The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
North American Edition
30th October 2024
Together with


THE HOT STORY
Starbucks tells workers to return to the office
Starbucks will begin an "accountability process" in January, requiring corporate employees to comply with its three-day-a-week office mandate or face possible termination, according to an internal message obtained by The Wall Street Journal. Starbucks’ new chief executive, Brian Niccol, has a hybrid work arrangement himself. The company has said Niccol would meet or exceed its in-office mandates. Some workers have expressed skepticism of Niccol’s arrangement, The Wall Street Journal notes. The move aligns Starbucks with other major companies like Amazon and JPMorgan Chase, revisiting remote work policies from the pandemic. Starbucks's decision comes amid a strategy overhaul, as recent earnings reports show a 6% drop in U.S. same-store sales and a 10% decline in transactions, prompting the brand to refocus on growth and customer experience.  
COMPLIANCE
End the Year in Compliance: Everything HR Needs to Know

As we approach year-end, it’s likely you have some compliance concerns given all the legal changes and updates in 2024. But there’s no need to stress — our upcoming webinar will help you close out the year with confidence. Our legal experts will review the most significant rulings of 2024 and forecast what’s to come in 2025.

Learn how these updates impact HR and discover actions to keep your organization compliant.

Register today!

 
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Women are more likely to be work addicted, study suggests
Preliminary results of a global study led by Polish academics on work addiction - defined as the compulsive need to work or engage in work over a long period of time - suggest women are more likely to be work addicted. Australian research lead Rachael Potter from the University of South Australia said workplace culture is one of the leading contributors to work addiction. Dr Potter said managers, people with a demanding job and family members addicted to work were at increased risk of becoming work addicted. ABC News notes that about 24% of Australians fall into this category. "In terms of the sample, we were one of the highest cultures that showed work addiction," Dr Potter said. "If your co-workers . . . if your manager was kind of reinforcing you working late at night, they're all going to contribute to feed that behavior." Australia had the second highest prevalence of occupational depression, at 11%.
WORKPLACE
Office market shows signs of stabilizing as bosses call workers back
The office market is showing signs of stabilizing as more employers commit to promoting an in-person workplace culture. One-third of all companies required workers to be in the office five days a week in the third quarter, up from 31% in the second quarter, according to Flex Index, which tracks workplace strategies. “We looked like we were on a path that we were going to see a drop continue quarter after quarter,” observed Flex Index CEO. “All of a sudden in the third quarter we saw a shift in direction.” The office vacancy rate is stabilizing at a near record level of 13.8%, up from 9.4% in the fourth quarter in 2019. 
STRATEGY
Visa to lay off around 1,400 employees and contractors
Visa plans to lay off about 1,400 employees and contractors by the end of the year, as the card giant seeks to streamline its international business. About 1,000 of the cuts are expected to eliminate technology positions, according to people familiar with the matter. Most of the other layoffs will focus on Visa's merchant sales and global digital partnership roles. A Visa spokesman said the company continuously evolves to better serve clients and support growth, “which can lead to the elimination of some roles.” He said the company expects to employ more people each year for the foreseeable future.
Walgreens cuts 256 jobs, mostly in Chicago
Walgreens is laying off 256 employees as part of restructuring efforts, including roles at its corporate offices in Deerfield and the Old Post Office building. The company is also eliminating 215 open positions. Fraser Engerman, a spokesperson for Walgreens, said: “While decisions like these are always difficult, we believe this action is necessary to position us to rapidly respond to the changing external environment.” Earlier this month, Walgreens announced plans to close approximately 1,200 locations over the next three years, with 500 stores set to close this fiscal year. The company reported a net loss of over $3bn in the last quarter, primarily due to declines in U.S. retail and pharmacy sales.
TECHNOLOGY
How human resources departments plan to use AI
Analysis of research from Gartner to see how human resources departments plan to use artificial intelligence found that HR leaders feel the need to leverage AI tools sooner rather than later. The research found that while fewer than two in five HR leaders have researched or implemented AI tools, over three in four believe that their departments will need to use AI by 2026.
Edison bets big on deskless workers
Investment company Edison Partners has acquired Fingercheck, a payroll and human resources software company, in a $115m bet on the growth of “deskless” employees who work primarily in the field, from plumbers and electricians to home healthcare workers. The acquisition is part of Edison's strategy to capitalize on the increasing demand for solutions tailored to field workers.
CORPORATE
Tupperware's comeback
Tupperware Brands has received court approval for a sale that will allow it to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy and continue its operations. The deal, valued at $23.5m in cash and over $63m in debt relief, involves a group of lenders acquiring Tupperware's brand name and assets. The company plans to rebrand as The New Tupperware Co. and aims to operate with a "start-up mentality." Spencer Winters, representing Tupperware, said: "This is a situation that was in urgent need of a vast global resolution," highlighting the importance of the sale for preserving the brand's business and jobs. Tupperware's challenges stemmed from an outdated business model and competition from other storage solutions, leading to over $1.2bn in debts. The new company will initially focus on markets in the U.S., Canada, and several Asian countries before expanding further.
ECONOMY
Consumer confidence soars to new heights
The Conference Board has reported a significant increase in the consumer confidence index, which rose to 108.7 in October from 99.2 in September, marking the largest monthly gain since March 2021. Analysts had anticipated a more modest increase to 99.3. Dana Peterson, the Conference Board's chief economist, said: “Consumers' assessments of current business conditions turned positive,” indicating a rebound in views on job availability. The index reflects Americans' evaluations of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. Notably, the percentage of consumers expecting a recession in the next year has dropped to its lowest since July 2022. Despite some recent signs of a weakening labor market, the overall economic landscape remains robust, with the U.S. adding 254,000 jobs in September and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. The Federal Reserve's recent decision to cut its benchmark borrowing rate by 50 basis points underscores its focus on supporting the job market.
WORKFORCE
Ford workers in U.K. strike over pay
More than 1,000 employees at Ford in the U.K. are to strike for 24 hours in a dispute over pay and contract changes. Administrative staff working at the company's sites across the U.K. will walk out today and the Unite labor union has warned there will be more strikes if the dispute is not resolved.
INTERNATIONAL
Second high court rules that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
The Tokyo High Court has declared Japan's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, marking the seventh such decision against the policy. The court described the ban as “a groundless legal discrimination based on sexual orientation,” emphasizing that it violates the constitutional guarantee of equality and individual dignity. The ruling follows a series of legal victories for plaintiffs advocating for marriage equality, and raising hopes within the LGBTQ community. Their main obstacle, Japan's conservative Liberal Democratic Party's ruling coalition, lost a parliamentary majority in Sunday's election and will likely have to compromise on more liberal policies supported by the opposition parties. Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven industrialised countries that does not recognise same-sex marriage or provide any other form of legally binding protection for LGBTQ couples. Marriage equality is largely supported by the general public in Japan.
Singer caught dancing while off sick with bunions was ‘fairly sacked’
A singer who was caught dancing in high heels for a music video while on sick leave for her bunions was fairly sacked, a court in the Canary Islands has ruled. Aspiring pop star Virya Cruz was fired a week after she appeared online performing with two male dancers. She had been off work for 10 months after undergoing surgery on bunions. Cruz challenged her dismissal as unfair, but the Canary Islands’ superior court ruled that her employer, an audiovisual company in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, was within its right to fire her. “Dancing and jumping in heels are incompatible with recovery from her foot condition, which requires rest and periods of immobility,” the court said in its ruling.
 


The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe