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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
An estimated 26.2m U.S. employees will miss work the day after the Super Bowl and about 4.9m workers plan to arrive late to work without giving their managers advance notice, according to UKG's annual Super Bowl Absenteeism Survey. The absences could cost upwards of $5.2bn in lost work and productivity, UKG said. "From a productivity perspective I think it's a great moment for employers to understand work is human and perhaps we give a little bit more leniency to those employees who are really into the Super Bowl," said Julie Develin, Senior Partner, Human Insights at UKG, a global AI platform for HR, pay, and workforce management.
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Human Times
UK
The government plans to create thousands of "fast track" apprenticeships for major infrastructure projects, including nuclear power stations and railways. Currently, about 950,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are not in employment, education, or training. Labour will invest £725m to create 50,000 new apprenticeships and reform financial incentives for small businesses. Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden said too many young people are out of work and Britain is taking too long to get things built. Under the scheme, employers will have the cost of 25 hours a week funded for six months at the minimum wage.
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Human Times
Europe
Long-term employee absences are creating significant challenges for Dutch businesses, particularly smaller firms, according to a survey by RTL Nieuwspanel and RTL Z. Over half of companies reported long-term sick leave in the past five years, with 71% of larger firms affected. Entrepreneurs face stress and financial risks due to legal obligations to pay sick employees for up to two years, including at least 70% of gross salary, sometimes topped up to the minimum wage in the first year.
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Human Times
Middle East
Oman's industrial sector is set to employ 248,000 workers by 2025, reflecting a 3% increase from 2024. Projections suggest this number will rise to 277,000 by 2030, driven by the Industrial Strategy 2040, which focuses on technology-driven manufacturing and competitive industries. Oman Industry Day, celebrated on 9 February, will highlight the sector's achievements and its role in boosting exports, with industrial exports valued at OMR1.618bn in the first quarter of 2025. Ghalib bin Said Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, said: "The industrial sector's performance in 2025 validates the success of government policies aimed at cultivating a robust industrial ecosystem."
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