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UK Edition
6th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Bosses fear workers' rights overhaul
Research by the Institute of Directors (IoD) has found that 72% of UK business leaders believe the government's workers' rights overhaul will hinder economic growth and lead to fewer hires. The poll indicates that over half of respondents foresee a "strong negative impact" on the economy. Concerns centre on changes to statutory sick pay and new rights for employees from day one, which could result in increased costs and legal challenges for businesses. Alex Hall-Chen, the IoD's principal policy advisor for employment, said that the bill is "significantly damaging business hiring intentions and confidence in the UK economy." The survey also found that nearly half of firms plan to reduce hiring, with a third considering outsourcing jobs abroad. Over half of directors indicated they would invest more in automation to enhance productivity.
CYBERSECURITY
Google warns that cyber thieves are targeting companies' Salesforce data
Google's Threat Intelligence Group has warned that a hacking group has been impersonating IT personnel to break into companies’ Salesforce tools, using the access for data theft and extortion. The hackers use voice calls to trick employees into visiting a purported Salesforce connected app setup page and unwittingly install a modified version of Salesforce's Data Loader tool. Technical infrastructure linked to the campaign shares characteristics with suspected ties to the loosely organised ecosystem known as “The Com,” known for small, disparate groups engaging in cybercriminal and sometimes violent activity. A Salesforce spokesperson said “there’s no indication the issue described stems from any vulnerability inherent in our platform.” The spokesperson said the voice calls used to trick employees “are targeted social engineering scams designed to exploit gaps in individual users’ cybersecurity awareness and best practices.”
TECHNOLOGY
Big Four urged to work with government on AI
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has stressed the need for collaboration between the Big Four audit firms and government as artificial intelligence gains prominence in business. During a meeting with top firms including PwC, KPMG, EY, and Deloitte, Lammy said: "Technology is the frontline of geopolitics. We are in a hyper-competitive race between nations – and companies – to reap the advantages of tools like AI." The Foreign Office's strategy aims to secure trade deals and enhance the UK's competitive edge in technology. With the International Monetary Fund estimating that AI could increase productivity by 1.5% annually, the potential economic benefit for the UK could reach £47bn each year over a decade. Lammy has prioritised establishing partnerships between businesses and the Foreign Office to leverage AI for diplomatic and economic growth.
PENSIONS
New pensions bill aims to push more investment into private markets
The government is poised to implement significant reforms to the pensions system. The proposed Pension Schemes Bill aims to enhance pension wealth and investment, with a focus on six key areas, including a reserve power for regulators to force some defined contribution workplace schemes to back more British assets and a mechanism for merging smaller pension pots. Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary, said the reforms are designed to "secure better value for savers' pensions and drive long-term investment in British businesses." The bill also seeks to improve transparency in pension scheme performance and address the issue of dormant small pots. Nausicaa Delfas, chief executive of The Pensions Regulator, described the bill as a "once in a generation" opportunity to enhance the UK pension system.
WORKPLACE
Man Group orders quants back to office five days a week
Man Group, the world’s largest listed hedge fund manager, has ordered its London-based quants to temporarily return to the office five days a week amid a period of poor performance. 
WORKFORCE
Job cuts gather pace in UK construction sector
In May, British construction firms experienced the fastest job cuts in nearly five years, driven by rising wage costs and declining demand. The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index for the sector increased to 47.9, indicating ongoing contraction as it remained below the neutral 50 mark for the fifth consecutive month. Despite a more optimistic outlook for future activity, firms opted to reduce staff due to "rising wages, squeezed margins and subdued demand." The construction sector's average wages rose by 6.4% in the first quarter, outpacing broader economic growth, while output increased by 0.9%. House building and civil engineering saw the most significant declines in activity.
STRATEGY
Procter & Gamble to slash 7,000 jobs
Procter and Gamble is set to reduce its workforce by 7,000 jobs over the next two years, representing 6% of the company's total staff, in response to declining consumer sentiment and tariff uncertainties. The cuts will predominantly affect non-manufacturing roles. The Ohio-based company, which employs 108,000 people globally, is also considering selling off certain brands and exiting specific markets. P&G's chief executive, Jon Moeller, highlighting the potential for price increases due to tariffs, said: "This is not a new approach, rather an intentional acceleration of the current strategy . . . to win in the increasingly challenging environment in which we compete."
LEGAL
Court backlogs a 'real danger' to Britain's reputation if not tackled, top judge says
Lord Hodge, deputy president of the Supreme Court, has warned of a "real danger" to Britain's international reputation due to ongoing court backlogs. He argues that these issues "weaken our sell of the UK as a successful rule of law society." Lord Reed, president of the Supreme Court, highlighted that the high costs associated with accessing the courts create barriers, particularly in family law. The backlog in crown court cases has reached a record high of 74,651, with projections suggesting it could hit 100,000 by 2029. A review led by Sir Brian Leveson is underway to recommend reforms to the court system this spring.
INTERNATIONAL
US Supreme Court makes 'reverse' discrimination suits easier
 The US Supreme Court has made it easier for people from majority backgrounds to pursue claims alleging workplace "reverse" discrimination, reviving an Ohio woman's lawsuit claiming she was illegally denied a promotion and demoted because she is heterosexual. Marlean Ames said that despite working for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for more than 20 years, she was denied a promotion and then demoted. The decision effectively lowers the burden of proof required for people who are members of a majority group - such as white or heterosexual people - to make discrimination claims. US court precedent covering some states, including Ohio, had required that members of majority groups show additional "background circumstances" to prove their case or evidence showing a pattern of discrimination. The court has now ruled that the standard of evidence for a discrimination claim should be the same, regardless of a person's identity.
Dutch banks push for office return
Big Dutch banks are implementing new guidelines to increase office attendance after years of promoting remote work. ING has proposed that staff work in the office at least two days a week, with one of those days on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. ABN Amro has also mandated a similar requirement. Employees are concerned about overcrowding and potential violations of collective labour agreements. A spokesman for ING said: “The physical presence of staff improves collaboration, strengthens connection with the company, stimulates creativity and helps new employees to settle in.” Meanwhile, Rabobank is experimenting with incentives to encourage more balanced attendance without enforcing strict mandates.
French dockers block military shipment to Israel
French dock workers at the port of Fos-sur-Mer outside Marseille are blocking the shipment of military materials destined for Israel in response to the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The CGT trade union condemned the shipment, asserting its opposition to "participate in the ongoing genocide orchestrated by the Israeli government." CGT secretary general Sophie Binet stressed that the French government needed to halt all arms deliveries to Israel, saying: "It is unacceptable that CGT dockers should be the ones forced to uphold the fundamental principles of international law."
Citi to shed 3,500 tech jobs in China
Citigroup is to cut about 3,500 jobs at two of its technology centres in China as the bank seeks to reduce and simplify its global tech operations to improve risk and data management. The reduction of staff at the China Citi Solution Centres in Shanghai and Dalian is expected to be completed by the start of the fourth quarter this year, the bank said. Citigroup said some of the roles would be moved to technology centres elsewhere. "Citi continues to pursue the establishment of a wholly owned securities and futures company in China," Marc Luet, banking head of Japan, Asia North and Australia, said. Citi will have around 2,000 staff in China after the tech job cuts, a source said.
OTHER
Fewer children are playing face-to-face
A majority of parents believe their own childhoods were better, easier, and safer than those of their children, according to a major new survey commissioned by the NSPCC. The YouGov poll of over 4,000 parents found that just 25% of children play with another person daily, while online gaming has become more frequent, particularly among 12 to 16-year-olds. Despite 59% of parents expressing a desire for more in-person play, many reported that such interactions were increasingly rare.
 


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