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European Edition
26th July 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Two-thirds of British jobs could be enhanced with AI, Google says
Almost two-thirds of British jobs could be "enhanced" with AI, according to research commissioned by Google. The study found that 61% of jobs in the UK will be "radically" transformed by AI, while 31% will be "insulated" from the technology. The report also said that only a small number of jobs are likely to be fully phased out by AI, with the financial and insurance sector forecast to lose just 4% of jobs. Google is partnering with various organisations to introduce AI technology into workplaces in a way that boosts workers' abilities. The government supports this trial, which aims to deliver AI skills training to help careers flourish and businesses grow. “Fewer than 50% of people are actually taking advantage of these tools in their working life on a day to day basis,” said Debbie Weinstein, managing director of Google UK. “The uptake of these tools is very low, and I think the only way we’re going to unlock the potential of what AI can do is actually by getting people to use them, and to feel confident and capable about them.” Public First estimates that the UK economy could gain over £400bn if AI is adopted to its fullest extent over the next six years.
WORKFORCE
Staffing shortages force closure of 120 health centres in Finland
Staffing shortages have caused the temporary closure of 120 health centres across Finland, affecting nearly every wellbeing service county, according to a Yle survey. In North Savo, 16 health centres are closed this summer due to a lack of personnel. The nursing shortage is attributed to low wages and heavy workloads. To address the issue, it is suggested to increase the number of training positions and promote work-based immigration. The Finnish Union of Practical Nurses emphasizes the need to improve job descriptions and work management.
UK employers urged to show flexibility ahead of Paris Olympics
Employers in the UK are being urged to be flexible when allowing staff time off to watch the Olympic Games. Susan Clews, the chief executive of the conciliation service Acas, has advised bosses to show a bit of give and take when considering holiday requests. Acas says that employees could start late or leave early, as long as they make up the lost time, and might even be allowed to keep tabs on the Olympics via radio or TV at work. "Paris 2024 will be an exciting event for many sports fans but staff should avoid getting disqualified for unreasonable demands or behaviour in the workplace during this period," said Clews. Employers are advised to have workplace agreements in place to ensure productivity.
LEGAL
Scheme for EU citizens post-Brexit faces legal challenges
The UK government scheme allowing EU citizens to remain post-Brexit is facing legal challenges due to conflicting court rulings. In one case, a Slovenian software engineer lost his right to emergency housing, while in another case, a Spanish mother was granted the opposite ruling. A French citizen with deteriorating health seeking housing assistance also had her case dismissed. Legal experts warn that these inconsistencies could have severe consequences for vulnerable EU citizens, similar to the Windrush scandal. The rulings have caused confusion and could lead to further inconsistencies in benefit rules. Experts are calling on the Home Office to officially recognise the scope of the EU Settlement Scheme to prevent a potential "Windrush II" situation. The government has hinted at a possible review of the scheme.
Bankers used shed in forest as HQ to evade tax
The Times reports on allegations that six bank managers from Munich were involved in a tax evasion scheme worth up to €16m. They allegedly spent 14 years driving to a dilapidated barn in the Ebersberger forest, where they had a sparsely furnished room with no amenities. The shed, known as the Seegrasstadl, was registered as the corporate headquarters of several subsidiaries of HypoVereinsbank (HVB) group, owned by UniCredit. The purpose was to take advantage of lower business rates in the district. The accused worked in HVB's "wealth cap" division, investing clients' funds in passenger jets. Germany has several mini tax havens that offer discounts on municipal trade tax rates, which critics argue can be exploited by professionals to set up sham companies.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
CrowdStrike hit with complaint over 'unlawful' diversity-hiring initiatives
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has been hit with a complaint over its diversity hiring scheme. Conservative legal action group America First Legal (AFL) alleges that CrowdStrike favours women and minorities for jobs and promotions, which it claims prioritises sex and skin colour over talent. AFL has filed complaints with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against various companies, including CrowdStrike, for their diversity schemes. The complaint against CrowdStrike highlights the company's commitment to building a diverse workforce through mentorship and internal development programs for women and minorities, while allegedly neglecting white men. CrowdStrike was responsible for a software update bug that crashed millions of computers worldwide last week. Critics claim that diversity hiring schemes can lead to inefficiency and harm the quality of products and services.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Aggressive seagulls attack Amsterdam hospital employees
The Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), a collective of two teaching hospitals in the Dutch capital, has issued a warning to employees about aggressive seagulls at its locations. The seagulls have been attacking hospital employees who unknowingly approach their nests. Most attacks have occurred at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) location. The hospital has advised staff to wave their keycord, attached to their employee pass, to keep the seagulls at bay. Seagulls have become a nuisance in urban areas in the Netherlands, but little can be done as they are a protected species.
TECHNOLOGY
Air France-KLM expects to spend €10m on compensation for Windows outage
Air France-KLM is expecting a compensation fee of €10m following last week's worldwide computer outage. The outage resulted in KLM cancelling 75 return flights at Schiphol Airport, especially to and from European destinations. Air France-KLM is still mapping out the damage, including missed income and hotel expenses for stranded passengers. KLM CEO Marjan Rintel expressed frustration over the situation, but assured that the airline had the situation under control quickly. The airline has made a rebooking proposal for all affected passengers.
LEADERSHIP
Dentons appoints Kate Barton as global CEO
Dentons, the world's largest law firm, has appointed Kate Barton from EY as its next global chief executive. Barton, who has spent 35 years at EY, will join Dentons in September and take over from Elliott Portnoy in November. Portnoy has overseen significant growth at Dentons, which now operates in 167 locations across 82 countries. Barton has held various executive leadership roles at EY, including CEO of tax, law, and people advisory services. She has helped transform EY's global tax practice through strategic investments and M&A activity.
CULTURE
Lego boss explains the importance of play in business
As digital innovation reshapes the toy market, Lego's CEO, Niels B Christiansen, discusses the importance of play in business. Lego, which produces over 15,900 different types of bricks, has been growing its revenue and expanding into new markets. However, the company also faces the challenge of addressing its environmental impact. Christiansen acknowledges the importance of sustainability and aims to replace many of Lego's products with oil-free alternatives by 2032. Christiansen believes that playfulness is a tool for better leadership and workplaces, and he says Lego's playful work culture reflects this belief. The company encourages creativity, curiosity, and bravery in its employees and fosters a playful environment, Christiansen says.
INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh garment sector reopens after protest crackdown
Garment factories and banks have reopened in Bangladesh after authorities eased a curfew imposed to contain deadly clashes sparked by student protests over civil service employment quotas. Last week's violence killed at least 186 people, according to an AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals, during some of the worst unrest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure. The garment industry generates $50bn in yearly export revenue for Bangladesh, employing millions of young women to sew clothes for H&M, Zara, Gap and other leading international brands. "All garment factories have reopened across the country today," a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said.
Coal miner wins landmark legal victory in Australia and multi-million dollar payout for black lung
A coal miner in Australia has won a landmark legal victory and a multimillion-dollar payout after developing black lung due to his employers' negligence. Craig Keogh, a machine operator at mines in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, became the first Australian to win a black lung case at trial. The Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW found the mines negligent in exposing Keogh to coal dust. Keogh, who was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis in 2018, was awarded A$3.2m in damages. The decision is said to set a strong precedent for coal miners in similar circumstances to receive compensation. Keogh said his main motivations for the legal action were to ensure others with similar ailments can get compensation and to drive the industry to improve safety standards. Judge David Russell accepted that Keogh will never work again due to his respiratory and psychiatric health. Downer Mining, CPB Contractors, and Campbell Mining Services are all responsible for the payout.
Top Chinese tech firms pursue AI graduates overseas amid shortage of top tech talent
China's biggest tech companies, including Baidu, Tencent Holdings, and ByteDance, are conducting global recruitment drives to attract top talent in cutting-edge technologies including AI, semiconductors, and autonomous driving. Baidu's campaign focuses on expertise in large language models (LLMs), computer vision, self-driving, and integrated circuit design. Tencent is also targeting tech students worldwide in fields like LLMs, game engines, robotics, and quantum computing. ByteDance is looking for PhD students specializing in robotics, cybersecurity, and hardware. The companies have promised “competitive compensation” and “comprehensive training” in a bid to lure the world's best tech talent, which is also being sought by western tech giants and academia.
 


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