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European Edition
2nd October 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Swedish appeals court rejects Spotify's night shift bid
Spotify's request to let staff work night shifts has been rejected by an appeals court in Sweden, which upheld a decision by the administrative court. The streaming giant had been seeking an exception to a rule that ensures at least 11 consecutive non-work hours every day – which must include the hours between midnight and 5am - so that employees are able to be rested. Spotify said an exception was required for 250 employees to "maintain the operation of the company's services and protect the large amount of personal data that the company has."  But the appeals court said that the services provided by Spotify were not vital enough to society to warrant an exception to the rule, as can be made for services such as hospitals. "Since the main business Spotify conducts is audio streaming, primarily music, the court of appeals considers that work on operational disruptions weighs less heavily when assessing whether there are special reasons for an exemption," ruled court judge Daniel Sjölund.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Why organisations might want to let staff work four days a week
The Associated Press speaks with Dale Whelehan, CEO of 4 Day Week Global, which coaches companies through the months-long process of shortening their employees’ work hours, about the reasons why organisations might want to let staff work four days a week to reduce job burnout and retain talent seeking a better work-life balance. He says the trend is gaining popularity in Australia and Europe, and Japan launched a campaign in August encouraging local employers to reduce their work schedules to four days. American companies haven’t adopted four-day weeks as broadly, but that could change, Whelehan says. Whelehan talks about why organisations should switch to a four-day workweek,  the enduring prevalence of the 40-hour workweek, how companies can increase revenue while employees work fewer hours, how a four-day workweek can support equity, and what kinds of work could potentially be dropped to increase productivity.
STRATEGY
Casino to present new strategy with heavy job cuts expected
French retailer Casino said on Monday that it will publish details of its new strategy in November, with as many as 3,000 job cuts on the cards. "Sale negotiations are still in progress for several sites," it said, adding that the total number of redundancies will not be finalised until next month. Now owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, Casino launched a restructuring plan in April, resulting in the sale of about 350 outlets since the end of 2023.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Men must get involved to achieve workplace equality
Gary Ford, co-founder of Men for Inclusion, a UK-based organisation, and an inclusive leadership consultant at the UN Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality, says men should not stay on the sidelines in discussions about gender diversity in the workplace. Rather, they should actively stand in solidarity with women to create a united front for gender equality. "Our previous focus on gender diversity has alienated some men," Ford said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul. "A lot of diversity and inclusion work has focused on women. Men have either been ignored, or have chosen to ignore it because they didn’t think it was about them or they felt blamed." He said that initiatives such as the UN's "HeforShe" movement align with his belief that men must stand in solidarity with women to foster gender equality.
LEGAL
Ill-feeling at Luxembourg's biggest charity
Employees at Caritas, Luxembourg's biggest charity, experienced a tumultuous transition as they were summoned to sign termination notices and new contracts with Hëlleff um Terrain (HUT), which has taken over the running of all Caritas' social care projects following its dissolution on 30 September. The rushed process was said to have left many feeling pressured. One Caritas employee described the atmosphere as one of “fear and pressure.” Staff were not allowed to take contracts home for review or consult with legal representatives, raising concerns about their rights. The OGBL union and opposition LSAP party have condemned the treatment of the Caritas  staff, and urged the government to intervene. Caritas' downfall was linked to a €61m embezzlement scandal, precipitating the establishment of HUT to continue essential social services.
REMUNERATION
UK pay rises remain at 4%
The median pay award in the UK's private sector fell from 4.4% in the three months to July to a two-year low of 4.1% in the three months to August, according to new figures from Incomes Data Research. In the three months to August, the public sector experienced deals worth slightly more than those in the private sector, with a median rise of 4.5%. IDR senior researcher Zoe Woolacott said: “The differing outcomes in the private and public sectors reflect the cycle of pay between the two, with the public sector currently in the ‘catching-up’ phase, after a lengthy period in which pay awards lagged behind those in the private sector.”
ECONOMY
Michel Barnier announces tax rises and spending cuts
France’s new prime minister, Michel Barnier, who was formerly the EU’s Brexit negotiator, has announced plans for tax hikes on the wealthy and large companies in an effort to tackle the country’s “colossal” debt pile. Barnier told the National Assembly: “If we do not act, our country will be on the edge of the precipice.” France’s deficit is expected to hit about 6% of GDP, far higher than the 5.1% goal and the 2023 level of 5.5%. Barnier set a goal for the deficit to reach 5% of GDP by end-2025.
INTERNATIONAL
Inclusivity for neurodivergent people can improve company performance
ABC Online speaks with Vicky Little, CEO of Specialisterne Australia, who for the past two decades has worked as a specialist recruiter supporting neurodivergent employees in large corporate firms. She says it is in the best interest of businesses to be "neurodiverse friendly," observing that "People used to think, 'Oh they're just doing it as a tick box [exercise]', [but] Actively hiring and supporting your neurodivergent staff isn't just a nice thing . . . the value that neurodivergent employees bring to the workplace is invaluable." The report notes that a 2016 study by Perth's Curtin University found that employing adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) benefits employees, employers and their organisations without incurring additional costs.
Amazon India workers report being mistreated in heatwave
Amazon workers in India say they are feeling pressured to skip breaks for water and restroom use, especially during peak hours. Despite Amazon's claims of compliance with safety regulations, workers describe a culture of fear and pressure, particularly during the heatwave that struck northern India between April and June. India's semi-governmental National Human Rights Commission has since intervened. In a statement, Amazon says the company complies with Indian law, and there is “nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of the workers." The emailed statement adds that Amazon keeps all its facilities cool, managers can temporarily suspend work if it gets too hot, and the company “ensures additional breaks when temperatures are high.” Amazon also says it curtails deliveries during the hottest parts of the day during the heat wave.
US port workers commence strikes across the East and Gulf Coasts
Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are taking strike action at US ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, as they push for wage increases that exceed those offered by the United States Maritime Alliance, the port operators group. The effects are expected to ripple through the U.S., costing the economy $4.5bn-$7.5bn for every week it continues, according to Oxford Economics. The White House said in a statement Monday that administration officials had met with both sides and had been “working around-the-clock” over the weekend to avert a strike. There are no plans at present to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, a near-80-year-old law that could be used to force the dockworkers back to work.
Chinese tell PwC's global chair to behave
China's vice-finance minister, Guo Tingting, has met with PwC's global chair, Mohamed Kande, following a significant fine imposed on PwC Zhong Tian, the firm's mainland unit. The unit was fined 441m yuan (US$62.2m) for its auditing failures related to the bankrupt China Evergrande Group. Guo expressed hopes that PwC would adhere to Chinese laws and regulations, saying: "I hope PwC would be a part of that development and continue to play an active role in China's reform and opening up and high-quality development." The firm has been suspended from operations for six months, and its Guangzhou branch registration has been revoked.
 


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