Human Times

European Edition

7th November 2025

THE HOT STORY

McDonald's strengthens UK measures against harassment

McDonald's has agreed to strengthen its measures to protect UK staff from sexual abuse, extending its legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) for an additional year. The EHRC's chairwoman, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, said: "We needed to update the action plan with stronger actions." The new measures include working with external experts on safeguarding, investigating complaints against managers externally, and hiring an auditor for the complaints handling unit. The move follows allegations of harassment and discrimination at over 450 restaurants. Earlier this year, law firm Leigh Day said it had been instructed to start legal action against McDonald's by hundreds of staff and former staff. "I think we can assume that the equality watchdog wouldn't be taking this action if things were OK at McDonald's," Leigh Day employment lawyer Kiran Daurka said.

BBC News

Daily Mail

The Independent

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.

WORKPLACE

Goodwin Procter mandates four-day office week

Multinational law firm Goodwin Procter has announced a new policy requiring staff to work in the office at least four days a week, starting next year. Global managing partner Mark Bettencourt and chief operating officer Mary O'Carroll communicated the decision in a memo, stressing the need for "connectivity, collaboration, learning, and showing up with and for each other with intention." While staff can still work remotely on Fridays, most employees in Europe and Asia have already returned to a five-day office week. The firm reported a 14% revenue increase last year.

The Times

WORKFORCE

Job growth expected to continue in the Netherlands

The number of jobs in the Netherlands is projected to grow by 1.1% by 2027 despite uncertainty due to factors such as geopolitical tensions, import duties and technological developments, according to the annual labour market report from the benefits agency UWV. Employee jobs are expected to rise by 2.8%, reaching over 9.3m; however, self-employed jobs may decline due to enforcement against false self-employment. Job growth will be concentrated in urban areas including Greater Amsterdam and Central Utrecht, while regions like Limburg may see job losses.

NL Times

Public sector productivity in UK hits new low

Public sector productivity in the UK has fallen by 0.7% year on year, marking the steepest decline since late 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Healthcare productivity dropped by 1.5%, exacerbating the overall decline. Health Secretary Wes Streeting faces mounting pressure to enhance efficiency in the NHS, which is currently producing 7.8% less per pound spent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

City AM

RISK

Ministry seeks to remove staff names from decisions

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is revising a government decree to allow Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, to issue benefit decisions without naming the responsible official. The change aims to protect Kela employees from growing threats and harassment. Sami Niinikorpi, head of security at Kela, noted that the threats have become increasingly serious. “The most severe cases are directed at the health or lives of personnel or their family members,” he said. The ministry is exploring alternatives, such as using unique identification numbers instead of names, while maintaining transparency. Feedback on the proposal will be sought in late November.

Helsinki Times

TECHNOLOGY

The future of work is still human

Michigan Ross School of Business professor Marcus Collins says the importance of technology in the future of work has been overemphasised, and the future of work is actually cultural, not technological.

Financial Times

LEGAL

Germany announces 18 arrests in global fake subscription scams

Eighteen people have been arrested in Germany and a number of other countries in connection with an alleged international online fraud and money laundering network. The network made fraudulent charges for online subscriptions at bogus websites, precipitating more than €300m ($345m) in damages, according to Germany's Federal Criminal Police (BKA) and public prosecutors in the western German city of Koblenz. Some employees at four major German payment providers are accused of collaborating with the network.

Financial Times

RTE

UK lawmaker calls for paid fertility leave

Alice Macdonald, Labour MP for Norwich North, has introduced a Bill advocating for paid time off for women in the UK who are undergoing fertility treatment. She pointed to the need for fairness, saying that many women face significant challenges in attending appointments due to a lack of legal rights. Macdonald highlighted the emotional and physical toll of treatment, noting that 63% of individuals take sick leave for appointments, costing UK employers £54m (€61m) annually. She argued that supporting fertility treatment is essential for addressing declining birth rates and ensuring a stable workforce. "Whether someone can attend their fertility appointment should not depend on luck," she said.

London Evening Standard

INVESTMENT

Google to announce major German investment plans

Google is to announce its largest-ever investment plan for Germany next week, according to a report in Handelsblatt. The initiative includes the construction of infrastructure and data centres, as well as the development of projects focused on renewable energy and waste heat usage. Details of the investment will be revealed on November 11 during a press conference with Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. Google plans to expand its presence in key cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin.

Reuters

LEADERSHIP

Adecco Group names new CFO

The Adecco Group has appointed Valentina Ficaio, currently group senior vice president finance as chief financial officer, effective January 1st. She will replace Coram Williams, who is leaving to take a CFO position in the automotive sector in Germany. The announcement came alongside the Swiss firm's third-quarter earnings. Sales rose 1% to €5.78bn ($6.74bn) in the three months to the end of September, although net income dropped 10% to €89m.

Reuters

The Globe and Mail

HEALTH & WELLBEING

New 'brain atlas' reveals genetic risks for cancer and mental illness

A new AI-assisted 'brain atlas' that can help visualise the human brain in unprecedented detail has been developed by researchers at University College London, uncovering possible genetic risk factors for cancers and psychiatric disorders. NextBrain is an atlas of the entire adult human brain that can be used to analyse MRI scans of living patients in a matter of minutes and at a level of detail not possible until now. “By combining high-resolution tissue data with advanced AI techniques, we’ve created a tool that allows researchers to analyse brain scans in a level of detail that was previously unattainable,” explained Juan Eugenio Iglesias, senior author of the research. “This opens up new possibilities for studying neurodegenerative diseases and ageing.”

Financial Times

Nature

UCL

INTERNATIONAL

Japan embraces disability inclusion in workforce

Japanese businesses are hiring more people with disabilities, and major companies including Kirin and Nomura are implementing initiatives to support career development and retention. Kirin provides tools including noise-cancelling earphones and text-to-speech software, while Nomura Kagayaki focuses on tailored measures for its 120 employees, 90% of whom have mental disabilities. Analysts stress the need for ongoing public assistance to ensure long-term employment for disabled workers. Current programs mainly focus on job placement.

The Japan Times Online

Bank of Canada to cut 10% of staff

Bank of Canada is to lay off 225 staff to help meet a 15% budget cut and as the bank moves to align with a government-wide spending review announced in prime minister Mark Carney’s first budget since taking office. The cuts will take place “over the next few months” and be completed by June, the bank said.

Bloomberg

Financial Times

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