Sickness Absence Rate Stalls at 4.4 Days per Worker
The Office for National Statistics reports that the UK sickness absence rate held steady at 4.4 days per worker in 2025, matching 2024 levels. The overall absence rate was 2.0%, translating to 148.8 million workdays lost, a marginal decline from the previous year. Public‑sector employees faced a 2.9% rate versus 1.7% in the private sector, and women, older workers, and part‑timers recorded the highest absence figures. Experts warn the lack of progress signals deeper health inequalities and call for stronger workplace health policies and higher statutory sick pay.
Malaysia to Boost Jobs and Worker Protection with PACE
Malaysia has unveiled the Progressive Acceleration for Capability and Employment (PACE), a RM 710 million (~$156 million) package aimed at bolstering job stability and future‑ready skills. The plan directs RM 580 million (~$128 million) to expand the Employment Insurance System, RM 100 million (~$22 million) to fund training and...
Berlin Tech’s New Reality: AI-Driven Output, Stagnant Wages, and a Workforce on the Move
The 2026 Berlin Salary Trends report, based on 4,627 tech professionals, shows median full‑time compensation rising to €80,000 (≈$86,000), a 4.6% gain year‑over‑year. AI and Machine Learning engineers have entered the top‑three pay tier with a €95,000 median, while 87.5%...
Union Withdraws Opposition to HMM Relocation to Busan
HMM’s land‑based workers’ union has withdrawn its opposition, signing an agreement to relocate the carrier’s headquarters to Busan’s North Port. The move fulfills President Lee Jae‑myung’s campaign promise to turn Busan into a maritime hub and follows a series of...
SSANU, NASU to Commence Nationwide Indefinite Strike on Friday
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non‑Academic Staff Union (NASU) will begin an indefinite nationwide strike on May 1, 2026. The action follows the government’s failure to complete renegotiations of the 2009 collective agreement and its...
New Book Reveals the 5 Principles to Breathe Life Into Your Organisation
"Hope at Work: 5 Principles to Breathe Life into Your Organization" by Barbara Perry, Ph.D., and Harry Hutson, Ph.D., presents hope as a strategic tool for leaders navigating post‑pandemic uncertainty. Drawing on three decades of consulting, the book outlines five...
Roomex Targets ‘Hidden Pricing Gap’ in Workforce Travel with New Comparison Tool
Roomex has launched a Best Rates Display tool that compares hotel prices across up to 30 supply channels at the point of booking. The feature aggregates more than 2,000 directly negotiated rates and highlights the lowest price, free‑cancellation and breakfast...
Workplace Wellbeing Expert on the Five Office Changes that Can Reduce Stress
Workplace‑wellbeing expert Sam Chughtai outlines five low‑cost office tweaks that can curb stress and lift performance. The recommendations include breakout rooms, quiet zones, upgraded bathrooms, ergonomic gear, natural light, and biophilic design elements. Each change targets a specific stressor—from constant...
Leadership Development After Funding Cuts – Is the Level 6 Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship the Answer?
The UK government will cease funding for the Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship by December, leaving many firms without a fully‑funded route to develop senior leaders. Arden University’s Steven Hurst proposes the Level 6 Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship as a viable,...
HC Rejects ESI Evasion Attempt Through ‘Allowance’ Classification
India’s High Court ruled that firms cannot dodge Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) coverage by classifying workers as “allowances” to stay below the 10‑employee threshold. The case involved Diamond Silk Khadi Society, which claimed only nine employees, but records showed 13...
As the 5-Day Workweek Turns 100, It’s Time for an AI Era Upgrade
May 1 2026 marks the centennial of Henry Ford’s five‑day, 40‑hour workweek, a schedule forged during the Industrial Revolution rather than by any cultural mandate. The article argues that the next major shift, driven by AI, should move firms toward a four‑day...
Podcast | People Director, Stiltz: How We Help Our Managers Drive Better Team Performance
Stiltz Homelifts’ Group People Director Tara Lochery says performance management must be a continuous process, not a once‑year event. She argues that managers need real‑time tools and training to address both strong and weak performance moments. Stiltz has built tailored...
Amid Scorching Heatwave, Zomato, Blinkit Expand ‘Insurance Plan, SOS Support’ and More for Gig Workers
Zomato and Blinkit, under the Eternal group, rolled out a suite of heat‑wave safeguards for their delivery partners, including expanded health insurance, 24/7 SOS support, and real‑time weather alerts. The insurance now reimburses up to $60 for OPD visits, $1,200...
The Sales Talent Lessons Radio Needs From Hispanic Radio
Hispanic radio leaders argue that attracting and retaining sales talent now hinges on storytelling, community ties, and digital integration rather than commissions alone. They frame radio as part of a broader ecosystem, emphasizing purpose, earnings potential, flexibility, and modern tools....
I Was One of Lovable's First 50 Hires. Here's How I Got the Job After Initially Getting Rejected.
Mindaugas Petrutis, a non‑technical content creator, was initially rejected by AI startup Lovable but later became one of its first 50 hires. He spent months building daily AI prototypes, sharing them publicly, and solving the company’s influencer‑marketing problem during a...
Top 10 HR Questions April 2026: SSP Changes and Holiday Records
The Employment Rights Act 2025 took effect in April 2026, removing waiting days for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and allowing entitlement from day one of incapacity. A specific exception applies to employees who fall sick on their first day of...
The Bloody History of the 40-Hour Work Week — and Why It's Under Threat Again
The 40‑hour work week, now taken for granted, was forged through more than a century of strikes, riots, and deadly confrontations, culminating in the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act. Since the 1980s, declining union power and the rise of gig...
Just 34% of Cyber Pros Plan to Stick with Their Current Employer
A new IANS and Artico Search survey of 500 cybersecurity professionals reveals only 34% intend to stay with their current employer, underscoring a looming talent retention crisis for CISOs. While salary remains a factor, flexible hybrid work models—especially one to...
India Faces Cybersecurity Talent Crunch as AI, Cloud Drive Demand: Report
India is confronting a severe cybersecurity talent shortage as cloud adoption and AI proliferation accelerate digital transformation. The Data Security Council of India and SANS Institute report that 73% of enterprises and 68% of service providers struggle to find qualified...
Florida AG Challenges NFL’s Rooney Rule
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a formal demand that the NFL abandon its Rooney Rule, labeling the policy as unlawful race‑and‑sex discrimination. In a March 25 letter, he gave the league a May 1 deadline to cease enforcing the...
Singapore to Ease Entry Rules for Thai, Chinese Workers
Singapore will relax entry requirements for Thai and Chinese construction workers starting 1 January 2027, eliminating the pre‑entry skills test. Employers will instead schedule and administer the test in Singapore after the workers arrive. The move addresses a growing labour shortfall as...
Greens to Pledge £15 Minimum Wage
The Green Party announced a workers’ rights charter that would raise the statutory minimum wage to £15 an hour (about $19) for all ages, funded by reduced National Insurance contributions for small businesses. The pledge follows a recent increase to...
PwC Drops Weight Loss Drugs From Employee Benefits in the US
PwC’s U.S. unit will stop covering GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs for employees without diabetes, citing rapidly rising drug costs. Effective July, only staff with a diabetes diagnosis will remain eligible for medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The drugs cost roughly...
STL Appoints Anshu Mordia as CHRO
Sterlite Technologies (STL) has named Anshu Mordia as its chief human resources officer, adding a veteran with nearly two decades of HR leadership to its executive team. Mordia will oversee talent strategy, employee engagement and culture building as STL sharpens...
At Nature HQ: Vivobarefoot’s Galahad Clark Is Rewriting The Rules Of Leadership
Vivobarefoot’s CEO Galahad Clark has transformed the shoe brand’s headquarters into a ten‑acre "Nature HQ" where employees grow food, hold meetings outdoors and follow a flat, ecosystem‑inspired hierarchy. The purpose‑first model has helped the company surge from roughly £30 million ($37.5 million)...
Bupa Appoints Penny Dudley as Group Chief People and Legal Officer
Bupa has named Penny Dudley as its new group chief people and legal officer, succeeding Nigel Sullivan. Dudley will continue to lead the legal function she has held since 2016 while taking charge of the global people agenda. The move...
BHP Brings OD OS Workers Inhouse
BHP secured Fair Work Commission approval to directly employ 38 maintenance staff at its Olympic Dam operation, moving them from the company’s Operations Services (OS) subsidiary onto a single enterprise agreement. The change ends a separate contract arrangement that had kept...
Wilson Learning | Aligning Learning with What Actually Drives Results
Wilson Learning argues that high‑impact learning and development (L&D) must start with a performance problem, not a content request. By aligning learning initiatives with commercial priorities and key metrics, L&D earns credibility and shifts focus from course completion to business...
Meet the Brand: Compound
Compound is a digital‑first workplace pension platform that offers accountants a free, automated multi‑client dashboard integrated with payroll systems like Xero. The service also provides employees with an app that automatically locates and consolidates hidden pension pots, exemplified by a...
Jenny Segal: Firms Should Measure Culture in the Same Way as AUM
Jenny Segal argues that financial firms treat culture like an operating system and should measure it with the same rigor as assets under management. She cites research showing top workplaces generate twice the revenue per employee and outperform the Russell 1000...
'We All Benefit' | Serco, Virgin, McDonald's: Why CPOs Are 'Opening Doors' With Social Mobility Schemes
Serco has launched "Believe in People," a social mobility program aimed at individuals facing structural employment barriers such as prison leavers, military veterans, and care leavers. The initiative pledges to deliver more than one million hours of skills development by...
Neurodiversity | DWP Rolls Out Autism Training to 4,000 Staff Amid Push for More Inclusive Assessments
More than 4,000 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) healthcare professionals have completed a new training programme designed to improve support for autistic people and those with learning disabilities navigating the benefits system. Launched during Autism Awareness Month and named...
'Put up & Shut Up' | Bullying Claims at Welsh University Spark Calls for Independent Review
The University of South Wales (USW) faces accusations of a toxic workplace culture and bullying that former staff say have driven high sickness absence rates. An investigation by Newyddion S4C collected testimony from more than a dozen ex‑employees, prompting calls...
Recruiters Warned to Move Beyond ‘Post and Pray’ as Passive Talent Overlooked
Recruiters are being cautioned that reliance on job boards captures only about 27% of the available talent pool, leaving the larger segment of passive candidates untapped. AI‑driven “click‑apply” tools have inflated application volumes but not candidate quality, creating a targeting...
Court Rules Staffing Contract Can't Block Temp Worker's Co-Employment Status
A Tennessee appeals court ruled that a staffing contract cannot shield a client company from co‑employment liability when it controls a temporary worker’s duties. The court found Dayco Inc. was a co‑employer of forklift operator Keith King, despite a contract...
Employment Tribunal Roundup: Appeal Fairness, Dismissal Reasoning, Discrimination Tests and Religious Belief Clarified
Recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decisions clarified four core employment law areas: appeal fairness, dismissal reasoning, discrimination causation, and religious belief protection. In Milrine v DHL, a botched appeal turned a fair dismissal into unfair, emphasizing the substantive right to a...
EEOC Sues Menzies Aviation over Sabbath Worker Forced to Resign
The EEOC filed a lawsuit on April 29, 2026 against Menzies Aviation USA, alleging Title VII violations for refusing a religious accommodation to a Seventh‑day Adventist cabin service agent. Alicia Theoc disclosed her Sabbath observance during hiring and requested time off...
Pregnant Escrow Assistant Sues D.R. Horton over Alleged 32-Month Harassment Campaign
J. Alexis Magee has filed a federal lawsuit against D.R. Horton, its title subsidiary DHI Title, and three coworkers, alleging a 32‑month campaign of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The complaint cites violations of Title VII, the ADA, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the...
Ex-Oracle Senior Director Sues, Alleges EVP Made Racially Charged Remarks Before Firing
Former Oracle senior director Abhishek Shukla alleges that EVP Jonathan Tikochinsky made racially charged comments toward him and subsequently terminated his employment after Shukla submitted critical feedback in Oracle’s internal survey. Shukla filed a Title VII and Florida Civil Rights Act...
‘Awkward and Humiliating’: UK Job Hunters Share Frustration with AI Interviews
A Greenhouse survey of 2,950 job seekers shows that 47% of UK candidates have faced an AI‑driven interview, and 30% abandoned the hiring process after encountering one. Respondents described the experience as awkward, humiliating, and lacking genuine human interaction. Many...
FACE Prep Promotes Arumugam Vadivelu to VP-TA
FACE Prep, the Indian job‑preparation platform, has promoted Arumugam Vadivelu to Vice President of Talent Acquisition. Vadivelu joined the company in 2016 as a HR manager and progressed through roles in talent acquisition, HR operations, and strategy, most recently serving...
Prakriti Singh Promoted to Director-HR, Bernstein
Bernstein has promoted Prakriti R. Singh to Director of Human Resources, elevating her from Vice President after less than two years in the role. Singh, an economics graduate from Ramjas College and MBA holder from Symbiosis, spent a decade at...
Marriott Director Sues over Explicit Texts and a Denied Appeal
Former Marriott Marquis Houston director Samuel Duane Stevenson has filed a lawsuit alleging that spa manager Rachel Cain sent him sexually explicit texts and created a hostile work environment. He says Marriott terminated him in June 2025 under a pretextual...
How To Build And Measure Curiosity In The Age Of Intelligent Machines
Companies eager to brand themselves as curiosity‑driven are grappling with how to quantify that trait. The article argues that curiosity must be measured through observable behavior—especially the depth of questions asked and the progression of ideas—rather than personality surveys. AI...
Looking Ahead: Creative Ways Retailers Engage With the Next Generation
Independent home‑improvement retailers are adopting creative programs to attract and retain the next generation of employees and shoppers. Newton’s True Value launched a mentorship scheme that teaches soft skills and financial literacy, while Porters Ace partnered with DoorDash to reach...
Recruitment: Deciphering Australia’s Agricultural Job Market, Region by Region
Australia’s agricultural labor market is shifting from manual to tech‑enabled roles, according to specialist recruiter Agricultural Appointments. Victoria leads with 26% of national ag employment and the broadest range of positions, while New South Wales follows with 25% and strong...
No Sunday Blues Debuts ‘In The Room’ Career Series to Support Senior Women in Melbourne’s Creative Industries
no sunday blues, a creative‑focused recruitment firm, launched the In The Room career series in partnership with Coach Kat, gathering 30 senior women from Melbourne’s creative, PR, strategy and marketing fields. The kickoff event, titled Career Strategy & Self Advocacy,...
JPMorgan Harassment Case Under Legal Review
A former JPMorgan Chase employee, Chirayu Rana, has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against senior executive Lorna Hajdini, alleging coercion while they worked on the leveraged finance team. JPMorgan’s internal investigation, led by HR and legal, concluded there was no evidence and...
Out with the Tapes, in with the Cloud: Nine’s TV News Transformation
Nine Network is overhauling its TV news operation, moving to cloud‑based, story‑centric production and cutting 120 legacy systems to three bespoke platforms. The restructure reduces role types from 100 to nine, requiring staff to multi‑skill, and includes about 20 voluntary...
Minimum Wage Soon to Pass NT$30,000: Lai
President William Lai announced that Taiwan's next minimum‑wage increase will push the monthly floor above NT$30,000 (about $985), continuing a decade‑long trend of annual hikes. The latest raise, effective on New Year’s Day, lifted the basic wage to NT$29,500 per...