You’re all signed up for the Human Times
Thank you for your interest in our service.
Watch out for a confirmation email from our subscriptions team. Once you have confirmed you will join the worldwide community of over 30,000 subscribers who are receiving daily HR intelligence to lead, innovate and grow.
Note: Due to the nature of this message you may find this in your "promotions" or "spam" folders, please check there. If nothing arrives within a few minutes let us know. If you do not receive this email we will be happy to help get you set up.
Adding the email address humantimes@human-times.com, will help to ensure all newsletters arrive directly to your inbox.
Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
U.S. police departments have reported a year-over-year increase in sworn officers for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the police killing of George Floyd. According to a survey by the Police Executive Research Forum, more officers were hired in 2023 than in any of the previous four years, and fewer officers resigned or retired. However, large departments are still below their staffing levels from January 2020. Many departments are struggling to attract and retain officers, despite offering incentives such as higher pay and signing bonuses. Changes in application requirements and hiring processes are being considered, but lowering standards is not supported. The survey also showed a decrease in resignations and retirements, attributed partly to a shift in public officials' views on public safety departments.
Full IssueHuman Times
UK
Five women have accused a judge – whom they encountered in separate cases - of bullying and sexist behaviour during employment tribunal hearings. One woman told BBC News that Judge Philip Lancaster had shouted at her at least 16 times, while another said she feared for any woman appearing before him. The women said they wanted to highlight his "degrading behaviour." All the women who the BBC has spoken to lost cases heard in Leeds in front of Judge Lancaster, although some of them have been fully or partially successful on appeal. One case heard by Judge Lancaster received publicity in the press. In 2021, Alison McDermott, an HR consultant, brought a high-profile case against Sellafield, the nuclear waste disposal and reprocessing company in Cumbria. News reports at the time referred to criticisms Ms McDermott made of Judge Lancaster. She said he yelled at her and made "sneering" comments about her earnings. "I think it mattered hugely that I was a woman," she says. "For some reason, he had a real problem with the fact that I was a well-paid professional woman." Ms McDermott lost her case, although an appeal judge found there had been errors in her tribunal and she won some minor concessions. A new tribunal is now looking at her claim. Judge Lancaster, who has been an employment tribunal judge since 2007, declined to comment when approached by the BBC.
Full IssueHuman Times
Europe
Germany's economic weakness is expected to lead to a surge in unemployment, reaching the highest level in almost a decade, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW). The study reveals that unemployment will average just under 2.8m this year, the highest since 2015. However, it is still below the peak in 2005 when almost 4.9m people were unemployed. Companies' employment plans do not indicate any growth for the rest of the year, with the number of newly registered vacancies falling to its lowest level in five years. Germany's unemployment rate is projected to rise to 6% this year. Despite the economic downturn, the number of employed individuals rose by 340,000, attributed to labour hoarding. However, as the period of weakness extends, staffing levels may need to be adjusted, impacting companies' competitiveness.
Full IssueHuman Times
Middle East
Saudi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanin, led the Saudi delegation at the 50th session of the Arab Labor Conference in Baghdad. The conference was attended by labour ministers, employers' organisations, and labour unions from 21 Arab countries, along with representatives from the Arab League and other international organisations. Abu Thanin emphasized the importance of early qualification and training to meet the labour market's needs, highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to investing in and developing human resources through Vision 2030 programs. He also mentioned the ministry's initiative in holding the Global Labor Market Conference in partnership with the International Labor Organization and the World Bank. The conference participants are expected to discuss various issues and reports, including the upcoming International Labor Conference organised by the International Labor Organization. The Arab Labor Organization, established in 1965, was the first specialised Arab organisation concerned with labour and workers' affairs in the Arab world.
Full Issue