The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
UK Edition
23rd June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Labour’s industrial strategy includes £275m for skills
Sir Keir Starmer is to unveil a decade-long industrial strategy aimed at revitalising the UK economy and reducing dependence on foreign workers. The plan includes a £275m investment in skills training for Britons in growth sectors such as defence, engineering, digital, and construction. "Our modern industrial strategy will be powered by investing in British people," Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said. "It will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow and drive growth and investment right across the country." The government anticipates that the identified growth sectors will generate 1.1m new jobs by 2035.
WORKFORCE
Government urged to protect workers
Business leaders are calling on the government to expand legislative measures to safeguard all public-facing workers amid alarming rates of violence and abuse. According to the Institute of Customer Service, 42% of workers in sectors including hospitality and transport reported experiencing abuse, a 19% increase year-on-year. Jo Causon, chief executive of the institute, highlighted that "frontline workers were facing unacceptable levels of assault and abuse from some customers." While a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers is being introduced, businesses argue that the legislation should encompass all public-facing roles. In a letter to the government, 76 businesses, including Sky, Wickes and Virgin Media 02, said that current laws offer "only a partial solution to an endemic and preventable issue." Causon emphasised the importance of protecting these workers to prevent negative impacts on business performance.
Morrisons returns to five-day week for head office staff
Morrisons has mandated that its head office staff return to a full five-day work week, abandoning a previous flexible working policy that allowed for compressed hours. The change, effective this month, aims to bolster the supermarket's performance amid increasing competition from rivals such as Aldi. Rami Baitiéh, Morrisons' chief executive, is leading efforts to revitalise the company, which saw a 4.2% sales increase to £3.9bn in the 13 weeks to April 27. However, Morrisons' market share has declined to 8.4% from 8.6% over the past year. A spokesperson said: "In the context of a relentlessly competitive UK grocery market . . . we have taken the difficult decision to ask our head office colleagues to move their working pattern from 4.5 days to a full five-day week." Staff will still have the option to work from home.
LEGAL
Union urged to back activist doctors
The British Medical Association (BMA) is being urged to support NHS staff involved in non-violent climate protests. Motions submitted for the BMA's Annual Representative Meeting in Liverpool advocate for a ban on disciplinary actions against doctors arrested during such protests and to recognise climate change as a public health emergency. One motion states that doctors have an "ethical duty to advocate for direct action" and should be protected from career repercussions. The push follows cases like that of Dr Sarah Benn, who lost her medical licence after participating in climate protests, and Dr Patrick Hart, who was jailed for damaging petrol pumps.
HIRING
Big Four to cut jobs in favour of AI
The Big Four accountancy firms - Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC - are significantly reducing their graduate recruitment and cutting jobs as they increasingly rely on artificial intelligence for entry-level tasks. KPMG has made the most substantial cuts, reducing its recruitment scheme by 29% from 1,399 in 2023 to 942 last year. Deloitte and EY have also scaled back their graduate hiring by 18% and 11%, respectively. The firms are adapting to a downturn in the consulting market while maintaining high partner payouts, leading to a reduction in their overall workforce.
PURPOSE
New NatWest boss shifts to a customer-centric approach
Paul Thwaite, the new chief executive of NatWest, has moved away from the "purpose-led" strategy of his predecessor, Dame Alison Rose, following the controversy surrounding the closure of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's Coutts account. The incident raised questions about freedom of speech and led to Rose's departure. In the bank's latest annual report, the term "purpose" appeared only 125 times, a drop from 262 instances in the previous report. In an interview with the Times, Thwaite stressed a shift towards a customer-centric approach, adding that while the bank is refocusing, it remains committed to ESG policies, saying: "We're still one of the biggest banks for sustainable finance."
STRATEGY
Microsoft plans major layoffs amid AI push
Microsoft is preparing to cut thousands of jobs, especially in sales, as it refocuses on artificial intelligence, Bloomberg reports. The cuts come after a May round that affected 6,000 workers. While final decisions may shift, layoffs are expected after the company’s fiscal year ends next month. Microsoft, with 228,000 employees as of last June, is investing $80bn in capital expenditures this year- primarily for expanding data centres to support AI. The move aligns with broader industry trends. Microsoft declined to comment on the planned cuts.
TAX
Tax investigations soar for high earners
HMRC has hired an extra 400 compliance officers after inquiries into the tax affairs of the wealthiest Britons yielded more than £1.5bn last year. The tax authority aims to generate at least £500m more in tax revenues by 2030.
INTERNATIONAL
Korean language textbook for migrants focuses on workplace phrases
A new textbook titled "Jang Young Sil Basic Korean" aims to assist migrant workers and international students in navigating Korea's manufacturing workplaces. Released by the Institute for Special Purpose Korean at Seojeong University, the book focuses on practical phrases and vocabulary relevant to the factory environment, such as “Do we have work gloves in this workshop?” and “When is payday?” Son Hye-jin, head of the university's Korean language institute, highlighted that existing textbooks often lack real-life context, leading to disengagement among learners. The initiative addresses the communication challenges faced by many migrant workers, with the goal of helping them integrate into Korean society. “Effective communication impacts not only productivity but also workplace safety,” Son said. The university is also developing additional resources for other sectors, aiming to support learners in becoming valued members of society.
US court weighs data discovery fight over hiring bias claims
For Bloomberg Law, Chris Marr writes about how job applicants who are bringing a closely watched bias lawsuit targeting Workday’s artificial intelligence-powered hiring software are fighting to uncover information needed to make or break their claims. The plaintiffs’ obtaining substantial discovery would boost the outlook for more cases, which attorneys view as difficult to prove given job applicants’ lack of insight into how the technology evaluates them, Marr writes. The case is described as a "pivotal moment for AI bias lawsuits."
Japan's FTC warns publishers for violating freelance law
Japan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has issued its first warning under the freelance law, which came into effect in November 2024, to two major publishers. The regulator alleged that they failed to specify transaction conditions to writers and photographers. Shogakukan and Kobunsha, both based in Tokyo, were reprimanded for failing to pay freelance magazine writers and photographers on time and failing to specify the terms and conditions of transactions, and urged to take preventive measures under the law.
OTHER
Tinder launches double-dating feature
Tinder has launched a new feature called Double Date, allowing users to create joint profiles with friends for paired matches. The feature, which aims to alleviate dating stress for younger users, was popular during testing in Europe and Latin America. Cleo Long, Tinder's head of product marketing, said:“This is a social-first experience that's really meant to help relieve some of the pressure that we know a lot of Gen Z experiences with dating.” The feature has shown promising results, with nearly 90% of testers under 29 and a significant increase in messaging activity. However, Tinder faces challenges, including a decline in paying subscribers and leadership changes, as it seeks to adapt to shifting user preferences.
 


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