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North American Edition
13th January 2025
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THE HOT STORY
Apple stands firm on diversity policies
Apple's board has urged shareholders to reject a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. The board, including CEO Tim Cook, said: "The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program," saying that it would restrict the company's operational management. The board said the tech giant "is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, or promoting on any basis protected by law." Apple added that the proposal "inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple's ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies," and accuses the think-tank of trying to "micromanage" the company.
COMPLIANCE
Jan 1: New year brings 140+ new compliance requirements

Goodbye 2024 and hello 2025! While we can’t predict everything the new year will bring, we can help you and your HR team stay in compliance with the new employment laws that took effect on or around January 1. These new laws – more than 140 in total – affect employers in 20 states and dozens of localities, covering an array of topics from minimum wage to leave to payroll. For a complete list of the new January 1 compliance requirements by state, download our guide and get your organization in compliance today.

Get your organization compliant and prepared for 2025 today.

 
ECONOMY
U.S. added 256,000 jobs in December
In December, the U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported on Friday, marking a strong finish to the year. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had estimated that about 165,000 jobs were added, based on their median forecast. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, down from 4.2% in November. Average hourly pay rose 10 cents to $35.69, a 3.9% annual increase. The U.S. economy added 2.2m jobs in 2024, with around 75% of hiring taking place in healthcare and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, and government. “The labor market is strong, and in an aggregate sense, it really doesn’t get much better than this,” commented Elizabeth Crofoot, senior economist at labor analytics firm Lightcast. “There’s very robust job growth. We have low unemployment — it ticked down in the latest month. Layoffs are low. People have jobs, and they are spending, and that continues to bolster the economy and the labor market.” The U.S. has now added jobs for 48 months in a row, tying the second-longest period of employment expansion on record. The long run means that, barring revisions, President Joe Biden is the first U.S. executive to oversee monthly job gains for the entirety of his presidency, according to government statistics that go back to 1939.
U.S. consumer confidence dips lower in January
Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has unexpectedly seen a modest deterioration in the month of January, according to preliminary data released by the University of Michigan. Its consumer sentiment index dropped from 74 to 73.2 in December, below expectations among economists that it would be unchanged. While consumers’ views of their personal finances improved about 5%, their economic outlook fell back 7% for the short run and 5% for the long run, according to the survey’s director Joanne Hsu. "January's divergence in views of the present and the future reflects easing concerns over the current cost of living this month, but surging worries over the future path of inflation," she said. "Overall, this month's deterioration in the expectations index was seen across political affiliations, including declines of about 3% for Independents and 1.5% for Republicans."
WORKFORCE
SEIU returns to AFL-CIO
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is rejoining the AFL-CIO after a 20-year absence, in a bid to strengthen the labor movement against legal challenges to union organization. The decision was unanimously approved by both unions' executive boards and will be formally announced in Austin, Texas. With approximately 2m SEIU members in sectors like healthcare and food services, this move will increase AFL-CIO's total membership to nearly 15m. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler emphasized the need for unity, saying: “We are amassing our forces, building our strength and our power before the inauguration [of president-elect Donald Trump].” SEIU President April Verrett echoed this sentiment, saying: “We are determined to organize in unprecedented ways — and that requires real power.” President Joe Biden also praised the affiliation, noting it will help workers organize for better wages and benefits.
UPS plans major automation shift
UPS is set to temporarily close its Swan Island packaging processing facility on July 1 to implement automation, raising concerns among union workers about potential job losses. UPS spokesperson Jim Mayer assured that “most of [the workers] will move to a temporary facility on property, or to other UPS facilities in the area.” However, John Palmer, a Teamsters national vice president, expressed skepticism, saying: “Some of those [jobs] will come back when the building opens up again but it will be a small percentage.” He criticized the union for not negotiating better contracts to protect workers, especially given UPS's substantial profits for the last quarter. Palmer emphasized the need for a strategy to support displaced employees, and highlighted the ongoing impact of automation on UPS workers nationwide.
LEGAL
Kentucky scores $110m opioid settlement
Kentucky will receive $110m from Kroger to settle a lawsuit alleging the grocery chain contributed to the opioid crisis. Attorney General Russell Coleman said: “This massive grocery chain that asked for our trust and our business allowed the fire of addiction to spread across the commonwealth.” The funds will be allocated to combat addiction, with half going directly to cities and counties. The lawsuit claimed Kroger distributed 444m doses of opioids in Kentucky from 2006 to 2019, accounting for 11% of all opioid pills sold in the state. Despite the allegations, Kroger maintains it provided adequate training for its pharmacy staff. The settlement follows a trend of lawsuits against various companies involved in the opioid epidemic, with Kentucky's approach yielding a higher payout than a multistate settlement would have.
Judge rules that American Airlines violated retirement-plan duties
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas has ruled that American Airlines encouraged environmentally and socially responsible investing in its 401(k) plan, thereby violating its legal responsibilities. O'Connor said that the airline's “incestuous relationship with BlackRock and its own corporate goals disloyally influenced administration of the Plan," and observed that BlackRock had a climate change agenda unrelated to economic interests, while American “utterly failed to loyally investigate BlackRock’s ESG investment activities.”

Ohio mandates pay stubs for workers
Ohio's new Pay Stub Protection Act, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, mandates that employers provide pay stubs to their workers, so enhancing workplace transparency. State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells emphasized: “For too long, Ohio was one of the few states where workers lacked a fundamental protection — the right to receive a pay stub.” This law, effective April 8, aims to assist employees in verifying wages and addressing wage discrepancies. The bill, which received bipartisan support, was initially introduced in 2019 by the late State Rep. Brigid Kelley.
STRATEGY
Volvo's Mexico truck factory is moving forward despite U.S. tariff threat
Sweden's Volvo Group is moving forward with its $700m heavy-truck factory in Monterrey, Mexico, despite threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to impose tariffs on imported vehicles and goods. CEO Martin Lundstedt confirmed the plans, highlighting North America as a key market that generates 30% of the company’s revenue. The factory, which is set to begin operations in 2026, will supply vehicles to the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Latin America, aligning with Volvo’s strategic growth priorities in the region.
CORPORATE
CEOs change course as Trump returns to White House
A number of high-profile CEOs are making changes to their business operations ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's return to office, amid a changing legal landscape and job market, the Wall Street Journal reports. Diversity programs, climate-change policies and other mainstays of corporate policy in recent years are being reconsidered at major firms such as Meta and McDonald’s, with the former's CEO Mark Zuckerberg last week announcing a series of changes in direction, including rolling back fact-checking protocols on Facebook and Instagram. Jonathan Johnson, former CEO of online retailer Overstock and one-time Republican gubernatorial candidate in Utah, observes: “Corporate America is seeing an opportunity. President-elect Trump views himself as a dealmaker-in-chief more than a politician, and so that resonates well with corporate executives who are dealmakers.”
INTERNATIONAL
Wayfair to cut 730 jobs in Germany
Wayfair, the online furniture retailer, has announced the layoff of 730 employees as it exits the German market to concentrate on its core businesses. The company is facing challenges due to slower traffic and a decline in demand from cost-conscious consumers. Following the restructuring, Wayfair anticipates incurring charges between $102m and $111m, which will cover employee-related costs and non-cash charges associated with facility closures. These charges are expected to be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. As of December 31, 2023, Wayfair employed approximately 14,400 individuals globally. Analysts have raised concerns about potential challenges from the implementation of President-elect Donald Trump's import tariffs, given Wayfair's significant exposure to imports.
OTHER
Danger lurks in online pharmacies, warns 'notorious markets' report
According to the U.S. Trade Representative's annual report on “notorious markets,” nearly all of the 35,000 online pharmacies worldwide operate illegally, posing significant risks to consumers. Their websites often look like legitimate e-commerce platforms, often with false claims that they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The report highlights that these pharmacies may offer ineffective or dangerous medications, often produced in unsanitary conditions. It also identifies 19 countries with serious concerns regarding counterfeit or pirated products. 
 


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