Human Times

APAC Edition

11th September 2025

THE HOT STORY

Australian lender cuts local jobs to hire in India and Vietnam

National Australia Bank (NAB) is cutting 410 jobs in its technology and enterprise operations in Australia and creating 127 roles in India and Vietnam. "The environment we operate in is constantly changing and we need to have the right structures alongside the right skills and capabilities in the right locations to help us deliver for our customers," NAB said. The bank's announcement came one day after rival ANZ said it would cut 3,500 jobs over the next year. Finance Sector Union president Wendy Streets said it was disappointing that two of Australia's biggest lenders had shed jobs in successive days. "First ANZ, now NAB. One after the other, banks are swinging the axe," Streets said.

Reuters

TALENT STRATEGY

10 Engagement Lessons From a NYT Bestseller

What if your management playbook is already out of date? The latest guidance comes straight from the New York Times Bestseller Building A Magnetic Culture. Backed by surveys of more than 3 million employees and four decades of leadership insights, it identifies the real drivers of engagement in 2025

A Key Driver Analysis revealed which factors matter most, and in what order. From recognition and communication to trust and accountability, the research highlights ten practical management actions that create stronger cultures and higher-performing teams.

These are not passing trends or leadership clichés. They are evidence-based practices proven to keep employees motivated, loyal, and productive. For HR leaders shaping the future of work, this is essential reading.

Download the bestseller-based blog now

REMOTE WORKING

Microsoft employees will have to start coming into the office three days a week

Microsoft is to require its employees to work from the office at least three days a week beginning next year. The company said the new mandate will go into effect in Puget Sound, which includes its headquarters outside of Seattle, starting in February. It will then expand to other US locations before moving to international offices. “As we build the AI products that will define this era, we need the kind of energy and momentum that comes from smart people working side by side, solving challenging problems together,” Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s human resources chief, wrote in a memo. CNBC notes that Microsoft has held several rounds of layoffs this year, but Coleman wrote that “this update is not about reducing headcount,” and instead is “about working together in a way that enables us to meet our customers’ needs.”

CNBC

Reuters

STRATEGY

Novo Nordisk to cut 9,000 jobs

Novo Nordisk, the maker of weight-loss drug Wegovy, is cut 9,000 jobs, or about 11.5% of its workforce, in a restructuring that aims to save 8bn Danish crowns ($1.26bn) annually. "Novo Nordisk today announced a company-wide transformation to simplify its organisation, improve the speed of decision-making, and reallocate resources towards the company's growth opportunities in diabetes and obesity," the company said. Novo, which has 78,400 roles globally, said about 5,000 of the job cuts will be in its native Denmark.

Reuters

LEGAL

Korean companies admit cutting corners on US visas but say they have little choice

South Korean companies routinely use unsuitable visas for workers sent to the US to build multibillion-dollar advanced manufacturing sites, according to Seoul-based executives and industry groups.

Financial Times

WORKFORCE

Alibaba shows off new F1-style delivery uniform

Alibaba has unveiled a new outfit for its delivery workers, as the company looks to give China's e-commerce sector a facelift. The new orange uniform, a change from the previous light blue Ele.me outfits and reminiscent of the overalls worn by racing drivers, features 22 brands from the business. The kit includes upgraded helmets and food delivery boxes, while the overalls are insulated, waterproof, and wind-resistant.

South China Morning Post

HEALTH & WELLBEING

More firms aim to increase EHS budgets

Nearly four out of five companies and government agencies worldwide (78%) plan to step up budgeting for environment, health and safety (EHS) initiatives in the next three years, according to a new EY survey of 526 C-suite leaders and EHS executives. Promoting health and wellbeing is the top reason organisations have increased EHS spending during the past three years, according to EY. “This is almost certainly in response to the high workplace mortality and injury rates in many markets,” EY said in a report. Nearly three out of four (73%) companies that proactively invest in EHS programs said they have reduced costs during unexpected disruptions, compared with 64% of respondents that take a reactive approach to EHS challenges, EY said. “Investing in EHS not only helps you comply with regulations but also enhances your ability to operate effectively and responsibly,” Jessica Wollmuth, EY global EHS co-leader, said in a statement, adding that companies should prioritise EHS spending despite current market volatility and budget constraints.

CFO Dive

WORKPLACE

HSBC opens wealth centre in Hong Kong's ICC

HSBC Holdings has launched its largest wealth management centre globally on the 99th floor of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong. The 23,000-sq-ft facility features 51 meeting rooms and two event spaces, catering to high-net-worth clients. Janet Pang, HSBC Hong Kong's managing director, said: "With Hong Kong set to become the world's largest cross-border wealth hub by 2030, we are opening the world's tallest bank to serve our high-net-worth customers."

South China Morning Post

LEADERSHIP

PwC's Tom Seymour deregistered over tax scandal

Tom Seymour, former chief of PwC Australia, has been deregistered by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) for failing to act on signs of unethical conduct within the firm. The TPB's report highlighted that Seymour allowed a culture of improper behaviour to flourish in the tax division. He denied awareness of any confidential information being shared and said: "I disagree with the TPB finding that I breached the Code of Conduct." The sanction is the most significant in the ongoing PwC tax leaks scandal, which has resulted in numerous departures.

Bloomberg Tax

Financial Review

ECONOMY

Vietnam growth forecast cut by World Bank

The World Bank has reduced its economic growth forecast for Vietnam to 6.6% from 6.8% due to the impact of US tariffs on exports. This adjustment reflects concerns that Vietnam's export-oriented economy is vulnerable to global growth slowdowns and reduced demand from key trading partners. The World Bank also anticipates a further decline in growth to 6.1% in 2026, with a potential recovery to 6.5% in 2027 as global trade improves.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Massive data breach hits Stockholm employees

A cyberattack on Miljödata, a Swedish HR system provider, has compromised the personal data of over 40,000 City of Stockholm employees. The breach, detected in late August, includes names, identity numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and employment IDs. Cybersecurity firm Truesec is investigating the incident, but the full extent of the leak remains unclear. Marcus Murray, founder of Truesec, said: "It's still unclear whether sensitive data was accessed." The City of Stockholm said it is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available.

Helsinki Times

UK urged to go Dutch on the working week

The 4 Day Week Foundation, a campaign group calling for a shorter working week, says the UK should follow the example of the Netherlands, where more staff work fewer hours but productivity remains high. While more than half of Dutch women and nearly one in five men work fewer than 30 hours, data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that staff in the Netherlands are more efficient in absolute productivity terms than workers in Germany, France and Britain. Joe Ryle, campaign director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, argues that the UK is "long overdue an update" when it comes to the shape of the working week.

Daily Star

OTHER

Uniqlo Hong Kong opts for store upgrades over expansion

Uniqlo is focusing on revamping its 32 outlets in Hong Kong rather than expanding its footprint amid sluggish retail sales, as the popular Japanese fashion retailer contends with a decline in revenue and profit from its Greater China region. The group refers to its strategy of redesigning to enhance market appeal as “Scrap & Build”, according to a spokesperson. “This allows us to upgrade and expand stores in key locations to better serve local communities, in line with our individual store management [or] koten keiei management philosophy", the spokesperson said. “At the same time, we remain open to exploring new store opportunities in Hong Kong when the right location arises”. Koten keiei encourages individual stores to take responsibility for their own “vibrant local management” and become “a valued and necessary part of local customers’ lives”, according to company documents.

South China Morning Post

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