Human Times
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European Edition
14th October 2025
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THE HOT STORY

New UK workers' rights body appoints chair

The UK government has appointed Matthew Taylor as the first chair of the Fair Work Agency, which is set to launch next year. The new agency will enforce the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to enhance workers' rights, including parental leave and protections against unfair dismissal. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said that the current enforcement system fails both businesses and workers. The agency will consolidate the roles of three existing bodies and will have the authority to investigate employers violating wage laws. Paul Nowak, general secretary of trade union the TUC, said: “The Fair Work Agency is a vital opportunity to turn the page on the era of inadequate enforcement. For too long, bad bosses have got away with flagrantly breaking the law. This isn't right – it fails workers and the many decent employers who play by the rules.”
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

How People teams are using AI to cover more ground and deliver better benefits experiences

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WORKFORCE

Russia's industrial companies furlough workers

Some of Russia's biggest industrial companies are furloughing employees or cutting staff amid a slowing war economy, stalling domestic demand and evaporating exports. Reuters has identified six companies in Russia's mining and transport sectors that have cut their working week in an attempt to reduce wage bills without raising unemployment.

Finland's icebreaker deal to secure jobs

Finnish leaders have welcomed news of icebreaker orders for the US Coast Guard, saying the deal will be a much-needed boost for the country's economy. The first two icebreakers will be built at the Rauma shipyard in southwestern Finland. A third vessel in the order will be constructed in the United States. "This is the kind of news we need," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, observing that the order "will mean 7,000 to 10,000 jobs at two shipyards and their networks."

BHV workers protest over Shein deal

Workers at Paris’s BHV department store have protested against management and its new partnership with fast-fashion giant Shein, which will open a permanent in-store space. Unions said customers disapprove and fear the deal will harm BHV’s reputation and sales, which are already hit by late payments and product shortages. BHV owner Société des Grands Magasins defended the move, saying it would modernise the store and attract younger shoppers.
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WORKPLACE

Gen Z reshapes workplace expectations

UK research shows that Generation Z workers want their leaders to care about mental health, sustainability, diversity, and the cost of living. The analysis also suggests that they are less patient than previous generations when it comes to waiting for promotions and rewards. A survey by HiBob shows that 70% of managers struggle to meet Gen Z's demands, citing unrealistic expectations. Ann Francke, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, noted the pandemic's impact on these workers, saying it "affected their mental health and wellbeing, caused anxiety and also impacted social skills." In an effort to address these issues, companies are exploring initiatives including reverse mentoring.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

More Dutch workers on long-term sick leave

Average sick leave for workers in the Netherlands has increased to 28 days, according to Rotterdam-based Occupational health service Arbo Unie. The rise is attributed to long-term absenteeism linked to burnout and psychological issues. Corné Roelen, an Arbo Unie company doctor, observed: "If this continues, we'll be at two months in ten years." While overall the total number of sick reports has returned to pre-Covid levels, younger employees aged 25 to 35 report the highest absenteeism, accounting for 27% of all sick reports. Roelen noted that busy family schedules have contributed to the trend, alongside seasonal respiratory infections.
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ECONOMY

US tariffs are a drag on EU confidence, ECB says

Around only 15% of euro zone workers fear their jobs are at stake because of US tariffs, but that could still have a meaningful impact on the economy, European Central Bank researchers have written in a blog post using data from the bank's most recent Consumer Expectations Survey. "Workers who expect to lose their jobs are more likely to actually lose them later," the blog argued. "Hence, while the direct impact of US tariffs on jobs appears to be limited, their impact on some workers can be stronger and might add further drag to firm and consumer confidence."
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CYBERSECURITY

UK firms advised to put plans on paper in case of cyber attack

UK companies should plan for potential cyber attacks by going back to pen and paper, according to latest official advice. The government has written to chief executives across the country strongly recommending that they should have physical copies of their plans at the ready as a precaution. The advice comes as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a 50% increase in nationally significant cyber attacks this year, including hacks on Marks and Spencer, The Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover. Organisations need to "have a plan for how they would continue to operate without their IT, (and rebuild that IT at pace), were an attack to get through," said Richard Horne, chief executive of the NCSC.
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INTERNATIONAL

Hyundai plant was deadly before ICE raid

Three workers have died since Hyundai Motor started construction of its $7.6bn auto plant in Georgia in 2022, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing a review of federal records. The facility, which is operated through a joint venture between Hyundai and South Korea's LG Energy Solution, hit the headlines last month after an immigration raid by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents led to the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers. Current and former workers, including safety coordinators who helped oversee construction of the plant, said the work environment involved poorly trained workers and managers unwilling to enforce safety standards.

Thailand aims to upskill 100,000 workers

The Thai government says it plans to enhance the skills of 100,000 workers to meet modern technology demands. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said that the Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, with a budget of 10bn baht, will support demand-driven training programmes. The Board of Investment (BOI) will collaborate with businesses to identify necessary skills and work with educational institutions to create standardised training. Additionally, the government aims to assist SMEs with grants and loan guarantees to facilitate their technological transformation, addressing liquidity issues and promoting investment in modern industries.
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OTHER

EU lawmakers vote to ban meat names for plant-based foods

The European Parliament has voted 355-247 to ban the use of words like "burger" or "steak" to describe their plant-based variants. The text of the final regulation will follow negotiations between representatives of the Parliament, EU governments and the European Commission. Other labels including "egg yolk", "egg white" and "escalope" will be restricted to products that contain meat. "Let's call a spade a spade," Celine Imart, the French member of the parliament who led the initiative was quoted by AFP news agency as saying about plant-based products. Food retailers in Germany, Europe's largest market for plant-based alternative products, had spoken out against the text, along with environmentalists and consumer advocates.
 
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