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APAC Edition
6th December 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
You don't have to be Japanese to suffer karōshi
Karōshi is a Japanese word meaning "death by overwork" - but the phenomenon isn't limited to Japan. According to a 2021 study by the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, approximately 750,000 people who worked more than 55 hours per week died from karōshi syndrome globally. Sugumar Mariappanadar, a discipline leader in human resource management at the Australian Catholic University, says workplaces might offer perks, such as free fruit or discounted gym memberships, to boost employees' morale or physical health, but such initiatives don't address the root problem. "Managers have to sit and talk with their employees . . . [about] how they can disengage from work," he says.  Downsides for employers of overwork include low productivity, poor retention, absenteeism or unplanned leave, and "presenteeism", when an employee is physically showing up for a job, but not functioning at full capacity.
WORKFORCE
Reforms are key to addressing China's aging workforce issues, expert says
Adjusting institutional mechanisms to boost economic vitality and employment quality is key to addressing China's challenges of a declining birth rate and an aging population, Cai Fang, chief expert at the National High-end Think Tank of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told attendees at the recent 24th China Economics Annual Conference. Cai underscored the need to offer skills training and vocational retraining programmes for both younger and older workers, in order to enhance their employment capabilities and better adapt to the current labour market demands.
Under-performing workers in China get 'snail awards'
Some cities in China are distributing “snail awards” to under-performing workers in a bid to eliminate a so-called “lying flat” mentality among workers. Lying flat means doing a bare minimum to get by. In Kunming, in southern China’s Yunnan province, lying flat means being “complacent with the status quo, fear of taking responsibility, procrastination and low work standards.” One observer explained: "In China, if you do something wrong, the consequences are rather high, so the officials would rather stay inactive."
HIRING
Professional job postings in many Asian countries fall as employers hire locals
Employers in many of Asia's biggest economies are seeking fewer Japanese white-collar workers as they feel the impact of a slowing Chinese economy, and are instead favouring local talent. Job postings geared toward Japanese workers in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea and India together fell 16% on the year in the July-September quarter, according to data compiled by Tokyo-based JAC Recruitment.
TECHNOLOGY
Citi launches AI tools for staff in eight countries
Citigroup has introduced new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance productivity for around 140,000 employees across eight countries. The technology aims to simplify work processes and boost efficiency. Both the Citi Stylus and Citi Assist tools will be accessible to employees in the US, Canada, Hungary, India, Ireland, Poland, Singapore and the United Kingdom, and they will be gradually introduced to other markets. Tim Ryan, Citi's head of technology and business enablement, described Citi Assist as "like having a super-smart co-worker at your fingertips to help navigate commonly used policies and procedures across HR, risk, compliance, and finance." Citi Stylus, meanwhile, is able to summarise, compare or search multiple documents at the same time.
Just 10% of law firms have a GenAI policy, report says
A report from Thomson Reuters says just 10% of law firms and 21% of corporate legal teams have implemented policies to guide their organization’s use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). The Thomson Reuters 2024 Generative AI in Professional Services report found that only 8% said that GenAI is covered under their existing technology policy, while 75% of firms said they don’t have a policy, and 7% said they don’t know. “As the technology continues to gain prominence across industries, legal professionals are grappling with a unique concern: the unauthorised practice of law,” observed John Shatwell, head of Legal Professionals Europe, Thomson Reuters. “AI is gaining increasing capabilities to undertake legal tasks. In tandem with these developments, the profession must continue its efforts to rapidly put in place the internal processes and guardrails to ensure the safe and controlled use of AI in the field.”
HEALTH & WELLBEING
FIFO mental health fears
A survey has found that construction workers in Western Australia experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours at three times the national average, with fly-in fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in drive-out (DIDO) workers particularly at risk. The study by University of Western Australia (UWA) and MATES in Construction showed those in FIFO and DIDO roles in the state's construction industry are at significantly greater risk of psychological distress compared to their peers in fixed locations. UWA researchers are now calling for more targeted mental health interventions in the sector.
INTERNATIONAL
UK firms fight back against work-from-home fakers
The Telegraph reports that a growing number of hybrid and remote workers in the UK are engaging in activities unrelated to their jobs during work hours, with over 80% admitting to watching TV for an average of two hours daily, according to a survey by TonerGiant. Additionally, 10% of British workers take naps during work hours, often between 3pm and 4pm, while others juggle two jobs simultaneously. A recent study by Workhuman revealed that over one-third of UK workers feign productivity in remote settings. Many remote workers use tactics to appear active, such as moving their mouse frequently or employing devices like mouse jigglers. However, employers are increasingly implementing surveillance measures to counteract these behaviours. During the pandemic, workplace monitoring surged, with 60% of employees believing they were being tracked by 2022, a figure projected to rise to 70% by 2025, according to Gartner. Surveillance methods include keystroke logging, screen monitoring, time tracking, and webcam usage, with some software even capturing screenshots or photos of employees’ activities.
Some women say they feel threatened after US election
AP News reports that some men perceive the US presidential election result as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights and have seized on Donald Trump’s victory to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Gender and politics experts have said that, to some men, Trump’s return to the White House is seen as a vindication, but for many young women, the election felt like a referendum on women’s rights, with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss feeling like a rejection of their own rights and autonomy. “For some of these men, Trump’s victory represents a chance to reclaim a place in society that they think they are losing around . . . traditional gender roles,” observes Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank which focuses on polarisation and extremism. “With Trump’s victory, many of these men felt like they were heard, they were victorious. They feel that they have potentially a supporter in the White House,” says Dana Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. AP News notes that none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump or anyone in his immediate orbit.
Delivery firm Glovo shifts to employee model
Glovo, the app-based food delivery service, has announced a significant shift in its operational model in Spain, transitioning its freelance riders to employee status. The decision comes in response to government pressure and aims to mitigate legal uncertainties. According to Delivery Hero, Glovo's parent company, the change will impact 2025 core profit by €100m. The move follows Spain's 2021 "Rider Law," which mandates that delivery workers be recognised as employees, ensuring they receive benefits such as sick leave and job security. Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said: "Laws are to be obeyed. We have said it before: no exceptions."
OTHER
Most social media influencers do not verify information before posting - UNESCO
A UNESCO study reveals that 62% of social media influencers neglect to verify information before sharing it online. The UN body stated that “The prevalent lack of rigorous critical evaluation of information highlights an urgent need to enhance creators’ media and information literacy skills, including identifying and using reliable fact-checking resources.” Zhang Zhaoyuan, a China-based influencer, told UNESCO that “Everything I post is based entirely on material drawn from my own life experiences."

 
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