THE HOT STORY

Tesco boss warns of joblessness epidemic

Tesco CEO Ashwin Prasad warns that the UK is facing a "quiet epidemic" of joblessness at a time when over 9m people are economically inactive. With the unemployment rate now at a four-year high of 5.1%, Prasad urged the government to stop "tinkering at the edges" and implement significant changes to address the issue. He noted that many young people are particularly affected, with nearly 1m not in education, employment, or training. "We have been sleepwalking into a quiet epidemic that is keeping millions of people out of work," Prasad said.

The Guardian

LEGAL

PwC former employee settles discrimination case

A woman who worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for more than 40 years has settled her case of age and disability discrimination for £150,000. The woman said a senior colleague raised concerns about her knowledge of new technology and asked if training was something she was interested in at her age. She also reported being told that she should consider taking time off for caring responsibilities. The case was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Chief commissioner Geraldine McGahey said: "All employees, regardless of their age, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace."

BBC News

Lloyds wins tribunal after staff criticism of Israel

Lloyds Bank has won a tribunal case against two employees, Afra Sohail and Aunngbeen Khalid, who claimed discrimination after being sanctioned for anti-Israel posts on the bank's internal platform, Yammer. The tribunal ruled that while the bank's actions were justified in removing the posts due to their polarising nature, the disciplinary measures were "heavy handed." The judges noted that neither employee had a history of similar behaviour and suggested informal guidance would have sufficed. Khalid expressed disappointment but acknowledged the tribunal's recognition of the legal protection for anti-Zionist beliefs.

The Daily Telegraph

Tribunal rules menopause comments not harassment

An employment tribunal has ruled that asking a female colleague about menopause is not inherently offensive and does not constitute harassment. Lucie Waller, a programme co-ordinator at Swann Engineering Group, claimed her manager, Andrew Gregory, made inappropriate comments regarding her health. The tribunal found that while the comments contributed to a breach of trust, they were not sufficient for a harassment claim. Employment Judge Bruce Gardiner said: "The comment itself was not inherently offensive, nor was it made to demean Ms Waller."

Daily Mail

WORKFORCE

Big increase in teachers paid more than £125,000

Research by financial advice firm Quilter, based on Department for Education data, reveals that the number of teachers paid more than £125,000 has risen from 330 in 2019/20 to around 1,180 in the last academic year. Meanwhile, around 35% of teachers in England are now earning £50,000 or more, up from 14% over the same period, bringing them into the top 40% income tax bracket after years of frozen thresholds. Rachael Griffin from Quilter said the figures "neatly capture the cumulative effect of frozen tax thresholds and show how professions not typically associated with high earnings are now suffering higher rates of tax."

The Times

WORKPLACE

London Stock Exchange's £200m makeover approved

The City of London has approved a £200m redevelopment of the London Stock Exchange Group's (LSEG) headquarters at 10 Paternoster Square. The project, led by Oxford Properties and Hines, aims to create a modern workspace with a double-height glazed lobby and extensive roof terrace. Construction is set to begin in early 2027, with completion expected in 2029.

The Times

CORPORATE

US embassy in London denies visas to executives over minor offences

The US embassy in London is preventing top-level business executives from travelling to America over minor criminal offences, as President Donald Trump’s clampdown on immigration extends to the UK.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

Nike prepares Converse for layoffs as sales slide toward 15-year low

Nike has warned staff at its Converse brand to brace for job cuts and restructuring as sales continue to deteriorate, with revenues heading toward a 15-year low. Converse employees have been told to work from home ahead of the changes, which chief executive Aaron Cain said would involve “difficult decisions” and the departure of multiple senior executives, though no details were given on the scale of the layoffs. The brand has struggled to diversify beyond its flagship Chuck Taylor shoes, while broader weakness in China has added pressure on Nike’s results. The restructuring forms part of wider efforts under Nike chief executive Elliott Hill to stabilise the group after several quarters of declining sales.

Bloomberg

The Oregonian

Rail workers' unions in Spain end strike

A three-day rail union national strike in Spain over safety concerns which was set to last until Wednesday has now been called off after authorities agreed to boost investments and reinforce staffing following a number of high-profile train accidents. The government will invest €1.8bn ($2.15bn) in railroad maintenance until 2030 and will hire 3,650 additional workers for the public-funded rail administrator and operator, Spain's Transport Ministry said.

Euronews

Reuters

Sun Art says it has lost contact with newly-appointed CEO

Sun Art Retail Group, one of China’s largest hypermarket operators, has said it has been unable to contact its chief executive, Li Weiping, just two months after her appointment, with the company’s chairman stepping in to oversee daily operations. The group told investors that the situation is not related to its business and that operations remain normal, although reports in Chinese media suggested Li may be assisting in a police investigation, which the company denied as false. The incident has revived investor concerns over executive disappearances amid China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

Bloomberg

Reuters

OTHER

Timing of England’s school holidays is ‘pretty bizarre’, says Ofsted head

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has told the Financial Times that ministers should explore changing the length and timing of school holidays, describing the current structure as “pretty bizarre.”

Financial Times

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