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4th June 2025
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THE HOT STORY
Trump administration moves to make it easier to fire federal employees for misconduct
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has proposed a new rule aimed at simplifying the process for firing federal employees for misconduct. The initiative, part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to reform the civil service, would allow OPM to direct agencies to terminate employees for serious offenses such as tax evasion and leaking sensitive information. OPM said: "Illogically, the government has far greater ability to bar someone from federal employment who has committed a serious crime or misconduct in the past than it does to remove someone who engages in the exact same behavior as a federal employee."
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WORKFORCE
Job openings rose in April to 7.4m
Job openings in the U.S. rose in April even after President Trump raised tariffs on the rest of the world, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday, indicating demand for workers remains healthy despite heightened economic uncertainty. A total of 7.39m jobs were open at the end of April, up from 7.2m in March, and ahead of the 7.1m consensus projection among economists polled by FactSet. The quits rate was 2%, and the level of quits dropped to 3.193m. The advance in job openings was driven by private-sector industries such as professional and business services as well as health care and social assistance. The number of estimated layoffs leapt higher by nearly 200,000 to 1.786m, reversing a similarly sized dip seen in March. The number of vacancies per unemployed worker, a ratio Fed officials watch closely as a proxy of the balance between labor demand and supply, held at 1.0.
ECONOMY
Trump's tariffs trigger global economic downturn, warns OECD
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has warned that President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies are pushing the global economy into a downturn, particularly affecting the U.S. The organization has revised its global growth forecast down to 2.9% for this year, a decrease from 3.3% in 2024, with U.S. growth expected to fall to 1.6% from 2.8%. Chief economist Alvaro Pereira said: “Weakened economic prospects will be felt around the world, with almost no exception.” The OECD emphasized that easing trade tensions and lowering tariffs are crucial for reviving growth and investment. However, even if tariffs are reversed, the immediate benefits may not be seen due to ongoing uncertainty. The report also highlighted that inflation in the U.S. is likely to rise, delaying any Federal Reserve policy easing until 2026.
LEGAL
Law firm 'fired worker after she told them she was pregnant'
A former human resources manager has filed a federal lawsuit against law firm Costello, Mains & Silverman, alleging discrimination after revealing her pregnancy. Kristin Marchesani claims she was treated poorly following the announcement in May 2023, and faced exclusion from meetings, excessive workloads, and denial of a raise. The lawsuit says: “She was treated differently and worse and in a more hostile and dismissive manner.” After giving birth on November 25, 2023, Marchesani was informed of her termination effective February 19, 2024, the same day she was set to return from maternity leave. The suit accuses the firm of violating federal civil rights laws and New Jersey's family leave protections, as well as retaliating against Marchesani for taking protected leave. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued Marchesani a right-to-sue notice in March, allowing her to proceed with the civil suit.
Push for a minimum wage of at least $25 an hour in L.A.
Labor advocates and officials in Los Angeles County are urging a minimum wage increase to at least $25 an hour. At a recent gathering, Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, said: “We need bold, proactive action.” Currently, the minimum wage in L.A. is $17.28, which is insufficient for workers to cover basic living expenses. Jayaraman noted that a full-time worker needs about $28 an hour to afford essentials. While no formal proposal has been submitted, labor groups plan to collaborate with the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. The campaign faces opposition from business groups.
HIRING
Goodwin Procter ends agreement with recruiter 'following criticism'
Bryson Malcolm, the founder of legal recruiting company Mosaic Search Partners, says law firm Goodwin Procter has ended a placement compensation agreement, and the reason would appear to be his criticism of the firm on social media.  In a LinkedIn post, Malcolm had described as “shameful” Goodwin Procter’s reported decision to sever its relationship with several diversity organizations. Goodwin Procter has now ended its contract with the recruiter, Malcolm said last week on LinkedIn.
CYBERSECURITY
Victoria's Secret earnings delayed by breach
Victoria's Secret has postponed its quarterly earnings release, scheduled for Thursday, due to a security breach that disrupted its corporate operations and forced the temporary shutdown of its U.S. shopping site. The company explained that the restoration process had prevented employees from accessing information they needed to prepare the full results for release. The breach was first detected on May 24th, prompting the company to engage third-party experts to contain the incident. The company still reported preliminary first quarter results, with $1.35bn in net sales and an adjusted operating income of $32m, adding that the breach did not affect its first quarter results, as the period ended before the disruptions occurred. However, the second quarter could be impacted by the additional expenses incurred following the incident.
LEADERSHIP
Jamie Dimon says retirement is still 'several years away'
JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon says that his retirement is still "several years away," adding that even though "it's always up to God and the board" he is open to staying at the company as executive chair. The 69-year-old, who has been CEO of the bank for nearly two decades, surprised investors last year when he said he would step down within five years, leading to speculation about who might take the helm in his place. In an interview broadcast on Fox Business on Monday, he also told Maria Bartiromo what he would say to a younger person who “wants to become the next Jamie Dimon.” “Talk to everybody. Talk to every side. Don’t become weaponized by one side,” he said.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Self-employed women enjoy better heart health, study suggests
According to a recent study published in BMC Public Health, self-employed women exhibit better heart health compared to their employed counterparts. Lead researcher Dr. Kimberly Narain from UCLA observed: “There is a relationship between self-employment and heart disease risk factors and this relationship seems to be stronger in women relative to men.” The study analyzed data from 19,400 adults and found that self-employed women had lower rates of obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, and sleeplessness. For instance, self-employed white women had a 7.4% lower obesity rate and 9.4% lower rates of poor sleep. The findings underscore the need for policies that promote autonomy and flexibility in wage employment, researchers said.
INTERNATIONAL
NDAs should be banned to curb U.K. music industry's ‘culture of misogyny'
The misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in the U.K. music industry to silence victims of harassment and abuse is a significant issue, according to a report from the Women and Equalities Committee. The report highlights that women in the sector face rampant misogyny, discrimination, and harassment, with many self-employed practitioners particularly vulnerable. The report also advocates for the establishment of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority to improve standards and protect victims. Additionally, it calls for amendments to the Equality Act and Employment Rights Bill to enhance protections for women and gender non-conforming individuals in the industry.
Ecuador's government acts on worker rights
Ecuador's government has issued an apology to approximately 300 workers who labored under conditions described as modern-day slavery on plantations owned by the Japanese textile firm Furukawa. The Constitutional Court had previously ordered Furukawa to pay $120,000 to each of the 342 victims, totaling around $41m, and to issue a public apology, which the company has yet to fulfil. Labor Minister Ivonne Nunez said that the company violated "national and international regulations that affected, in essence, human dignity." During a ceremony in Quito, former workers expressed their demands for reparations, chanting slogans including "modern slavery, never again."
Dutch government drops plan for workplace alcohol and drug testing
State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Social Affairs and Employment, VVD) has announced that there will be no legislation for alcohol and drug (AD) testing in Dutch workplaces. Currently, such tests are only permitted for specific professions like pilots and engineers. Despite previous advocacy from the employers' organization VNO-NCW for broader testing, the trade union FNV opposed the idea. Parliamentary research indicated that safety issues related to alcohol and drugs are minimal, and employers are divided on the necessity of the tests. Nobel said: “Making AD testing legally possible is complex and has major consequences for people's rights.”
OTHER
Pet owners are skipping treatments because health care prices are so high
More than half of pet owners skipped necessary veterinary care in the previous year or declined recommended treatment at some point in the past, mostly because of the associated costs, according to the findings of a national study conducted by PetSmart Charities and Gallup. PetSmart Charities president Aimee Gilbreath observed that the results were similar across all income levels.  “There’s a narrative that says this only affects folks in the bottom part of the income spectrum,” Gilbreath said. “But it’s all across the spectrum. That surprised me - and it worries me. If folks in the top half are struggling to afford primary vet care, who can afford vet care now?”
 


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