Human Times

European Edition

11th July 2025

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THE HOT STORY

Border checks strain German policing

Germany's heightened border controls have sparked legal and operational concerns, particularly affecting federal police staffing and morale. Federal Police Commissioner Uli Grötsch reported over 2.8m overtime hours since March 2024, largely driven by just 285 asylum-related rejections. Officers face poor infrastructure, such as winter use of portable toilets, and unresolved legal ambiguity, as the Berlin administrative court ruled pushbacks illegal under EU law. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt maintains the policy despite criticism. Grötsch also addressed 19 racial profiling cases, urging greater empathy from officers balancing security duties with sensitive identity checks targeting individuals from the Global South. The redirection of officers to border posts has also depleted riot police units and weakened regular police operations nationwide, increasing strain on already overburdened local forces.

Deutsche Welle

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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HIRING

Banks tighten rules on PE recruiting

Private-equity recruiting is pressuring first-year banking analysts with grueling speed-dating-style interviews and job offers for roles starting years later. Firms compete aggressively to secure top talent early, sometimes reaching out before graduates even begin their jobs. In response, major banks like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have introduced stricter disclosure policies. JPMorgan now warns incoming analysts they risk termination if they accept future-dated offers within their first 18 months. Base pay in private equity can exceed $300,000, attracting young professionals despite repetitive early tasks and high stress. The intensity of this recruiting cycle has led some PE firms to delay offers, with Apollo and General Atlantic pausing their 2027 class hires. Though banks benefit from future client relationships with ex-employees, senior leaders like Jamie Dimon condemn the system as unethical. Some banks now aim to balance transparency and workforce management by excluding soon-to-depart analysts from sensitive deal work.

Wall Street Journal

WORKFORCE

Recruitment market faces further decline

The recruitment market in the UK is experiencing a significant downturn, with PageGroup reporting a 13.1% drop in gross profits for the second quarter, falling to £194.8m from £224.2m in the same period last year. Chief Executive Nicholas Kirk noted: "The conversion of accepted offers to placements remained the most significant area of challenge," highlighting the ongoing macro-economic uncertainty affecting confidence. The company has reduced its workforce from over 7,000 recruiters to 5,300 due to declining fees. While Europe, particularly France and Germany, has been the worst-performing region, there is some improvement in Asia and the US, especially in engineering and construction roles. The outlook for the next six months remains "uncertain" as PageGroup anticipates an annual operating profit of around £22m, significantly lower than the £52.4m achieved in 2024.

The Independent

Daily Express

The Times

Helsinki Airport workers plan walkout

Workers at Helsinki Airport are set to stage a four-hour walkout on Friday, 25 July, as announced by the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU). This action could lead to the cancellation or delay of numerous flights. The National Conciliator's office revealed that this strike is an extension of previous walkout warnings on 16, 18, 21, and 23 July, affecting "several companies." The IAU has been in a protracted dispute with the Service Sector Employers organisation (Palta) over pay increases since January. The situation remains challenging, with the National Conciliator stating that "the situation is difficult." Efforts to mediate the dispute will continue on Saturday, 12 July.

YLE Uutiset

Cargolux climbs the ranks

Cargolux has entered the top ten largest employers in Luxembourg, displacing Luxair, according to the latest data from Statec. The CFL Group remains the largest employer with 5,110 employees, an increase of 200 from last year. Cargolux's growth to 3,200 employees is attributed to a deal made last May, which saw it take over cargo handling from Luxair. The rankings saw little change overall, with Amazon moving up to fourth place and Cactus dropping to fifth. Notably, some companies like BNP Paribas and PwC Luxembourg have reduced their workforce, with BNP Paribas down by 100 employees. As stated in the report, "All of the top five employers in the 2025 rankings managed to increase their staffing levels over the last 12 months."

Luxembourg Times

REMUNERATION

Meta offers mega pay for AI talent

Bloomberg reports that Meta Platforms has made record-breaking compensation offers to attract AI experts to its “superintelligence” team, including a package exceeding $200m for ex-Apple engineer Ruoming Pang. These multi-year offers combine base salary, cash bonuses, and heavily performance-tied Meta stock. Apple reportedly did not counter due to internal pay norms. Meta’s AI recruitment push also includes former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang, now Meta’s Chief AI Officer via a $14.3bn equity deal. Offers rival CEO pay at major banks and are structured to reward long-term loyalty and Meta stock performance. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said some employees received $100m signing bonuses but stayed due to OpenAI’s innovation culture. Nonetheless, Meta has hired over 10 OpenAI researchers along with talent from Anthropic and Google.

Bloomberg

FUTURE OF WORK

AI threatens job prospects for graduates

As AI continues to disrupt the job market, university graduates are facing unprecedented challenges in securing employment. Reports indicate that vacancies for entry-level positions have plummeted by 32% since the launch of ChatGPT, while Indeed notes a 33% drop in graduate roles over the past year. Concerns are echoed by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who warns that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level jobs in the next five years. Gary O'Sullivan from Sia emphasises the disconnect between graduates' education and employers' expectations, stating that only 36% of undergraduates receive support in developing essential AI skills. Despite these challenges, some experts believe that graduates can leverage their familiarity with AI tools to enhance their job prospects. “Companies that empower graduates to use AI responsibly and creatively won't just attract top talent,” says Demis Bril from Instant Offices.

London Evening Standard

AI takes over the workplace

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stated: “AI is doing 30-50% of the work,” highlighting the significant impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. The World Economic Forum reports that over 40% of employers are restructuring or planning to automate roles, with white-collar jobs being particularly affected. Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy echoed this sentiment, predicting a reduction in the corporate workforce due to efficiency gains from AI. The report indicates that while approximately 92m jobs may be lost to AI, an estimated 170m new jobs will be created, resulting in a net increase of 78m jobs. To safeguard their careers, individuals are encouraged to develop skills in applied AI, critical thinking, and personal branding, ensuring they remain competitive in an evolving job market.

Forbes

PRODUCTIVITY

AI tools boost Microsoft productivity

Microsoft's chief commercial officer, Judson Althoff, highlighted the significant impact of AI tools on productivity across various sectors, stating that AI has enabled Microsoft to save over $500m in its call centre last year. This announcement follows the company's recent layoffs of more than 9,000 employees, raising concerns about the implications of workforce reductions amid record profitability. Microsoft reported a profit of $26bn and revenue of $70bn in the first quarter, with a market capitalisation of approximately $3.74trn. Althoff's comments may seem insensitive to those affected by the layoffs, especially as the company plans to invest $80bn in AI infrastructure by 2025. The situation poses a complex dynamic, as the company appears to favour hiring top AI talent over middle management roles.

Techcrunch

Breaking the cycle of overwork

High-performing professionals often find themselves trapped in a relentless cycle of overwork, driven by an "entrainment cycle" that synchronises their emotional and physical states with their organisation's demanding pace. Research involving over 150 interviews in law and accounting firms reveals that this culture of overwork is not merely a personal choice but a deeply ingrained norm. As one participant noted, “When I'm busy, generally speaking, I am more energised.” However, this constant pressure can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and a fragile work culture. To combat these issues, organisations must rethink their work structures, such as implementing a four-day workweek or promoting asynchronous communication. By addressing the tempo of work rather than just the hours, companies can foster a healthier work-life balance and improve employee well-being.

Harvard Business Review

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Launch of Auchan's trainee programme

Auchan Retail Romania has introduced a new edition of its Trainee Programme, a six-month initiative aimed at final-year and master's students keen to pursue a career in retail. Participants will gain insights into various departments, including Marketing, Logistics, IT, and Human Resources, with 24 positions available in Bucharest, Cluj, and Timișoara. Since its inception in 2016, nearly 70% of participants have secured permanent roles, with many now in significant positions within the company.

Business Review

WORKPLACE

Moët Hennessy faces claims of toxic culture

Maria Gasparovic alleges harassment and discrimination at Moët Hennessy, claiming retaliation for whistleblowing, while the company denies wrongdoing and accuses her of blackmail.

Financial Times

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Ciprian Pop takes the helm at Allianz-Tiriac

Ciprian Pop has been appointed as the new CEO of Romania's Allianz-Țiriac Private Pensions, following approval from the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF). With nearly 20 years of experience in the Allianz Group, Pop previously served as CEO of Allianz-Țiriac Unit.

Thediplomat.ro

INTERNATIONAL

Indian workers unite for Bharat Bandh

Hundreds of thousands of workers across India participated in a one-day strike, dubbed "Bharat Bandh," in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's privatisation efforts and economic reforms. Organised by a coalition of 10 major trade unions, the strike disrupted public services, manufacturing, and transportation. Activist Aishe Ghosh highlighted the precarious situation of workers, stating, "You can be fired any day from work. Your labour has no value in this country." The unions demand higher wages, a halt to privatisation, and the withdrawal of new labour laws. Despite the government's push for foreign investment and economic reforms, trade unions remain unconvinced, with Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, asserting that the government aims to suppress workers under the guise of business ease. The strike reflects growing discontent among workers and farmers over their rights and economic conditions.

West Australian

The Times of India

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