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Human Times helps you stay ahead of the latest news and trends that impact the HR industry. Every weekday, our unique blend of AI and team of expert HR and employment editors and researchers monitor 100,000s of articles, and social posts to create summaries of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow. The award winning Human Times newsletter has four geographical editions with news tailored to your region.
From HR leadership to diversity and inclusion, hybrid working, organisational data, performance management, and retention strategies, Human Times is the only trusted free online news source dedicated to covering the most up to date headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re abreast of changes in the HR industry.
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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
American companies are beating earnings forecasts by cutting costs, raising prices, and relying on automation rather than consumer spending. C.H. Robinson’s CFO Damon Lee said: “The outcome of those transformations means less head count, more productivity,” after reporting 35% productivity gains since 2022. Monster Beverage and Estée Lauder also cut jobs to lift profits, while Spectrum Brands cited tariffs and weak demand. Despite S&P 500 earnings per share rising 13% in Q2, worker surveys show falling morale, with many asked to do more with less. Analysts warn prolonged strain could trigger a downturn, erode long-term resilience, and weaken consumer confidence.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
The Employment Rights Bill could significantly impact small businesses, according to HR consultants. The Bill aims to enhance workers' rights, including extending unfair dismissal rights and tightening zero-hours contract regulations. Government analysis estimates the measures could add £5bn to employer costs, with additional amendments potentially increasing expenses by £80m annually. Phil Coxon, CEO of Breathe HR, said: "British businesses face a perfect storm," highlighting that the Bill "brings administrative, legal, and financial changes which will be challenging to implement." The British Retail Consortium has warned that over half of retailers may cut staff in response to the Bill. Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves faces mounting criticism as small business job vacancies fell 18% following her national insurance hike. The Federation of Small Business claims members “don’t feel the government has their backs,” while Lib Dems urge scrapping the “jobs tax.” ONS data shows 46,000 fewer vacancies at small firms since the 2024 Autumn Budget, part of a £25bn revenue plan for public spending. Critics argue the tax contradicts Reeves' growth goals.
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
Spain's unemployment figures reached 2.42m in August, with 199,300 jobs lost compared to July, marking the worst August since 2019. The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration reported 21.6m people employed, a rise of 476,801 from August 2024. Job losses affected various sectors, including education and construction. Valentín Bote, Director of Randstad Research, noted a gap between actual and registered unemployment, stating: "The former has not fallen since the labour reform." Despite challenges, Minister Elma Saiz described the labour market as performing favourably.
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
Egypt’s non-oil private sector contracted for the sixth straight month in August, with the S&P Global PMI falling to 49.2. Weak demand drove declines in output and new orders, but easing cost pressures and marginal job growth provided limited relief. David Owen of S&P Global noted that inflation continues to weigh on business outlooks. Despite subdued confidence and cautious purchasing, real GDP grew 4.77% in the third quarter, buoyed by non-oil manufacturing and tourism. Stabilising inflation and major foreign investments, including IMF and EU funding, support Egypt’s broader economic resilience and reform agenda.
Full Issue
Read the latest HR highlights
How HR is Tackling Long Covid?
Fingers remain tightly crossed around the world that the rampant hospitalization and fatality stage of the Covid-19 pandemic has generally peaked. Vaccination programmes are accelerating, and restrictions are gradually being lifted...
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ESG Is Not Just Another Name For CSR
Back in the distant 1980s if you wanted to demonstrate your environmental and ethical credentials it was sufficient to shop at or purchase shares in retailer The Body Shop. The charismatic Anita Roddick, founder of the “hippy” tinged retail chain, heralded a new age of environmental concern, caring capitalism and corporate awareness that evolved into what became known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR was much talked about and lauded, but in reality often ended up being a lot of a hot air (excuse the pun) and often never progressed much beyond a footnote in the annual report.
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Have Older Workers Paid The Highest COVID-19 Price?
Across the world the pandemic is slowly but surely moving into its next phase. Recovery beckons. As furlough schemes across the U.S. and U.K. are being wound down, restrictions eased or lifted, and workforces moving back up the gears, early signs indicate that older employees are more likely to be casualties of the pandemic aftermath than their younger colleagues. Here at the we have witnessed an increasing number of stories supporting the growing belief that older workers are disproportionately paying the highest Covid-19 price.
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Bosses. What's not to like? Plenty, say employees
“You’ll never have another boss like me, someone who’s basically a chilled-out entertainer”
So said, David Brent, the fictional manager of Slough-based paper merchant Wernham Hogg in the seminal TV comedy The Office. Ricky Gervais’s portrayal of Brent as a flawed, narcissistic, incompetent, and deluded manager was so well observed that many (including me) believed it was a genuine fly-on-the-wall documentary when they alighted accidentally on the first ever episode.
Rolling with the Payroll
To mark National Payroll Week the team at the Human Times has provided some insight into the industry that we hope you’ll find useful.
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