Human Times

North American Edition

8th October 2025

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THE HOT STORY

White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to back pay

The Trump administration is warning federal workers furloughed in the government shutdown that they may not get back pay once the funding impasse ends. A memo prepared by the Office of Management and Budget says a 2019 law signed by President Donald Trump guaranteeing retroactive pay after a shutdown did not apply to employees who have been temporarily asked not to report to work. Trump yesterday said that back pay "depends on who we're talking about" and that some workers "don't deserve to be taken care of." Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said new legal analysis challenged the requirement to retroactively pay furloughed employees. "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most of them have been paid for the time they were furloughed," he said. "There are some legal analysts who are saying that may not be appropriate or necessary."

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LEGAL

Anodyne Coffee union vote certified by NLRB

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has dismissed objections from Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. regarding a unionization vote held in June. Anodyne, which is owned by FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective, challenged the election, claiming some employees were statutory supervisors and alleging intimidation by a union representative. However, the NLRB ruled that “a majority of the valid ballots has been cast for Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union,” certifying the union and paving the way for contract negotiations. Union president Peter Rickman said: “After months of bureaucratic delays . . . it's time for the company to join us at the bargaining table.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Groups challenge EPA on solar funding cut

Several groups and nonprofits have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the cancellation of the $7bn Solar for All program. The initiative aimed to provide solar power access to over 900,000 low-income Americans. The plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration's termination was illegal, and are seeking reinstatement. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said: "The program's termination kills jobs and will drive up electricity prices." The lawsuit highlights the program's potential to save families about $400 annually on electricity bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

AP News

Supreme Court sides with workers

A home health company, Nursing Home Care Management, operating as Prestige Home Care Agency, is liable for over $7m after the Supreme Court declined to review a decision regarding its failure to compensate workers for travel time. The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit mandates that the company pay more than $3.5m in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime provisions.

Bloomberg Law

HIRING

Census test begins recruiting workers

The Census Bureau is actively recruiting temporary workers for the "2026 Census Test" in six states, including Alabama and Texas, to prepare for the 2030 census. This test aims to improve methods for accurate population counts, particularly for historically undercounted groups. However, concerns have been raised about the bureau's ability to recruit enough workers due to funding uncertainties and a hiring freeze. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan noted that the bureau's hiring is "behind the curve of what we've seen in the past." Allison Plyer, co-chair of the Census Quality Reinforcement Task Force, emphasized the complexity of the operation and the lack of transparency in the bureau's preparations. The 2030 census will determine congressional representation and federal funding allocations, making accurate data collection crucial.

NPR / National Public Radio

Nvidia to continue sponsoring H-1B visas

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has reiterated his support for U.S. President Donald Trump's H-1B fees in an internal message to staff. The company will continue to sponsor H-1B visas and "cover all associated fees," Huang wrote. "As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know that the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives," he wrote. "And the miracle of Nvidia - built by all of you, and by brilliant colleagues around the world - would not be possible without immigration."

Business Insider

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Passport service cuts target minorities and people with disabilities, union says

Public servants in Canada from diverse backgrounds, those with disabilities, and union members are facing disproportionate layoffs in the passport service, according to the Union of National Employees (UNE). The union has filed grievances, claiming the cuts violate the collective agreement and the Canadian Human Rights Act. Alisha Kang, UNE national president, noted that over 42% of terminated employees believe they were discriminated against. Nicholas Marcus Thompson, CEO of the Black Class Action Secretariat, called the situation "very serious," saying that layoffs based on race, disability, and union activity were evidence of systemic discrimination.

CBC News

STRATEGY

Novo Nordisk announces job cuts at North Carolina facility

Novo Nordisk has laid off dozens of employees at its Clayton, North Carolina plant, which produces its popular obesity and diabetes medications, Wegovy and Ozempic. The job cuts form part of a broader restructuring under new CEO Mike Doustdar, which includes a total of 9,000 layoffs globally aimed at reducing costs amid slowing sales growth. The Clayton facility is expected to continue playing a significant role in Novo Nordisk's production plans, including new product expansions, despite the workforce reductions.

Reuters

CYBERSECURITY

Ransomware gang Qilin claims responsibility for Asahi attack

Ransomware group Qilin has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on Asahi Group which caused severe disruption to production at the Japanese beverage firm. Qilin first emerged in 2022. It operates a ransomware-as-a-service platform that allows users to carry out attacks in exchange for a percentage of extortion proceeds, and said it had stolen more than 9,300 files, or roughly 27 gigabytes of data. The Asahi Super Dry maker has restarted at least six of its 30 factories in Japan after the cyberattack paralyzed distribution and forced a halt to most of the company’s domestic production last week. Asahi officials said they will analyze the responsibility claim, which was posted on the dark web, and consider how to respond.

INTERNATIONAL

New bill to curb 'quack' HR officers in Uganda

Members of Parliament in Uganda have endorsed penalties against unqualified and unlicensed human resources practitioners. The proposals are contained in the Human Resource Management Professionals Bill, 2025, which was introduced by Workers’ MP, Hon. Margaret Rwabushaija. The Private Member’s Bill seeks to regulate the HR profession through registration, licensing, and disciplinary measures. “In HR, we have fake practitioners who have no clue about managing people. This Bill is going to save organisations from such quacks,” said Hon. Rwabushaija.

Parliament of the Republic of Uganda

Zawya EN

Kerala's Right to Disconnect Bill aims to shield employees

Kerala plans to introduce a Right to Disconnect Bill in 2025 aimed at safeguarding private sector employees in the southern Indian state from after-hours work demands. The bill will allow employees to ignore work communications outside their agreed hours without fear of punitive actions. A 2022 study highlighted the negative impact of after-hours connectivity on work-life balance. Kerala's initiative seeks to enhance employee well-being and productivity while establishing a framework for accountability and cultural change to ensure the law's meaningful application.

The Times of India

OTHER

U.S. holiday shopping season to hit $253.4bn

The U.S. holiday shopping season is projected to generate $253.4bn in online sales, marking a 5.3% increase from last year, according to Adobe Analytics. The report, based on an analysis of over 1tn visits to retail sites, anticipates Cyber Monday will be the largest shopping day, reaching $14.2bn. Black Friday is expected to grow to $11.7bn. "You have consumers dealing with a lot in the broader economy," said Vivek Pandya, director at Adobe Digital Insights. "We anticipate them taking advantage of these major sales moments, and we still see them leaning on the online sector as an area to get better deals." Key trends include a 520% rise in artificial intelligence-driven shopping and a record 56.1% of sales from mobile devices.

Techcrunch

CNBC

Reuters

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