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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
Deloitte is to pay $21.5m to settle U.S. Department of Justice claims that it discriminated against employees and job applicants on the basis of race or sex. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the settlement was another example of how the DOJ was “eliminating woke, unconstitutional practices from American workplaces,” adding: “Merit drives opportunity and promotion. Not someone’s sex or race.” The department said that business units within the audit giant received monthly summaries tracking "demographic goals" and alleged that Deloitte's Partners, Principals and Managing Directors were evaluated, in part, based on their contributions to helping the firm achieve its workforce composition goals. In a statement, Deloitte said it was pleased to have resolved the matter “to avoid the cost and distraction of protracted litigation.”
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Human Times
UK
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has defended proposed reforms to zero-hours contracts. "The policy is about the person on zero hours getting the right to a contract that reflects what they regularly work," he said. "So, if you're regularly working a number of hours . . . presumably the contract that reflects those hours is not higher cost to the business." However, he acknowledged potential "monitoring costs" for employers. The reforms would require companies to guarantee a minimum number of hours and provide notice for shift changes. An official impact statement has estimated costs could reach £3bn annually, with the retail and hospitality sectors being most affected. Reynolds said of the reforms: "This is a well-known part of the [government's] business plan. It's a manifesto commitment and governments should fulfil their manifesto promises. It meets the balance between the flexibility employers will need [and] the discretion of the employees if they want a contract that reflects those regular hours."
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Human Times
Europe
Volkswagen's labour unions are opposing proposed job cuts that could affect up to 50,000 workers. Over 10,000 employees protested at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg, some jeering Oliver Blume, the carmaker's chief executive, as he called on employees to "pull together" behind the company's restructuring. Blume also said that no decision had yet been taken on factory closures, which he called the "last and most expensive resort." Outside, workers waved banners bearing slogans such as "Our jobs are not your balance sheet adjustments" and "Respect is not up for negotiation." Volkswagen labour leader Daniela Cavallo said German factories were "an integral part" of the group. "Our trust in this company's executive board, and especially in Oliver Blume, has been damaged. Not yet beyond repair, but damaged nonetheless," she said. Rival turnaround proposals have been drawn up by labour representatives, which they intend to introduce at a supervisory board meeting next week.
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Human Times
Middle East
The US is beginning to send staff back to some diplomatic missions in the Middle East. Diplomatic posts in Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad will see staff return, with family members also allowed back in Riyadh. However, some embassies will operate at no more than 85% of their authorised staff levels initially. The return of personnel is expected to commence as early as this week, following the evacuation of staff after US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28, said sources familiar with the matter. “Returning personnel to missions that were partly evacuated suggests the administration believes the war is winding down,” former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told the New York Times.
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