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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
U.S. job openings fell to 6.88m in February from an upwardly revised 7.24m in January, undershooting expectations and signalling a moderation in labor demand after a brief uptick at the start of the year. According to the Labor Department's latest JOLTS report, hiring also slowed markedly, to its lowest level since April 2020, reflecting weaker recruitment across sectors including construction, leisure and hospitality, and business services. The slowdown in vacancies was driven by declines in accommodation and food services, healthcare, and manufacturing, suggesting softness is concentrated in specific industries rather than broad-based. Meanwhile, the quits rate held at 1.9%, matching its lowest level since 2020, indicating reduced worker confidence in securing new roles, while layoffs edged up slightly but remained subdued overall. The ratio of job openings to unemployed workers fell to 0.9, down significantly from a peak of 2 in 2022, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s view that the labor market is no longer a key source of inflationary pressure.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
The Low Pay Commission has said the minimum wage may need to rise by around 3.7% next year to £13.18 an hour to keep up with the likely rise in average earnings. The public body, which advises the government on the rate, gave the forecast as part of an annual consultation with employers, unions and the public. "The current economic uncertainty makes it essential that the Commission hears from those affected by the minimum wage and builds consensus for evidence-based recommendations," Commission chair Philippa Stroud said. Meanwhile, the Commission has said the decision to raise the minimum wage by 6.7% last spring has had a minimal effect on inflation and not led to a significant, economy-wide impact on jobs. Increased rates of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Living wage, come into force from today.
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
Unilever's European works council has said that the company's $65bn merger with McCormick could precipitate union action over potential job losses. The labour pushback comes as Unilever CEO Fernando Fernández seeks to streamline operations and focus on high-growth categories. The deal, which combines brands including Hellmann's and Knorr with McCormick's spices, is expected to close next year pending approvals. "We fear that a possible transaction could be accompanied by further personnel measures," the Unilever European Works Council (UEWC), which represents nearly 20,000 employees in Europe and Britain, told Reuters. "Uncertainty among the workforce is high." The UEWC said it would weigh what action might be taken if Unilever does not "find good solutions for affected employees," adding "It could lead from negotiations to maybe strikes in different countries where that is possible. It depends on the legislation around Europe."
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
Most employees are choosing to remain in the UAE amid the ongoing Iran-Israel-US war. “We do continue to see a selective approach to relocation rather than broad movement,” Shayan Sultan, a partner at Fragomen who oversees the firm's practices in the UAE, said. “The immigration system remains largely operational, but we are not seeing any general shutdown or any form of closures, whether that be application processing, government authorities, state environment, has become a little bit more complex, and in some areas, less predictable as well,” he added.
Full Issue
Read the latest HR highlights
How HR is Tackling Long Covid?
Fingers remain tightly crossed around the world that the rampant hospitalization and fatality stage of the Covid-19 pandemic has generally peaked. Vaccination programmes are accelerating, and restrictions are gradually being lifted...
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ESG Is Not Just Another Name For CSR
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?
Across the world the pandemic is slowly but surely moving into its next phase. Recovery beckons. As furlough schemes across the U.S. and U.K. are being wound down, restrictions eased or lifted, and workforces moving back up the gears, early signs indicate that older employees are more likely to be casualties of the pandemic aftermath than their younger colleagues. Here at the we have witnessed an increasing number of stories supporting the growing belief that older workers are disproportionately paying the highest Covid-19 price.
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Bosses. What's not to like? Plenty, say employees
“You’ll never have another boss like me, someone who’s basically a chilled-out entertainer”
So said, David Brent, the fictional manager of Slough-based paper merchant Wernham Hogg in the seminal TV comedy The Office. Ricky Gervais’s portrayal of Brent as a flawed, narcissistic, incompetent, and deluded manager was so well observed that many (including me) believed it was a genuine fly-on-the-wall documentary when they alighted accidentally on the first ever episode.
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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