Human Times

European Edition

3rd July 2025

THE HOT STORY

Microsoft cuts 9,000 jobs globally as it invests in AI

Microsoft has announced a second wave of layoffs, impacting approximately 9,000 employees, or 4% of its workforce, as part of a cost-cutting strategy while investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The cuts will affect various teams globally, including sales and the Xbox division. The company aims to streamline processes and reduce management levels to enhance efficiency. Despite pledging $80bn in capital spending for fiscal year 2025, rising AI infrastructure costs are affecting profit margins. Other tech giants including Meta and Google have also announced job cuts to improve efficiency. Meanwhile, Microsoft has asked managers to evaluate employees based on how much they use AI, Business Insider reports. In an email to managers, Julia Liuson, president of the Microsoft division responsible for developer tools including AI coding service GitHub Copilot, wrote: "Just like collaboration, data-driven thinking and effective communication, using AI is no longer optional - it's core to every role and every level." She told managers that AI "should be part of your holistic reflections on an individual's performance and impact."

HIRING

Dutch government tackles labour loophole

The Dutch government is addressing a legal loophole that permits temporary workers from outside the EU to bypass strict labour migration regulations. Outgoing Minister Eddy van Hijum highlighted the rise of this “backdoor route,” whereby workers from countries such as Uzbekistan are recruited by Eastern European staffing agencies and sent to the Netherlands without proper oversight. Van Hijum said: “This is not how the free movement of persons was intended,” as he highlighted the need for reforms to prevent exploitation and unfair competition. He has proposed a minimum employment period of three months in the intermediary EU country before workers can be seconded to the Netherlands. Van Hijum also wants to ensure that third-country nationals work only in their designated sectors. He expressed hope that the new government will continue these initiatives to tackle abuses in labour migration.

NL Times

LEGAL

Parental leave and pay for new parents in UK to be reviewed

The amount of time off and pay new parents in the UK can get after the birth of a child will be looked at in a "landmark" review, the government says. Ministers say they want to modernise the system across paternity, maternity and shared parental leave, which campaigners say has been "overlooked for years." Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said the current system is "really confusing," with eight different types of parental leave available, and "is not particularly generous or supportive compared to other countries." Reynolds said one in three fathers takes no paternity leave and "hardly anyone" takes shared parental leave. He said the review - which is expected to take 18 months - is needed because the parental leave system has not been reformed in decades, during which time both working habits and families have changed.

BBC News

Company ordered to pay compensation for sending emails to employee on sick leave

The High Court of Justice of Galicia has fined a company €1,500 for sending emails to an employee who was on sick leave. The judges in the case observed that the right to digital disconnection in Spain "requires that no communications are received from the company outside working time . . . This right is not fulfilled simply because the employee is not obliged to respond to messages received outside working hours immediately or otherwise." The court heard that this right "entails an obligation on the part of the employer and of the dependent or related persons to abstain from communications of a work-related nature outside working time."

Sur in English.com

HEALTH & WELLBEING

British workers embrace four-day week

Nearly 1,000 British workers will transition to a shorter working week following a successful trial of the four-day week. All 17 participating businesses in the six-month trial, organised by the 4 Day Week Foundation, will maintain either a four-day week or a nine-day fortnight, with employees retaining their full salaries. This trial builds on a larger pilot in 2022, where 56 out of 61 companies reduced their working hours. Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said: "With greater knowledge, expertise and experience of what it takes to successfully implement a four-day week, we're really pleased to see such a high success rate."

The Independent

The Guardian

Obesity 'difficult to alter' after age five

Researchers from the UK's Academy of Medical Sciences and its Italian counterpart have published a new report calling for more action to tackle early signs of childhood obesity, warning that trajectories on weight "appear difficult to alter after the age of about five," while the period from pregnancy through the child's second birthday represents an "important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life." The report calls for more support for women who are pregnant or considering having children, noting that childhood obesity "has become an urgent public health challenge that is affecting lives today and storing up problems for the future."

Daily Express

Daily Mirror

TECHNOLOGY

Robots set to outnumber humans in Amazon warehouses

Amazon is rapidly expanding its use of robotics, and now has over a million robots operating in its warehouses - nearly matching the number of human workers. Around 75% of Amazon deliveries involve robotic assistance, which the company says improves safety and reduces repetitive tasks for employees. Amazon is also increasing automation efficiency with artificial intelligence, including a new robot, Vulcan, that has a sense of touch. Robots are now 10% faster thanks to AI trained on inventory data, although internal concern is growing over AI replacing white-collar roles. CEO Andy Jassy has warned that the corporate workforce is likely to shrink in coming years due to increased automation. “They’re one step closer to that realization of the full integration of robotics,” said Rueben Scriven, research manager at Interact Analysis, a robotics consulting firm.

EU wants to bridge finance gap for quantum computing, says tech chief

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen plans to pool funding and expertise in quantum computing to build a competitive European ecosystem in a technology seen as key to future economic leadership.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

Gen Z employees 'are treating the office like an extension of their homes'

The San Francisco Standard reports on how Bay Area companies are hiring etiquette coaches for their Gen Z employees as return-to-office policies have brought in the demographic for the first time, and in many cases after years of working and attending school remotely. Local etiquette coach Rosalinda Randall has said enquiries have risen 50% over the last two months, and "are a variation on the same complaint: Gen Z employees are treating the office like an extension of their homes." Jim Rettew, interim CEO at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, observes of Gen Z: “They’re great at challenging authority and the status quo, but sometimes I just want someone to buckle down and follow orders.”

San Francisco Standard

Gold miner accuses rebels of forcing employees to work against their will

Gold miner Twangiza Mining has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of forcing its employees to work under duress and without pay after seizing control of its mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The company reported that its workers are being "held in captivity, forced to work in inhuman conditions, without any security measure, remuneration or medical coverage." The mine's operations have been "paralysed," with Rwandan nationals allegedly exploiting the site for profit. Despite the claims, Rwanda's government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, denied any involvement, saying: "Rwanda is not involved in this situation." A recent peace deal between Rwanda and Congo raises hopes for an end to ongoing violence that has resulted in significant casualties and displacement this year.

U.S. News

OTHER

Prada credits new design's Indian legacy amid controversy

Prada has acknowledged the ancient Indian roots of its new sandal design after the debut of the open-toe footwear sparked controversy among artisans and politicians in India. At its fashion show in Milan last weekend, the luxury group showed models wearing leather sandals with a braided design that resembled handmade Kolhapuri slippers with designs dating back to the 12th century. A wave of criticism in the media and from lawmakers followed over the Italian brand's lack of public acknowledgement of the Indian sandal design, which is named after a city in the western state of Maharashtra. Lorenzo Bertelli has written to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce to address the matter, saying: "We acknowledge that the sandals . . . are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage." Sambhaji Chhatrapati from the Kolhapur Royal family had previously said he was upset that craftsmen had not been acknowledged for the "history and heritage of 150 years."

Reuters

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