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North American Edition
20th January 2025
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THE HOT STORY
Former Trump aides have a warning for administration newbies
Many staffers who worked in Donald Trump’s first administration realized the need for an attorney when they found themselves before congressional committees and grand juries, NBC News reports. Former senior administration officials and veteran Washington advisers are warning incoming administration staff members to weigh the threat of an expensive legal defense and consider purchasing a form of legal insurance that would provide them a lawyer if needed. In a cautionary move, Trump’s transition has briefed some incoming administration staffers on the need to price and buy professional liability insurance, according to sources. “You need legal representation if you’re facing people who have the arms of the government at their disposal,” said a former White House official. “It’s very intimidating when you don’t have people on your side to tell you what you can do and what circumstances you might be walking into.”
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS
Required employee handbook policies by state & locality

Keeping your handbook up-to-date and compliant is never an easy task. Employment laws change rapidly and there’s often little guidance on which policies you should or must include. That’s where we come in—our comprehensive chart outlines all the current required employee handbook policies by state and locality. Download our 50-state chart and ensure a compliant, current employee handbook no matter where you operate today.

Get this state-by-state chart from Brightmine here

 
HEALTH & WELLBEING
AI study could help identify depression in CEOs
A study published earlier month in the Journal of Accounting Research which used artificial intelligence to analyze speech recordings of CEOs has helped to identify factors that could contribute to diagnosing mental health challenges among executives. Nargess Golshan, assistant professor of accounting at Indiana University and co-author of the study, said: “We want to really highlight mental health in leadership roles and how prevalent it is,” continuing: "Of course, it is important for the personal health of these executives, but also has far-reaching implications for the organization, the employees, the investors, and the broader economy.” Fortune notes that "Earnings calls are an optimal way to collect data because they feature long, uninterrupted periods of talking and usually aren’t confounded by visual communication cues like hand gestures." Among over 14,500 CEOs studied, more than 9,500 were classified as having depression using analysis from the machine learning model.
STRATEGY
Starbucks to cut jobs
Starbucks has announced that it anticipates cutting jobs as part of a larger initiative to operate more effectively. Chief Executive Brian Niccol said that the job cuts will be disclosed by early March and won't impact in-store workers. Niccol explained that the corporation is to cut down on silos and duplications of effort because having too many managers and coordinators may be slowing the running of the chain. However, he did not specify how many cutbacks would be made. The action is a component of the "Back to Starbucks" plan, which Niccol has promoted as a means of bolstering the business in the face of declining sales.
WORKFORCE
Costco workers vote for nationwide strike
The Teamsters union has announced that members at Costco Wholesale have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a nationwide strike, with 85% supporting the decision. The vote came as negotiations for a new contract approach a critical deadline of January 31. The union said: "The vote is a direct result of the company's continued failure to bargain constructively." The final week of negotiations is set to begin today, as the union seeks to secure better terms for over 18,000 workers. Costco is yet to comment on the situation.
LEGAL
Lawsuit challenges mental health parity rule
A trade group representing employers has filed a lawsuit to invalidate a federal rule aimed at ensuring mental health services are accessible to the 175m Americans with private health insurance. The "parity" rule, finalized in September, mandates that group health plans offer benefits for mental health and substance abuse disorders equivalent to other medical conditions. The ERISA Industry Committee argues that the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury overstepped their authority, claiming the "benefits mandate" is arbitrary and could discourage coverage for mental health issues. Eugene Scalia, a lawyer for the group, said: "Government agencies lost sight of what's best for a workable mental health care system." The case is ERISA Industry Committee v U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al., in the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia.
Former executive sues Tesla over remote work change
Mike Tully, a former Tesla executive, has filed a lawsuit against the company after claiming it reneged on a promise that his role would remain remote. Tully, who left Bank of America for Tesla, was assured by Associate General Counsel Charles Lee that relocation was not required. However, two months into his employment, Tully was told he must move to either Fremont or Texas, or face termination. Tully's wife threatened divorce if he relocated, which was said to exacerbate his medical conditions, including Crohn's disease. Despite seeking accommodations, he was fired shortly after. Tully is now seeking damages and injunctive relief against Tesla for their alleged unfair practices.
Age discrimination lawsuit filed against automakers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed lawsuits against General Motors (GM) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) for age discrimination, as well as against Stellantis' FCA U.S. unit for sexual harassment. The EEOC claims that GM and UAW's sickness-and-accident benefits policy, effective since October 2019, discriminates against employees aged 66 and older, violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Meanwhile, Stellantis is accused of fostering a hostile work environment for female employees at a Detroit plant, ignoring complaints of sexual harassment since December 2020. The lawsuits seek to recover benefits for older workers and compensatory damages for affected female employees, along with permanent injunctions against further misconduct.
RETENTION
Goldman Sachs boosts Solomon's pay
Goldman Sachs has increased chief executive David Solomon's pay by 26% to $39m, alongside a $80m retention plan aimed at retaining top talent amid fierce competition from rivals. The five-year retention plan indicates that Solomon, 63, is expected to lead the bank until at least the end of the decade. This new compensation package includes performance-based bonuses linked to the bank's alternative asset funds, marking a shift in how U.S. investment banks are compensating senior staff, and aligning more closely with practices in profitable buyout firms.
CYBERSECURITY
WhatsApp accounts of government ministers worldwide targeted by hackers
Russian state-linked hackers, identified as Star Blizzard, have targeted government officials globally through deceptive emails which invite them to join WhatsApp groups. The U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has linked the hacking unit to the FSB, the principal security agency of Russia, saying it aims to "undermine trust in politics in the U.K. and likeminded states." Victims receive emails impersonating U.S. officials, leading them to click on a QR code that grants hackers access to their WhatsApp accounts. Microsoft observed: “The threat actor can gain access to the messages in their WhatsApp account and have the capability to exfiltrate this data.” Although the campaign appears to have slowed, Microsoft advises vigilance against such phishing attempts, especially for those in targeted sectors.
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli tech firms battle with flight suspensions and staff shortages
A fifth of Israeli tech firms have relocated part of their operations and personnel overseas in recent months after foreign airlines' decision to halt local services amid the war in Gaza made it difficult for them to do business and raise capital, according to a survey of 664 tech executives by the Israel Innovation Authority. Meanwhile, at least 50% of respondents say they may run out of funds in less than six months. “We see companies struggling not only with capital raising and meeting development and sales targets but also with their very ability to operate in an environment deeply affected by the security situation, massive military reserve call-ups, and flight restrictions that complicate the management of global relationships,” observed Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin. “The entire ecosystem – government, investors, and companies – must come together to ensure the future of this industry, which is not only a critical growth engine but also a symbol of Israel's innovation and leadership on the international stage.”
German executives warn against 'Wolf of Wall Street' machismo
A LinkedIn post by the CEO of German asset manager DWS warning against growing "anti-woke" rhetoric has attracted support from other executives amid growing nationalist rhetoric from the far-right ahead of a national election next month. "I am worried that the anti-woke rhetoric will lead us straight back to the macho 'Wolf of Wall Street' era," Stefan Hoops wrote, in referennce to the Hollywood movie based on the memoir of controversial U.S. fund manager and convicted fraudster Jordan Belfort. Reuters notes that Hoops' post is a rare political statement from a leading figure in the German corporate world.
Teen workers in U.K. take legal action against McDonald's
Over 700 teenagers in the U.K. are suing McDonald's, alleging harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Thomas Beale, Head of the Bullying & Harassment team at law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, condemned the fast-food giant for its "abhorrent abuse of power," and highlighted the lack of action taken despite previous claims of sexual harassment. Young employees reported being bullied, subjected to homophobic comments, and even solicited for sexual favors by managers. The law firm Leigh Day is representing the claimants, and urges all current staff under 20 to join the legal action as they could be entitled to bring claims just for having been exposed to a culture of inappropriate conduct. McDonald's has said it is committed to ensuring a safe workplace but faces increasing scrutiny following the enactment of the U.K.'s Worker Protection Act.
OTHER
Coors Light is changing its name
Coors Light is changing its name as a joke. The beer brand says it is temporarily changing its name to “Mondays Light” in an attempt to “bring chill” to the day after the Super Bowl, which it describes as “one of the worst Mondays of the year.” The packaging, which replaces the word “Coors” for “Mondays,” is available at retailers nationwide beginning this month for a limited time. CNN notes that Coors Light sales surged in 2023 amid difficulties at Bud Light, but they have since softened amid a broader weakness in beer sales as Americans cut back their spending.
 


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