Human Times
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UK Edition
13th October 2025
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THE HOT STORY

Tesco in talks to join government plan to solve sickness crisis

Tesco is reportedly in discussions to join a government-backed initiative aimed at keeping people with health conditions and disabilities in work, amid concerns over rising economic inactivity. Sir Charlie Mayfield, the government’s worklessness tsar, has approached companies to collaborate with the Department for Work and Pensions to prevent workforce dropouts, particularly among those with mental health issues. The initiative forms part of an independent review exploring how employers can intervene early to support employees, complementing NHS efforts. Since lockdown, the number of people neither working nor seeking employment has risen by nearly 700,000 to 2.8m. The government will consider Mayfield’s recommendations once the review concludes, with the aim of helping employers better support sick or disabled workers.
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

How People teams are using AI to cover more ground and deliver better benefits experiences

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WORKPLACE

Gen Z reshapes workplace expectations

Research shows that Generation Z workers want their leaders to care about mental health, sustainability, diversity, and the cost of living. The analysis also suggests that they are less patient than previous generations when it comes to waiting for promotions and rewards. A survey by HiBob shows that 70% of managers struggle to meet Gen Z's demands, citing unrealistic expectations. Ann Francke, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, noted the pandemic's impact on these workers, saying it "affected their mental health and wellbeing, caused anxiety and also impacted social skills." In an effort to address these issues, companies are exploring initiatives including reverse mentoring.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

BBC pauses diversity training

The BBC has suspended its diversity, equality and inclusivity training workshops focused on trans and LGBTQ+ issues following a Supreme Court ruling which said "sex" refers to biological sex, not self-identified gender. The BBC is revising its courses to ensure compliance with this ruling. A spokesperson said: "We are not rowing back on our inclusivity training - we have simply paused two of our courses while we await final guidance from the government." Other inclusivity courses have also been amended to remove references to gender self-identification.

Public sector EDI spending hits £70m

An investigation by the Mail on Sunday shows that Britain's public sector spends £70m annually on diversity officers, with significant amounts allocated to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) roles across the NHS, police, and councils. The NHS Confederation, which said the health service spends around £40m a year on EDI roles, said: "Far from being a drain, EDI is an investment that can improve workforce wellbeing." Data also shows that police forces spent £6m on diversity jobs in 2023/24. West Yorkshire Police led the way, spending £1.2m on such roles. 
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WORKFORCE

Thousands more university jobs

Universities have collectively announced more than 12,000 job cuts in the last year, according to analysis from the University and College Union (UCU). Additional cost savings announced in the same period are equivalent to a further 3,000 jobs, the union says, but universities have not confirmed whether these savings will be made by cutting staff numbers. UCU members will vote on potential UK-wide strike action later this month over a 1.4% pay offer made over the summer.

NHS strike hits 200 days

A strike by phlebotomists in Gloucestershire has reached its 200th day, marking the longest industrial action in NHS history. Trade union Unison claims the workers are underpaid for their skilled roles in handling blood samples. An agreement has yet to be reached despite ongoing discussions since the strike began in March. Unison general secretary Christina McArnea said: "It's a scandal that hospital managers have allowed this dispute to drag on for 200 days."
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HIRING

SME employment climbs at quickest pace in a year

Employment in SMEs in the UK increased by 2.6% from August to September, marking the fastest growth in over a year, according to Employment Hero. The data shows that SMEs are hiring more full-time staff, taking permanent employment up 2.1% on the month and 5% year-on-year. The demand for younger workers, particularly those under 28, also rose, with Gen Z employment growing by 2.8%. Data also shows that overall employment is up 2.7% compared to last year. Kevin Fitzgerald, UK managing director of Employment Hero, said the figures for September offer reason for "cautious optimism in the UK jobs market" before the Budget on November 26.

Hays: Hiring 'remains challenging' but has not worsened

Hays, the largest recruiter in the UK, has reported an 8% decline in net fee income from July to September, mirroring the previous quarter's results. The firm said that while the hiring market "remains challenging," it has not worsened in recent months. Hays finance chief James Hilton said: "It’s still tough, but maybe not quite as bad as it was." Hays has reduced its workforce from 13,400 to 9,200 over two years, reflecting ongoing market difficulties.
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LEGAL

Met staff vote for strike action

Metropolitan Police staff, including 999 call handlers and intelligence analysts, have voted overwhelmingly to strike due to a pay dispute. Up to 6,500 employees from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are protesting the lack of a £1,250 London allowance, which is granted to police officers. Fran Heathcote of the PCS said: "Our members in the Met have had enough of being treated like an afterthought." The Met, which is facing a £260m budget deficit, argues that pay structures differ due to varying roles and responsibilities.
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TECHNOLOGY

Klarna cuts workforce by 60% with AI

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna, says the fintech company has reduced its workforce by nearly 60% with artificial intelligence. Klarna's staff count has dropped from 7,400 to about 3,000, while revenues and customer numbers have increased. Klarna's AI chatbot now handles two-thirds of customer enquiries, equating to 700 full-time agents. Siemiatkowski acknowledged the societal impact of AI on jobs, and noted a significant shift in knowledge work is imminent. 

AI will not take jobs, BoE's Bailey says

Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has said AI will not lead to significant job losses, arguing that there is a need for training and retraining to prepare the workforce for the technology. Despite warnings from tech leaders about potential job eliminations, Bailey said: "AI is the most likely candidate for the next big cycle of innovation."
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INTERNATIONAL

Russia's industrial companies furlough workers

Some of Russia's biggest industrial companies are furloughing employees or cutting staff amid a slowing war economy, stalling domestic demand and evaporating exports. Reuters has identified six companies in Russia's mining and transport sectors that have cut their working week in an attempt to reduce wage bills without raising unemployment.

JPMorgan requiring biometric data for staff access to new headquarters

JPMorgan Chase has told staff moving into the bank’s new multibillion-dollar Manhattan headquarters they must share their biometric data to access the building, overriding a prior plan for voluntary enrolment. 
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OTHER

Screen time in early childhood linked to worse grades

A study in Canada has found that greater levels of screen time at a younger age are linked to a significant decrease in attainment in reading and maths once children start school. The study, led by experts at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, followed 5,300 Canadian children aged nine and 12 between 2008 and 2023, tracking screen time use during early childhood and later academic achievement. Each extra hour of daily screen time for younger children, the study found, was associated with a 9% decrease in the likelihood of achieving higher academic grades later in childhood. Lead author Xuedi Li said that while "our findings highlight the importance of considering how much screen time children are exposed to, any interventions should also take into account the type of content kids are watching and whether they are watching it alone or with caregivers and friends."
 
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