The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
26th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Work-life balance tops employee priorities in Singapore
According to the latest Employer Brand Research Report by Randstad Singapore, good work-life balance has emerged as the most valued trait among employees for the third consecutive year, surpassing salary and job security. David Blasco, Randstad's country director for Singapore, said: “With salary packages and benefits now highly competitive, work-life balance is emerging as a crucial differentiator for both attracting and keeping top talent.” The survey, which included 2,522 working-age adults, revealed that 41% of respondents seeking new jobs are motivated by the desire for better work-life balance. Additionally, 44% of millennials prioritise work-life balance as their main motivation at work, while Gen Z focuses more on career growth. The findings highlight the importance of creating a positive work environment to enhance employee engagement and reduce turnover.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Australia's national plan to improve mental health is 'not fit for purpose'
The Productivity Commission has declared Australia's National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement "not fit for purpose" and in need of a complete rewrite. The interim report reveals that the agreement, established in 2022, is "fundamentally flawed" and has failed to improve the mental health system. Commissioner Angela Jackson said: "Unfortunately what we've found is there are lofty ambitions, but the actions made under the agreement were never going to deliver those objectives." The report highlights a worsening suicide rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and criticises the lack of funding for key initiatives. Co-commissioner Selwyn Button emphasised the need for better connections between initiatives to prevent suicide. The commission recommends extending the current agreement to 2027 to allow for a new, co-designed framework with measurable outcomes. Health Minister Mark Butler acknowledged the need for reform, saying: "It is essential we get this right." The commission is currently accepting public submissions for its final report.
WORKPLACE
Seafarers unite against harassment at sea
On June 25th the International Maritime Organization (IMO) highlighted harassment on its Day of the Seafarer. The issue is said to affect one in four seafarers during their careers. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said: "We have taken a decisive step to amend the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Code." The code now mandates training on preventing violence and harassment. The IMO has also initiated a social media campaign to share success stories and promote a culture of respect among seafarers. V.Group chief executive Rene Kofod-Olsen emphasised the importance of a positive workplace culture, saying: "We . . . cannot afford to make seafarer wellbeing an afterthought." The Global Maritime Forum says that clear policies and morale-boosting measures can help reduce harassment.
HIRING
Blackstone-backed ASK plans to hire wealth bankers in India
Blackstone's ASK Group is set to hire 70 private bankers, aiming to increase its workforce to 175 by March next year, as competition intensifies in India's wealth management sector. Rajesh Saluja, chief executive and co-founder, said: “I want to be sure that the expense is justified, they fit our culture and we are getting the right candidate.” With 520bn rupees ($6bn) in assets under advisory for over 3,700 families, ASK is cautious about hiring, particularly avoiding those who frequently change jobs or favour risky products. The firm anticipates continued investment in gold and fixed-income alternative funds, alongside equity index funds and mutual funds.
Xiamen hosts its first international job fair outside Fujian
The city of Xiamen hosted its inaugural international job fair in Beijing, aiming to attract professionals beyond Fujian province. The event featured 41 employers, including C&D Inc and Luckin Coffee, offering over 60 high-level positions across various sectors. Salaries for top roles, such as R&D engineers and international marketing directors, can reach up to 800,000 yuan ($111,000) annually. Sun Fuwei, manager of Xiamen ITG Group, said "This platform is highly efficient," as he highlighted the fair's success in matching candidates with employers.
WORKFORCE
Thailand's hotel sector braces for layoffs
The hotel industry in Thailand is facing potential large-scale layoffs due to a proposed increase in the minimum wage to 400 baht. La-iad Bungsrithong, an advisor to the Thai Hotels Association (THA), highlighted that five-star hotels in Chiang Mai have already felt the impact of rising wage costs, which have surged by 14% since last year. The THA has petitioned the prime minister to reconsider the wage hike, citing that "hotels in the upper-scale segment have been struggling to control their operational costs." The increase could lead to a 12% rise in costs for hotels in Chiang Mai and 18.7% for those in the Deep South. With the low season approaching and a decline in visitors from key markets, many hotels may resort to reducing their workforce to manage expenses.
TECHNOLOGY
Goldman Sachs launches AI assistant
Goldman Sachs has announced the firmwide launch of its generative artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, which is aimed at enhancing productivity across the bank. According to chief information officer Marco Argenti, around 10,000 employees are already using the GS AI Assistant. The move aligns Goldman with other major banks, such as Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, which have also integrated AI tools into their operations. The GS AI Assistant is designed to assist employees in "summarising complex documents and drafting initial content to performing data analysis."
INTERNATIONAL
Anthropic wins key US ruling on AI training in authors' copyright lawsuit
A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that Anthropic's use of books to train its artificial intelligence (AI) system was legal under the fair use doctrine. The decision follows a lawsuit brought last year against the AI firm by three authors, including best-selling mystery thriller writer Andrea Bartz, who accused it of stealing work to train its Claude AI model and build a multi-billion dollar business. In his ruling, Judge William Alsup said Anthropic's use of the authors' books was "exceedingly transformative" and therefore allowed under US law. But he rejected Anthropic's request to dismiss the case, ruling the firm would have to stand trial over its use of pirated copies to build its library of material. In a statement, Anthropic said it was pleased by the judge's recognition that its use of the works was transformative, but disagreed with the decision to hold a trial about how some of the books were obtained and used.
Telling employee their work is messy 'is not harassment'
An employment tribunal in London has ruled that pointing out that an employee’s work is messy and mistake-ridden is not harassment. The ruling came in the case of Thomas Shevlin, a senior HR operations manager at publishing firm John Wiley & Sons, who claimed he was left “devastated, hurt and profoundly upset” after he was told by his boss that his work was messy and required improvement.  Shevlin said that any errors were a result of his ADHD and accused Rebecca Roycroft of discrimination and harassment. The tribunal disagreed. Employment judge David Massarella said: “The making of spelling and grammar errors in professional documents is, self-evidently, a weakness . . . We consider that [Shevlin's] response, and that sense of grievance, to be unjustified having regard these anodyne comments. In our judgment, there was no unfavourable treatment. If a manager cannot be explicit about a weakness in performance, there is a risk that an entirely well meant warning will not be taken onboard by the employee.”
BP and others pull staff from Iraq oilfields
BP, Eni and TotalEnergies are evacuating foreign personnel from Iraqi oilfields where they operate, state-run Basra Oil Company said on Monday. "The companies operating in Basra Oil Company fields . . . have temporarily evacuated some foreign personnel, particularly BP, which operates in the Rumaila field," Basra Oil said in a statement. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for US oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said it is also taking temporary precautionary measures to move staff out of Iraq. 
Paris museum staff strike over job security
Staff at several renowned Paris museums, including Musée d'Art moderne and the Paris Catacombes, staged a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest stagnant wages and job security. Many employees have not seen a pay rise in 17 years and are often on temporary contracts. The strike, which involved guides, lecturers, and story-tellers, did not close the museums but limited guided tours and activities. The action followed a similar protest at the Louvre, and underscores growing tensions in France's museum sector.
OTHER
China cracks down on online fraud
China's Supreme People's Court has called for enhanced efforts to combat online fraud, emphasising the importance of consumer protection in the digital realm. The court highlighted five significant cases, including one where an online seller, surnamed Zhang, was fined for false advertising after misrepresenting a bracelet's material. The court said: "In livestream marketing, consumers heavily rely on the host's introduction to understand the product" as it reinforced the need for accountability. The ruling aims to deter consumer fraud and foster a trustworthy online shopping environment. Additionally, a case involving a dictionary app operator demonstrated the judiciary's commitment to protecting personal information rights, after the court ruled against excessive data collection practices.
 


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 Twitter.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

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

Click here to unsubscribe