You’re all signed up for the Human Times
Thank you for your interest in our service.
Watch out for a confirmation email from our subscriptions team. Once you have confirmed you will join the worldwide community of over 30,000 subscribers who are receiving daily HR intelligence to lead, innovate and grow.
Note: Due to the nature of this message you may find this in your "promotions" or "spam" folders, please check there. If nothing arrives within a few minutes let us know. If you do not receive this email we will be happy to help get you set up.
Adding the email address [email protected], will help to ensure all newsletters arrive directly to your inbox.
Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
Verizon will lay off over 13,000 employees, its largest single workforce reduction, as the U.S. wireless carrier aims to lower costs and streamline operations. The cuts, mostly in the U.S., will be accompanied by converting 179 stores into franchises. CEO Dan Schulman said the company's cost structure “limits our ability to invest significantly in our customer value proposition.” Verizon expects to record up to $1.8bn in severance charges, with most employees departing by next month. Despite market pressures and competition, the company stressed the cuts are not due to AI. Schulman announced a $20m fund to support workers’ transitions.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
Almost a million young people are still out of work, education or training, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number of so-called Neets - those aged 16-24 who are unemployed or economically inactive in the UK - had fallen slightly to 946,000 between July and September, down from 948,000 in the three months before. In response to the figures, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said a planned "Youth Guarantee" scheme would ensure young people "have access to education, training, an apprenticeship - or ultimately guaranteed paid work if they cannot find a job." McFadden said the government wanted to make sure "every young person has the chance to succeed, no matter where they are from or what their background is."
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
Italian prosecutors are investigating Tod's and three of its executives for alleged labour exploitation involving Chinese subcontractors. The Milan Prosecutor's Office claims Tod's knowingly violated labour laws regarding working hours, wages, and safety. A court document revealed that 53 workers were exploited, with one worker alleging physical abuse over unpaid wages. Prosecutors described the company's lack of oversight as "malicious." Tod's founder Diego Della Valle defended the luxury fashion label's reputation, warning that such investigations could harm "Made in Italy" brands. A hearing is set for December 3 regarding a proposed advertising ban.
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
Saudi Arabia's migrant workers face severe exploitation, according to a new report by Amnesty International which highlights the iniquities of the kafala sponsorship system, which subjects workers to excessive recruitment fees, unsafe working conditions, and discriminatory wages. Marta Schaaf, programme director at Amnesty, highlighted such issues at the high-profile Riyadh Metro Project. She said: "The Riyadh Metro is hailed as the backbone of the capital's transport system, yet beneath its sleek exterior lies a decade of abuses."
Full Issue