Human Times

UK Edition

27th April 2026

THE HOT STORY

John Lewis pushes staff back to office to boost performance

John Lewis has told head office staff to spend more time working in person as the retailer seeks to improve performance and keep pace with rivals moving away from remote working. Employees are expected to be "more in person than not" - either in the office or with suppliers and customers - to strengthen collaboration and outcomes. The shift comes as the retailer, which also owns Waitrose, tries to accelerate its turnaround after reporting a £21m loss last year. While maintaining a hybrid model, the company is exploring ways to expand office space to accommodate increased attendance.

The Sunday Telegraph

WORKFORCE

Trade bodies warn of job losses

Four major trade bodies have warned the government that the new guaranteed hours policy could lead to increased unemployment and hinder young people's entry into the job market. The British Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation, Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and UKHospitality expressed their concerns in a letter, saying that the policy risks reducing flexibility in the labour market. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, noted that the rules could deter employers from offering flexible roles, which she said are crucial for young workers. The government maintains that the policy aims to provide job security.

Financial Times

City AM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Workplace stress linked to 900,000 deaths

Workplace stress is a significant global issue, causing nearly 900,000 deaths annually, according to a report by the United Nations' International Labour Organisation (ILO). The study, titled “The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action,” highlights factors such as long hours, job insecurity, and bullying as key contributors to serious health problems. Manal Azzi, ILO team lead, said: "Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges in the modern world of work." The ILO urges action to address these risks and improve workplace safety for better health and productivity.

Gulfnews.com

LEGAL

Visa route for entrepreneurs narrows

The specialised visa route for foreign entrepreneurs in the UK is becoming increasingly restrictive, according to immigration lawyers. Many are now opting for self-sponsorship despite stringent Home Office rules and rising refusal rates. Georgina Griggs, a barrister at Richmond Chambers, said: "While self-sponsorship remains technically possible, in practice it is becoming prohibitively narrow." Demetris Demetriou, a lawyer assisting clients with self-sponsorship, noted a rise in refusals even for genuine businesses. The Home Office clarified that there is no self-sponsored work visa and each application is assessed individually.

The Times

Asda worker loses job over theft

The Daily Mail reports that Gavin Ramsay, a 49-year-old porter at Asda in South Shields, was dismissed after confronting a shoplifter. He attempted to stop a group of youths stealing alcohol, precipitating an altercation. Ramsay said: "I wasn't trying to be violent, I just reacted in a way that any decent human would." He was sacked for gross misconduct; Asda's policy prohibits staff from physically engaging with shoplifters.

Daily Mail

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Investors face voting rights shake-up

The UK Department for Business and Trade plans to consult on modernising corporate reporting, potentially affecting investors' voting rights on executive pay. The review aims to streamline reporting requirements, making the UK system the most efficient globally. Discussions include the legality of virtual-only annual general meetings (AGMs) and whether medium-sized firms should publish audited accounts. A government spokesperson said: "We are determined to streamline company law to make it fit for the 21st century." The consultation will not propose specific changes but will seek feedback on the current system.

Sunday Times

TECHNOLOGY

Forvis Mazars boss warns of auditor shortage

Pascal Jauffret, the CEO of international audit, accounting and consulting business Forvis Mazars, says he is concerned over the dwindling number of accountancy firms capable of handling large-scale audits. He tells the Sunday Times that the proportion of fee income from audit services has significantly decreased over the past 20 years, adding that there are "only five firms in Europe that can do financial services audits at large scale." The number of registered audit firms in Britain fell by 6.9% in 2024, according to the Financial Reporting Council. Jauffret goes on to say that Forvis Mazars does not plan to reduce staff numbers because of AI, explaining: "Technology has disrupted the accounting business for years. People that believe that tomorrow an AI agent will be able to do the audit on behalf of a human. That's a hallucination."

Sunday Times

REMUNERATION

KPMG and EY demote partners in end of job-for-life model

KPMG and EY have been gradually removing members of their equity partnership and offering them "salaried partner" roles to concentrate profits among top performers. City AM notes that KPMG cut around 600 jobs at its UK arm last month and is set to slash 140 US audit partners.

Financial Times

City AM

INTERNATIONAL

Samsung workers protest over SK Hynix pay gap

An estimated 40,000 workers at Samsung Electronics' massive factory complex south of Seoul protested on Thursday over compensation levels. Workers are aggrieved by what they say is a massive gap in bonus pay with rival SK Hynix. "Many employees are leaving for SK Hynix . . . At the end of the day, more than 90% of employees work for pay, and the compensation gap has become so wide that it's driving these moves," said Song Yong-gi, who handles logistics tasks for an assembly line in Samsung's chip division. Reuters notes that SK Hynix beat Samsung in delivering high bandwidth memory for artificial intelligence chip units to Nvidia and other clients following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Reuters

Russian publisher's staff quizzed over 'LGBT propaganda'

Moscow's Eksmo publishing house faces scrutiny as authorities question staff over alleged "LGBT propaganda" in its catalogue. Raids by the Investigative Committee targeted Eksmo's offices, leading to the questioning of general director Evgeniy Kapiev and three employees. The investigation relates to titles published by Popcorn Books, which was acquired by Eksmo in 2023, and whose titles feature LGBT themes. Eksmo said that no books were seized and that the questioning is linked to testimony from former Popcorn employees. The Kremlin has not commented on the situation.

U.S. News

Microsoft plans voluntary employee buyout

Microsoft will offer a one-time voluntary retirement program to some US employees as the company adjusts to artificial intelligence-driven changes across the technology industry. About 7% of US staff are eligible, limited to senior director level and below, where age plus years of service totals 70 or more. Sales incentive plan employees are excluded. Amy Coleman, executive vice president and chief people officer at Microsoft, wrote that the program gives eligible workers “the choice to take that next step on their own terms.” Microsoft is also changing employee stock rewards, giving managers more flexibility, and simplifying pay review options.

CNBC

OTHER

Record numbers of exam mark adjustments approved

The Sunday Telegraph reports that official figures show that the number of improvements to GCSE, AS and A-level marks given out last year rose to a record 669,470, with 96% of requests approved by exam boards. A tenth of improved marks were given out for the most minor categories, which can include pupils whose exams are disrupted by a fellow pupil falling ill, or pupils with hay fever. The Campaign for Real Education has described the increase, from just over 500,000 adjustments in 2022, as a "major scandal" and evidence of "sharp-elbowed and pushy middle-class parents . . . gaming the system." Ofqual said the adjustments help ensure that a pupil's grade "fairly reflects their knowledge and abilities."

The Sunday Telegraph

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