Human Times

UK Edition

5th November 2025

THE HOT STORY

Review sounds alarm over long-term sickness costs

A major review into Britain's employment crisis warns that every young person who drops out of work due to long-term sickness costs the state £1m over their lifetime. The report, led by former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield, found that rising ill health - particularly mental health issues among 16- to 34-year-olds - is driving record levels of economic inactivity, with 800,000 more people now out of work for health reasons than in 2019. The cost to the economy has reached £212bn a year, or 7% of GDP, with projections showing a further 600,000 could leave the workforce by 2030 without urgent intervention. Mayfield warned that Labour's planned expansion of workers' rights could heighten employer risk aversion and urged the government to fast-track alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The review calls for a new workplace health system backed by major employers to support mental health, retain older and disabled workers, and promote long-term participation in employment.

The Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Shake-up of the national curriculum

The first review of the school curriculum in over a decade has recommended teaching children how to identify fake news and disinformation, including AI-generated content. Commissioned last year, the review also emphasises inclusivity and societal relevance, proposing the integration of climate change across subjects and introducing citizenship education from primary school. Financial education will become compulsory for all primary and secondary pupils in England, while the curriculum will maintain core literary works alongside a broader range of perspectives. The government will work to reduce GCSE exam time by up to three hours on average after the review criticised the current volume as "excessive." The English Baccalaureate will be scrapped in favour of a more flexible assessment designed to boost engagement without limiting subject choice. Education organisations welcomed the recommendations, but highlighted the need for adequate resources to implement them effectively. The revised curriculum is set to be published by spring 2027 and first taught from September 2028. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the updated curriculum will ensure "young people are equipped to face the challenges of today."

Financial Times

BBC News

London Evening Standard

The Guardian

TAX

Reeves lays ground for income tax rises

Rachel Reeves has indicated a willingness to raise income tax for the first time in 50 years, breaking manifesto pledges. In a pre-Budget speech on Tuesday, the Chancellor stressed the need for difficult decisions to address a £30bn financial gap, arguing: "If we are to build the future of Britain together, we will all have to contribute." The Treasury is understood to be considering a 1p or 2p increase, despite some Labour colleagues warning that hiking income tax will severely damage the party’s chances at the next election. Critics outside the party say Reeves is failing to take responsibility for the effects of Labour’s policies, laying the blame instead on Brexit, the pandemic and global trade shifts.

LEGAL

MP calls for paid fertility leave

Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, has introduced a Bill advocating for paid time off for individuals undergoing fertility treatment. She pointed to the need for fairness, saying that many women face significant challenges in attending appointments due to a lack of legal rights. Macdonald highlighted the emotional and physical toll of treatment, noting that 63% of individuals take sick leave for appointments, costing UK employers £54m annually. She argued that supporting fertility treatment is essential for addressing declining birth rates and ensuring a stable workforce. "Whether someone can attend their fertility appointment should not depend on luck," she said.

London Evening Standard

WORKFORCE

London Tube workers reach pay deal after five-day strike in September

London Underground workers have secured a three-year pay award in a deal with Transport for London that also includes work-life balance measures such as “fatigue friendly” rosters.

Financial Times

TECHNOLOGY

Error-strewn AI legal briefs are a growing problem

Legal briefs created with the help of artificial intelligence and submitted with errors including citations to cases that don’t exist are a growing problem, attorneys say. French data scientist and lawyer Damien Charlotin has identified at least 490 court filings over the past six months that contain so-called “hallucinations” - AI responses that contain false or misleading information. “Even the more sophisticated player can have an issue with this,” Charlotin observed. “AI can be a boon. It’s wonderful, but also there are these pitfalls.” Most rulings are from US cases in which plaintiffs represented themselves without an attorney, he said.

AP News

INTERNATIONAL

US workers hit by slowing income growth

Real income growth has slowed to near-decade lows, with young people being hit the hardest, according to a report from JPMorgan Chase Institute. George Eckerd, research director at the institute and a co-author of the report, told the Financial Times: “We’re looking at a level of year-on-year growth that’s actually similar to [the 2010s] when the labour market was a lot weaker and the unemployment rate was higher.”

Axios

Financial Times

AI reshapes Korea's job landscape

A Bank of Korea (BOK) report reveals that AI adoption is widening the generational employment gap in Korea. From July 2022 to July 2025, youth jobs fell by 211,000, primarily in AI-exposed sectors, while employment for workers in their 50s rose by 209,000. The report noted that younger workers often perform routine tasks easily replaced by AI, whereas older workers engage in roles requiring complex skills. The BOK said that AI could eventually enhance productivity and create new opportunities for younger workers, and is urging policy support for start-ups to foster job growth.

Korea Joongang Daily

Bangladesh dockers strike over foreign takeover of key port

Bangladesh's dock workers have intensified their strike at Chattogram port as they protest the interim government's plans to lease operations to foreign companies. The strike, which began with a few workers in October, now involves around 200 individuals. Dockworker Nur Uddin, 55, expressed concerns about job security under the new authority, questioning the interim government's mandate. While some support the move for foreign expertise to modernise operations, critics argue it undermines local control. Chattogram Port Authority chairman S. M. Moniruzzaman said that foreign operators could enhance efficiency and investment.

France 24

Australia's AGL to cut jobs

Australian power producer AGL is to cut jobs as part of a move to cleaner energy and a closure of its coal-fired power plants in the middle of the next decade. "As we transition our portfolio, and connect our customers to a sustainable future, we need to ensure that today's business remains productive and competitive in this changing market while we continue to invest in our business for tomorrow," an AGL spokesperson said. The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) said it had been told 300 jobs would go across management and operational roles at the company's Bayswater and Loy Yang A power stations.

Reuters

OTHER

'Love Is Blind' is reshaping global views on love

The Netflix reality dating show franchise 'Love Is Blind', which is premised on challenging traditional ideas of love by focusing on emotional connections over physical appearance, and which has found a formula to showcase different cultural norms and the many types of love that exist, is said to be reshaping global views on love. “The duality - local authenticity plus global relatability - has allowed ‘Love Is Blind’ to not just entertain, but to subtly shape how audiences think about love across the globe,” observes Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports. The show has nevertheless been subject to lawsuits over the treatment of contestants.

SFGate

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