only trusted free online news source dedicated to covering the most up to date headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re abreast of changes in the HR industry.
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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
A new Gallup poll has found that Americans believe that the average family needs to make a minimum of $85,000 annually to get by, a major increase from just a decade ago. The Gallup poll shows about a 46% increase in the perceived average income a family of four needs compared to 2013, when Americans put the figure at $58,000 annually. About 31% of respondents said that the minimum annual income a family of four needs to make is between $50,000 to $75,000 per year, while 30% of respondents said the family’s annual income should be at least $100,000. Those saying that a family of four needed an income of at least $100,000 tripled from 2013, when only 10% selected that bracket. The current United States federal poverty level for a family of four is an annual income of $30,000 or less in 2023, which is used as an indicator of eligibility for certain federal programs and benefits. “The rise in perceived necessary income to support a family of four highlights the economic pressure facing American households as high inflation stretches into a second year,” the poll results read.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
Trade union membership rates among young people have reached a record low. Department for Business data shows that just 4% of employees aged 16 to 24 were in a union last year. This is down from 7% in 1995. For workers aged 25 to 34, the rate dropped five percentage points to 21%. A Trades Union Congress spokesman said: “Young workers tend to disproportionately feature in sectors and jobs which have traditionally been more difficult to organise, such as hospitality, accommodation and food, as well as be in low-paid, insecure work.” Manuela Galetto, associate professor of employment relations at Warwick Business School, said: “The decline reflects a steady increase in non-unionised occupations linked to the growth of e-commerce,” while also noting “an increase in the number of careers where there is a high concentration of precarious and short-term contracts, notoriously less likely to unionise.”
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
Trade union membership rates among young people in the UK have reached a record low. Department for Business data shows that just 4% of employees aged 16 to 24 were in a union last year. This is down from 7% in 1995. For workers aged 25 to 34, the rate dropped five percentage points to 21%. A Trades Union Congress spokesman said: “Young workers tend to disproportionately feature in sectors and jobs which have traditionally been more difficult to organise, such as hospitality, accommodation and food, as well as be in low-paid, insecure work.” Manuela Galetto, associate professor of employment relations at Warwick Business School, said: “The decline reflects a steady increase in non-unionised occupations linked to the growth of e-commerce,” while also noting “an increase in the number of careers where there is a high concentration of precarious and short-term contracts, notoriously less likely to unionise.”
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
Most field workers in the UAE's energy and manufacturing sectors report feeling hampered by inflexible daily routines, but a majority believe technology can help them alleviate their burdens, a Microsoft-sponsored IDC study has revealed. The study, titled "Empowering Field Workers in the UAE Manufacturing and Energy Industry," found that 66% of those polled said on-the-job stress was leading to workforce attrition and that the source of that stress was long working hours and rigid schedules. However, more than three-quarters of field workers interviewed believed technology would enable them to do their job more effectively and the same percentage thought it would lead to them being more engaged with their organisation. When asked to prioritise the areas of the enterprise to which digital transformation should be applied, 47% chose task and workflow management, scheduling and approvals, and the same percentage picked out automation. The report urged improvement in productivity through digital tools, coupled with extensive skilling programs to develop talent. "Manufacturing and energy field workers are currently underserved by technology, despite the fact that their challenges are growing," said Ahmad El Dandachi, Enterprise Channel Lead, Microsoft UAE.
Full Issue
Human Times
Social
U.K.-based PR & Comms Lead Thea Chippendale has posted on LinkedIn about how the mistake of an HBO intern who accidentally sent a mass blank email to thousands of subscribers has gone viral. Thea writes: “As news of the incident spread, people began using the phrase ‘Dear Intern’ to share their own stories of mistakes and blunders. It became a symbol of solidarity, reminding us that regardless of age or position within a company, we are all human, and we all make mistakes from time to time . . . This wave of support highlighted a crucial point: as employers, it is essential to remember that mistakes happen, and it is your responsibility to help your employees navigate through them. Foster an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and learning. Offering guidance, understanding, and encouragement can transform a mistake into a valuable lesson and a chance for improvement.”
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Back in the distant 1980s if you wanted to demonstrate your environmental and ethical credentials it was sufficient to shop at or purchase shares in retailer The Body Shop. The charismatic Anita Roddick, founder of the “hippy” tinged retail chain, heralded a new age of environmental concern, caring capitalism and corporate awareness that evolved into what became known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR was much talked about and lauded, but in reality often ended up being a lot of a hot air (excuse the pun) and often never progressed much beyond a footnote in the annual report.
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Have Older Workers Paid The Highest COVID-19 Price?
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Rolling with the Payroll
To mark National Payroll Week the team at the Human Times has provided some insight into the industry that we hope you’ll find useful.
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