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UK Edition
23rd July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Four-day workweek brings improvements in workers’ well-being

A four-day working week could bring significant benefits to workers' mental and physical health while also improving performance, according to a new study by researchers in the US and Ireland published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. Income was not reduced as part of the six-month trials, which involved almost 3,000 employees working across 141 organisations based in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. Employees were given a reduction in their weekly working time of one to four hours, five to seven hours, or eight hours. “We see global trends (not just in high-income countries, but in many low- and middle-income countries) where workers are struggling with burnout, long work hours and little time for themselves and for their families,” said study author Wen Fan, associate professor of sociology at Boston College in the US, adding: “Our four-day work week is a potential way to reimagine how we can reconstruct the work arrangement in order for workers to benefit, and the societies to benefit as well.”
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CYBERSECURITY

Fraud risk climbs as corporate data breaches surge

Analysis by AI-driven cybersecurity platform Lab 1 shows that 93% of data breach incidents now involve financial documents, including bank statements and invoices, driving a surge in fraud, cybercrime and reputational risk. The study looks at data such as emails and HR records, which are typically overlooked in breach reviews, noting that these files often contain sensitive commercial information. The study shows that 82% of breaches included HR documents, such as payroll information and CVs, while two-thirds included customer service records and 86% saw emails exposed. Lab 1 chief executive Robin Brattel said cybercriminals are "behaving like data scientists now – mining these leaks for high value assets that can be used for fraud or targeted attacks."
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LEGAL

Home Office partners with delivery giants to combat illegal working

More delivery riders caught sharing their accounts with migrants who have no right to work in the UK will be suspended as part of the government’s crackdown on illegal working. A new agreement between the Home Office and Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats will ensure delivery firms receive new information concerning the locations of asylum hotels to help tackle illegal working. Under existing security measures, any delivery riders caught sharing their accounts with migrants who have no right to work in the UK will be suspended. The new agreement goes further to ensure more people who are breaking the rules can be caught. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement."

BrewDog to close ten bars as staff given ‘three days’ notice’

BrewDog is to close 10 bars across the UK, saying that the "difficult decision" had been made amid "ongoing industry challenges" including "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures." Trade union Unite criticised the move, with Bryan Simpson, national lead for hospitality, saying: "For BrewDog to give loyal workers less than four days' notice of the closure of their workplace is not just morally repugnant, it is potentially unlawful." BrewDog, which employs over 3,000 people globally, is undergoing a consultation process to minimise the impact on staff, with hopes to redeploy many affected team members.

Over 100 abuse survivors join Harrods compensation scheme

More than 100 alleged victims of Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse have entered a compensation scheme launched by Harrods in March, the luxury retailer has confirmed. The scheme, which offers payouts of up to £385,000 plus treatment costs, remains open until March 2026 and now includes former staff from Fayed's airline, Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd. Harrods said it has filed a High Court case to replace the executors of Fayed's estate, citing a lack of progress since his death in 2023, in a bid to safeguard potential claims. Survivors can claim compensation without giving oral testimony and are also offered apologies from senior Harrods officials. The scheme follows a BBC investigation in which dozens of women accused Fayed of sexual assault and rape amid allegations that Harrods helped conceal the abuse during Fayed's ownership.
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STRATEGY

London Stock Exchange Group considers launch of 24-hour trading

London Stock Exchange Group is weighing whether to launch 24-hour trading as bourses race to extend access to stocks amid growing demand from small investors active outside normal business hours. One person has told the Financial Times that the group is “absolutely looking at it, whether it means 24-hour trading or extended trading,” adding that it was “having important commercial, policy and regulatory discussions” about the topic. The Guardian reports that some brokers have argued the move could make it more difficult for clearing or guaranteeing trades, and would require significant technology and staff changes.
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REMUNERATION

UK private sector pay settlements stagnant at 3%, Brightmine says

Data from Brightmine indicates that pay settlements in the British private sector remained stagnant at 3% for the three months ending in June, marking a real-terms pay cut for many workers. Sheila Attwood, HR insights and data lead at Brightmine, said: "While 3% is consistent, it's also stagnant, and real-terms pay erosion is starting to reappear for many." In contrast, public sector pay settlements were reported at 4.3%.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Scrapping BTECs could lead to 'qualifications gap' in key sectors

Campaign group Protect Student Choice has warned of the possibility of a "qualifications gap" developing in key parts of the economy due to the government's decision to scrap BTECs in favour of T-levels. Analysis by the group says that the policy will see the number of people studying applied general qualifications (AGQ) courses in health and science fall by 52,000, or 45%, while the number on digital courses could fall by around a third, or 11,000 people, despite both categories being identified as priority sectors in the government's industrial strategy. Nimmi Patel from trade association techUK warned that with "over 10,000 fewer young people set to study IT and digital subjects each year, the pipeline of future tech talent is under threat," adding that it is "vital that pathways like BTECs are retained to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce for the UK’s digital economy."
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INTERNATIONAL

Three jailed for treating champagne workers 'like slaves'

A French court has sentenced three people for human trafficking in the champagne industry. Victims say they were treated "like slaves," being forced to endure 13-hour shifts and housed in an abandoned building without food or water. The court's decision was hailed as "historic" by Maxime Cessieux, attorney for the victims, who said that the upcoming 2025 harvest will be "closely scrutinised." The director of Anavim, a servicing company, received a two-year prison sentence, while the two other defendants were given one-year sentences. The court also imposed a €75,000 fine on a wine-making cooperative associated with Anavim. The CGT champagne trade union has called for harsher penalties, and demanded the downgrading of the harvest in the affected areas.

US government HR chief distances himself from Elon Musk

Scott Kupor, the US government’s new human resources chief, has said he wants to “institutionalise” the pursuit of “operational efficiency” by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), while distancing himself from Elon Musk’s controversial approach to cutting spending. "I have zero personal relationship with Elon Musk. I have talked to Elon Musk once on the phone in my life," Kupor, who was sworn in to lead the Office of Personnel Management earlier this month, told reporters, adding “What [Doge] did was catalyse the start of a process . . . Now, we have to actually institutionalise those things” and pursue “operational efficiency.”

Finns can't switch off on holiday

More than half (52%) of Finnish workers admit to performing job duties during their holidays, according to a survey by HR firm SD Worx. "The combination of smartphones and email has made it nearly impossible to disconnect from work. Checking work emails once or twice a week may seem moderate, but in practice this means that there is actually no day on vacation when work is not on your mind in one way or another," the company's country director in Finland, Mikko Uotila, said. Only 15% of respondents reported being able to fully disconnect, with nearly half checking emails at least weekly. Entrepreneurs were particularly active, with over half checking emails daily. The survey also revealed that more than half of workers would interrupt their holidays for workplace emergencies, with 14% willing to work over three hours a day if necessary. The data surveyed around 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 75.
 
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