Human Times

North American Edition

27th August 2025

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THE HOT STORY

Uber Eats agrees to $15m settlement with Seattle

Uber Eats has agreed to pay over $15m to 16,120 drivers due to violations of Seattle's pay transparency and minimum wage laws for app-based workers. The settlement, the largest by Seattle's Office of Labor Standards, follows complaints regarding the company's "boost" program, which misrepresented potential earnings. Mayor Bruce Harrell said the settlement was “a major win for workers and a strong reminder that in Seattle, we hold large companies accountable.” The settlement includes $13.5m for the Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance and $1.5m for minimum wage violations. Despite denying the allegations, Uber Eats opted for the settlement, in a move indicative of ongoing tensions between app-based companies and local regulations.

The Columbian

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LEGAL

FEMA employees put on leave after criticizing Trump administration

Some employees at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. agency that responds to natural disasters, have been placed on administrative leave after signing an open letter expressing dissent about the agency's leadership. On Tuesday evening, FEMA's office of the administrator had sent several letters to people informing them that effective immediately, they were on an administrative leave, operating "in a non-duty status while continuing to receive pay and benefits." Dozens of current and former FEMA staff warned Congress in a letter on Monday that the inexperience of top appointees of President Donald Trump's administration could lead to a catastrophe on the level of Hurricane Katrina.

Washington Post

STRATEGY

Kroger cuts nearly 1,000 jobs

Kroger is laying off nearly 1,000 corporate employees as part of its restructuring efforts following a failed merger with Albertsons. The Cincinnati-based company is aiming to reduce costs and simplify its business model. In a memo to staff, interim chief executive Ron Sargent said: “These decisions are never easy, but we know thoughtful, yet difficult, choices are necessary to set our organization up for continued success." He added that Kroger will reinvest savings into other areas, such as lowering prices, opening new locations and creating store-level jobs.

Los Angeles Times

WORKFORCE

IRS reverses course on layoffs

The IRS is reversing parts of its job cuts after recognizing critical skill gaps caused by widespread staff reductions. In a memo, acting officials said employees in the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Treasury Deferred Resignation Program (TDRP) may rescind their exits. The agency has lost more than 25,000 employees since January - over 25% of its workforce - including 27% of tax examiners and 26% of revenue agents. Another 294 were terminated through reduction-in-force actions. The cuts, criticized for not considering individual performance, strained enforcement capacity. To recover, the IRS will rehire 400 revenue agents and 300 revenue officers, while also pursuing external hiring and reassignments. Reports from the Treasury Inspector General and the National Taxpayer Advocate highlight the significant toll on operations during filing season.

Bloomberg Tax

Accounting Today

The Washington Post

Boeing Defense talks with union are suspended

Boeing Defense has suspended contract negotiations with the striking machinists union, with no plans to resume talks until after the Labour Day holiday, according to union officials. Approximately 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have been on strike since August 4, seeking a better deal after rejecting Boeing's contract offer.

Reuters

CORPORATE

Microsoft Israel protest leads to seven arrests

Seven individuals were arrested at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, during a protest against the company's connections to the Israel Defense Forces amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. The protest was organized by No Azure for Apartheid, which includes current and former Microsoft employees. The group claims that Microsoft's Azure platform has been used to support attacks on Palestinian targets. Microsoft is currently reviewing a report from a British newspaper regarding the allegations.

Washingtonpost.com

ECONOMY

U.S. introduces 50% tariff on imports from India

With the Trump administration's 50% tariff on India going into effect today, trade experts estimate that the value of India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. could drop by as much as 40%-45% in 2025-26 from the year prior. The 50% tariff imposed on the majority of Indian goods exported to the U.S. includes the 25% tariff rate announced by Trump in late July, and an additional 25% tariff announced early August as a “penalty” for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Electronics and pharmaceutical exports are exempt from the levies. “This is a strategic shock that threatens India’s long-standing foothold in U.S. labor-intensive markets, risks mass unemployment in export hubs, and could weaken India’s participation in global value chains”, said Ajay Srivastava, founder of New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative.

U.S. consumer confidence softens on job, income concerns

U.S. consumer sentiment fell slightly in August, although the decline was less than economists had expected. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index inched down 1.4 points to 97.4. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a reading of 96.5. The present situation index, which is based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions, fell to 131.2 from 132.8, while the expectations index, which is based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, dipped to 74.8 in August from 76. The share of consumers that said jobs were hard to get rose for a second month to the highest since 2021. The share saying jobs were plentiful was little changed.

ABC News

Bloomberg

Nasdaq

TAX

Wealthy Americans pay tax at lower effective rates

According to a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the total effective tax rate for the wealthiest 400 Americans was significantly lower than that of the general population. The report, by University of California economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, revealed that from 2018 to 2020, the effective tax rate for this elite group averaged 24%, compared to 30% for the overall population and 45% for top labor income earners. The decline in tax rates for the top 400 was attributed to a smaller share of business income being taxed and lower tax rates on the income that was taxed. The study also noted that estate and gift taxes contributed minimally to their effective tax rate, with decedents' estates paying only 0.8% of their wealth in estate tax when married.

The Hill

Accounting Today

Wall Street Journal

INTERNATIONAL

U.K. bosses call for worker assault law

Business leaders in the U.K. have urged government ministers to make the assault of any public-facing worker a standalone offence. While the Crime and Policing Bill has proposed making assault of a retail worker a new specific offence, corporate leaders say the legislation should cover all sectors. The Institute of Customer Service says there has been a sharp rise in abusive incidents aimed at employees. The professional body found that 43% of customer-facing workers have experienced customer hostility over the past six months, a 20% rise on the year before, while 37% are considering leaving their jobs due to aggressive customer behavior. The institute notes that around 60% of the U.K.'s workforce are in some form of customer-facing role.

BBC News

Most Dutch workers still sit too much

Despite an awareness of the health risks, many Dutch employees continue to sit for long hours at work. According to Statistics Netherlands, the average worker sits for 8.8 hours daily. The typical employee spends 4.5 hours sitting at work, 1 hour in the car or on public transport, and 3.3 hours during leisure time. The National Working Conditions Survey revealed that sitting habits have not significantly changed over the past five years. IT professionals sit the most. The Ministry of Social Affairs has launched campaigns to encourage movement, including the “National Movement Minute.”

NL Times

OTHER

Levi Strauss rolls out new products aimed at blue-collar shoppers

Levi Strauss & Co. is shifting its focus back to its roots by launching a new line of workwear aimed at blue-collar shoppers, particularly in rural areas. As the company strives to reach its ambitious $10bn annual revenue goal, it said it recognizes the potential in the working-class demographic, which comprises about 61% of the U.S. labor force. “This is a major market share opportunity for Levi,” said Anthony Scholl, head of U.S. western accounts. The new western boot cut and western straight jeans, priced at $59, are designed to fit over work boots and are competitively priced against rivals including Wrangler and Ariat. Levi is also expanding its presence in Boot Barn stores and sponsoring rodeos to connect with this audience.

Los Angeles Times

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