THE HOT STORY

UK review sounds alarm over long-term sickness costs

A major review into Britain's employment crisis warns that every young person who drops out of work due to long-term sickness costs the state £1m over their lifetime. The report, led by former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield, found that rising ill health - particularly mental health issues among 16- to 34-year-olds - is driving record levels of economic inactivity, with 800,000 more people now out of work for health reasons than in 2019. The cost to the economy has reached £212bn a year, or 7% of GDP, with projections showing a further 600,000 could leave the workforce by 2030 without urgent intervention. Mayfield warned that Labour's planned expansion of workers' rights could heighten employer risk aversion and urged the government to fast-track alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The review calls for a new workplace health system backed by major employers to support mental health, retain older and disabled workers, and promote long-term participation in employment.

The Times

COMPLIANCE

Managing Substance Use at Work

Employee substance use - whether prescription or controlled - creates serious challenges for employers. From safety and performance to morale and liability, the impact can be significant. Yet HR leaders often face uncertainty about what testing is allowed, how to handle disclosures, and how to stay compliant with evolving regulations.

This briefing provides clear direction on developing fair, consistent workplace policies. It outlines compliant testing procedures, effective documentation, and balanced responses to incidents, helping HR teams act confidently and within the law.

Access the full report for practical HR guidance.

STRATEGY

ABN Amro cuts jobs from its sustainability expertise unit

ABN Amro is reducing its sustainability team by 67 positions, affecting 58 permanent staff and nine temporary workers. A spokesperson confirmed the cuts, saying its aims to improve operational efficiency by simplifying overlapping tasks within the team. The bank plans further optimisations in other departments early next year.

NL Times

WORKFORCE

Workers in Portugal at risk of poverty

In 2024, 9.2% of Portuguese workers faced a risk of poverty, according to Eurostat data. The figure places Portugal ninth among EU member states, exceeding the EU average by one percentage point. Luxembourg reported the highest rate at 13.4%, followed by Bulgaria at 11.8% and Spain at 11.2%. The data also revealed that more men than women are affected, with rates of 11.4% for men and 8.8% for women in Portugal. The at-risk-of-poverty rate is defined as those with disposable income below 60% of the national median after social transfers.

The Portugal News Online

London Tube workers reach pay deal after five-day strike in September

London Underground workers have secured a three-year pay award in a deal with Transport for London that also includes work-life balance measures such as “fatigue friendly” rosters.

Financial Times

LEGAL

Lafarge on trial in France on charges of funding jihadists

Cement group Lafarge is on trial in France for allegedly paying jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, to operate its plant in Syria during the civil war there. The company, which pleaded guilty in the US to similar charges, is accused of funding terrorism and violating international sanctions. The trial involves former executives and staff, with Lafarge potentially facing fines of up to $1.2m. The inquiry began in 2017 after media reports and complaints regarding its Syria operations. The trial is expected to last until mid-December.

Daily Sabah

France 24

CORPORATE

Commerzbank weighs leaving landmark Frankfurt HQ in cost-cutting push

Commerzbank is in talks that could lead to it exiting its Frankfurt headquarters as the German lender pushes to cut costs and fend off a potential takeover by Italy’s UniCredit.

Financial Times

TECHNOLOGY

Error-strewn AI legal briefs are a growing problem

Legal briefs created with the help of artificial intelligence and submitted with errors including citations to cases that don’t exist are a growing problem, attorneys say. French data scientist and lawyer Damien Charlotin has identified at least 490 court filings over the past six months that contain so-called “hallucinations” - AI responses that contain false or misleading information. “Even the more sophisticated player can have an issue with this,” Charlotin observed. “AI can be a boon. It’s wonderful, but also there are these pitfalls.” Most rulings are from US cases in which plaintiffs represented themselves without an attorney, he said.

AP News

INTERNATIONAL

Bangladesh dockers strike over foreign takeover of key port

Bangladesh's dock workers have intensified their strike at Chattogram port as they protest the interim government's plans to lease operations to foreign companies. The strike, which began with a few workers in October, now involves around 200 individuals. Dockworker Nur Uddin, 55, expressed concerns about job security under the new authority, questioning the interim government's mandate. While some support the move for foreign expertise to modernise operations, critics argue it undermines local control. Chattogram Port Authority chairman S. M. Moniruzzaman said that foreign operators could enhance efficiency and investment.

France 24

Petrobras approves redundancy program

Petrobras has approved a new voluntary redundancy program targeting about 1,100 workers. "The financial impact will be recognized in the financial statements as participation in the program becomes effective," the Brazilian state-run oil firm said in a securities filing, adding that the terminations are expected to happen throughout 2026.

Reuters

Vance warns Thanksgiving travel ‘could be a disaster’

Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have warned of a potential holiday travel 'disaster' if a government shutdown continues into the Thanksgiving holiday travel season. “Look it could be a disaster. It really could be, because at that point you’re talking about people [who] have missed three paychecks. They’ve missed four paychecks. How many of them are not going to show up for work?” Vance said, adding “That’s going to lead to massive delays. We want people to be able to get home for Thanksgiving. We want people to be able to travel for business.” Vance said that the only way out was for Democrats to pass a clean spending bill to reopen the government.

CNN

OTHER

New EU members could be put ‘on probation’, says official

New EU member states could be put on “probation” for a few years under a proposal aimed at allaying concerns about democratic backsliding among new entrants once they join.

Financial Times

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