THE HOT STORY

Dutch civil servants to strike next week

Civil servants in the Netherlands will launch a nationwide strike next week in response to a proposed wage freeze. Organised by unions including FNV and CNV, the strike will involve around 160,000 government employees and disrupt services across the country. Key locations for protests include Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The unions argue that the government's zero wage growth policy is eroding public sector workers' purchasing power amid rising grocery prices. Minister Pieter Heerma has indicated a desire to resume negotiations with the unions.

NL Times

WORKFORCE

One in five young Germans plans to leave their homeland

One in five (21%) people in Germany between the ages of 14-29 say they are actively planning to leave the country. The study "Jugend in Deutschland" or "Youth in Germany" found that as many as 41% of those surveyed said they could imagine moving overseas in the longer term. The findings are based on a nationally representative survey of 2,012 people carried out between 9 January and 9 February 2026 by Datajockey Verlag

Deutsche Welle (EN)

REMUNERATION

Finance minister to object to KLM CEO's bonus

The Dutch state plans to contest the significant pay increase awarded to KLM's CEO Marjan Rintel. KLM's 2025 annual report shows that Rintel's total compensation was more than 30% higher than the previous year, almost entirely due to variable pay and bonuses. The total amount came to nearly €1.6m. Finance Minister Eelco Heinen described the bonuses as “inappropriate,” especially at a time when KLM is requesting wage moderation from employees. The state, which holds a 9% stake in Air France–KLM, said it aims to raise concerns at the upcoming shareholders' meeting. Heinen said that such bonuses “send the wrong message” during times of employee sacrifices.

NL Times

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Change fatigue is eroding employee wellbeing

Change fatigue is a growing issue for employees worldwide, with one in three experiencing over 15 major changes in the past year, according to the Deloitte 2026 Global Human Capital Trends report. The report reveals that 68% of respondents report lower wellbeing, while 50% feel less engaged. Only 27% of leaders believe their organisations manage change effectively. The study highlights the need for organisations to adapt quickly and integrate AI to enhance decision-making and employee wellbeing.

Business Review

LEGAL

Norway's Telenor faces lawsuit over data protection in Myanmar

Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor faces a lawsuit in Norway over sharing data with authorities in Myanmar from local customers who were suspected of opposing the 2021 coup. Justice and Accountability Initiative, a Swedish nonprofit organization, said it filed a civil class action suit against the firm before Asker and Baerum District Court. “Based on what we have heard through the media, there is nothing in this potential lawsuit that has not already been addressed, and in our view it is unlikely that such a claim will succeed,” a Telenor spokesperson said.

Bloomberg

ECONOMY

Eurozone retail sales slipped ahead of energy-driven inflation shock

Eurozone retail sales volumes fell 0.2% month-on-month in February, undershooting expectations and signalling fragile consumer demand even before the Iran war triggered a surge in energy prices. The decline was driven by a 0.5% drop in food, drink and tobacco sales, partially offset by a 0.7% rise in automotive fuel purchases ahead of March’s energy price spike, while Germany led regional weakness with a 0.6% fall. Despite the monthly dip, sales were still 1.7% higher year-on-year, but economists warn that rising inflation - already up to 2.5% in March - and declining real incomes are likely to weigh further on consumer spending in the coming months, reinforcing expectations of additional ECB rate hikes.

Wall Street Journal

INTERNATIONAL

Trump proposes to cut 9,400 TSA workers

The Trump administration is proposing to cut more than 9,400 workers and just over $1.5bn from the 60,000-employee Transportation ‌Security Administration (TSA), according to a budget document for the Department of Homeland Security - which oversees the agency that handles airport security operations - that is part of the White House budget proposal for the next fiscal year. President Donald Trump last week proposed mandating smaller airports to use private security instead of TSA as a first step toward privatisation of the agency, which was created after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents TSA security officers and which opposes privitisation, said it would make air travel less safe.

Reuters

Bins go uncollected as Melbourne council workers walk off the job

Workers from several Melbourne councils launched a 24-hour strike this week in a dispute over pay, leaving thousands of bins uncollected. The Australian Services Union (ASU) led the action, demanding a 10% pay rise in the first year, followed by 4% increases thereafter. Tash Wark, ASU Victoria and Tasmania branch secretary, described the strike as “the biggest strike local government has ever seen.” She said workers had lost 7% to 12% of their wages in real terms since 2021. "The councils involved in this have fought tooth and nail to try and stop our members from bargaining together across the group of councils," she told ABC Radio Melbourne. "So really what we're doing now is playing a lot of catch up."

Yahoo News Australia

ABC Online

Tips to city hotline uncover employees sleeping on shift

Ottawa Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon's latest report on the city's fraud and waste hotline identifies 57 substantiated cases of employee misconduct last year. Reported issues included sleeping on the job, taking city vehicles for personal use, and excessive overtime. One employee improperly included a relative in a hiring pool, violating city policy. Five employees were terminated, while others faced suspensions or letters of reprimand. City manager Wendy Stephanson said the cases represent a small sliver of the workforce. "It's not widespread. I want to be clear about that," she said. "These are very few and far between. I think what this tells us is that fraud and waste reporting works."

CBC

Singapore government offices told to restrict use of air-conditioning

Government offices in Singapore are being told to reduce electricity consumption in a bid to boost the nation’s energy resilience. Measures highlighted by the National Environment Agency include managing operating times and settings for air-conditioning, and turning off non-essential equipment when not in use. Singapore is just one of many countries which is taking steps to save energy as the conflict in the Middle East tightens global supplies. South Korea is considering curbs on driving to ameliorate the impact of the conflict, while government facilities in the Philippines have shortened their work week to save energy.

Bloomberg

OTHER

Galeries Lafayette reassesses China strategy amid weak luxury demand

Galeries Lafayette is reviewing its operations and partnerships in China as a prolonged slowdown in luxury demand continues to weigh on the market, though the group has no plans to exit the country. Management indicated that all strategic options are under consideration, reflecting weaker post-pandemic consumer spending, a property-driven economic slowdown and a shift toward domestic brands, with the company acknowledging its Beijing store may be oversized for current demand. China represents only a small portion of group revenue, which remains heavily concentrated in its Paris flagship store, which generates over €2bn annually, while broader international operations contribute around €1.1bn. The reassessment highlights ongoing challenges in the Chinese luxury sector, even as strong demand from US tourists has helped offset weaker Asian visitor spending in Paris, leaving overall sales at the flagship broadly flat in the first quarter.

Bloomberg

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe