Human Times
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UK Edition
18th July 2025
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THE HOT STORY

Job losses hit hospitality hard

The hospitality sector has experienced "devastating" job losses, with over 108,000 payroll positions disappearing in the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Unemployment has surged to a four-year high of 4.7%, while average pay growth has dropped to 5%, the lowest since June 2022. Kate Nicholls, chairman of UK Hospitality, said: "These devastating job losses are a direct consequence of policy decisions at last year's Budget. The change to employer NICs in particular, was socially regressive and had a disproportionate impact on entry-level jobs."
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WEBINAR

Balancing the Books & the Benefits: Combating the Rise in National Insurance Contributions

Are you also struggling with budget constraints? Gartner’s latest research showed at least 65% of HR leaders anticipate a decrease in their budget for 2025.

But how do you deal with it?

That’s what two Employee Experience Experts, Ali Fitzsimons and Kate Ithell, will unpack in Reward Gateway | Edenred’s upcoming webinar: Balancing the Books & the Benefits: Combating the Rise in National Insurance Contributions on Tuesday, 22nd July at 1pm BST.

They will cover:

💥 The impact of the National Insurance increase on HR budgets and employee take-home pay
🎉 How salary sacrifice benefits can reduce costs for both employees and employers – and even fund wider HR initiatives
📣 Real-life examples of organisations using cost-effective benefits to offset rising contributions  

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WORKFORCE

Jobless rate hits 4.7%, wage growth slows

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveal that the UK's unemployment rate has risen to 4.7% in the three months leading to May, surpassing expectations. The increase, up from 4.6% in April, coincides with a slowdown in wage growth, which fell from 5.3% to 5%. The report highlights that vacancies in the UK have also decreased, marking the 36th consecutive month of decline. The decline in job vacancies, now at 727,000, reflects ongoing economic uncertainty, exacerbated by rising national insurance contributions and global trade tensions. With inflation unexpectedly rising to 3.6%, driven by food and fuel prices, the Bank of England faces mounting pressure to consider interest rate cuts at its upcoming meeting on 7 August.
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STRATEGY

Jaguar Land Rover to cut up to 500 UK management jobs

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to implement voluntary redundancy for up to 500 management positions in the UK following a 15.1% decline in sales over the three months ending in June. The downturn is attributed to a change in the tariff regime, which temporarily halted exports to the US. The company reported a 12.2% drop in wholesale sales in North America and a 25.5% decline in the UK. JLR has lowered its profit margin forecast for the year to between 5% and 7%, down from 10%.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Government cracks down on unpaid internships

The government has launched a call for evidence on unpaid internships. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "Every young person deserves the chance to build their career through quality work experience, but good employers are still being undercut by those exploiting interns by illegally asking them to work for free." Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, noted that 61% of internships are unpaid or underpaid, which disproportionately affects those without financial support.

Co-op tackles cybercrime with new partnership

The Co-op has partnered with social impact business The Hacking Games to address cybercrime by guiding young people towards ethical careers in cybersecurity. The partnership will first be implemented within the Co-op Academies Trust, which serves 20,000 students. Research suggests that more than two-thirds (69%) of European teenagers have engaged in some form of cybercrime, underscoring the importance of redirecting these skills. Fergus Hay, chief executive of The Hacking Games, remarked: "There is an incredible amount of cyber talent out there – but many young people don't see a path into the industry."
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TECHNOLOGY

HMRC embraces AI

HMRC is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into its operations, according to its annual report. The report states that HMRC has "explored call summarisation to support telephony advisers" as it aims to enhance efficiency by reducing the time spent on customer call wrap-up. Additionally, the department has introduced innovative AI products for recruitment, such as 'Skill Scribe,' which aids hiring managers in crafting adverts and interview questions. HMRC is also involved in a cross-government AI chatbot pilot to improve access to guidance on GOV.UK.
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INTERNATIONAL

Booking.com to cut hundreds of jobs in Amsterdam

Booking.com is set to lay off “more than 200 and fewer than 1,000” employees in Amsterdam as part of a reorganisation aimed at improving efficiency. A spokesperson confirmed that the company, which employs 13,000 people globally, is in the process of determining the exact number of layoffs. The dismissals are not due to financial struggles: the company reported a 37% increase in net profit to $5.9bn last year. According to Booking.com, the layoffs are part of an effort to operate more efficiently. “We don't want to have so many layers in the organisation anymore,” a company spokesperson told NU.nl. “Our people are managing the work of other managers. It has become too bureaucratic.”

Work-from-home ban relaxed for US federal employees for religious reasons

The Trump administration has said federal staff in the US can get permission to work from home or adjust their hours to accommodate religious fasts and prayers, after previously mandating that workers report to offices full time. Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor urged agencies to "adopt a generous approach" to allowing employees to work remotely before and during religious holidays, advising that workers who want to take breaks during the workday while they are fasting should also get permission to work from home. Agencies seeking to deny a request to work remotely for religious reasons must justify it with "evidence of significant operational impact," Kupor said.

China prison sentence for Astellas Japanese employee

The Nikkei newspaper has reported that a court in Beijing has sentenced a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma to 3-1/2 years in prison. The man had been detained since March 2023 on suspicion of spying and had been indicted about a year ago. When asked a question about a Chinese court sentencing an employee of a Japanese pharmaceutical company to prison for espionage, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the country's judicial authorities handle cases in accordance with the law.

Wizz Air exit from Abu Dhabi leaves staff in limbo

Bloomberg reports that around 450 employees of Hungarian low cost carrier Wizz Air have been left in limbo after the airline announced the suspension of flights from Abu Dhabi from September. Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi held a call with the employees and offered them the opportunity to take another job across the budget carrier's European network; however it is reported that many will find it difficult to migrate to Europe. A Wizz Air Abu Dhabi employee, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that airline management had held a conference call with staff, offering them different options.
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OTHER

American students flock to UK universities

A record 7,930 Americans have applied to UK universities for undergraduate courses this autumn, a 13.9% rise that has been linked to political tensions in the US under President Donald Trump. Experts say attacks on higher education, threats to funding, and campus freedom controversies are driving students overseas. St Andrews University, for example, has reported a 14% rise in US applications. While overall international interest is up, experts warn that long-term financial recovery for UK universities depends on sustaining ambitious growth targets.
 
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