THE HOT STORY

Unilever freezes hiring as Iran war poses ‘significant challenges’

Unilever is freezing hiring for at least three months. The company, which owns brands such as Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, told staff the ban on hiring will affect “all levels” of recruitment and was taken in response to the “significant challenges” posed by the crisis in the Middle East. "Macro economic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle East conflict . . . bring some significant challenges for the coming few months," Fabian Garcia, head of Unilever's personal care business, wrote in a memo. "With this in mind, the Unilever Leadership Executive team has agreed a global recruitment freeze at all levels. This will be effective immediately and last for a minimum of three months."

U.S. News

Bloomberg

Reuters

REMOTE WORKING

Egypt's CBE mandates Sunday remote work for banks

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will implement a remote work policy on Sundays starting April 5 in response to government directives aimed at reducing energy consumption. This policy affects only head office developments that do not provide direct services to clients. All bank branches, call centres, and customer service channels will remain operational during official working days. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the initiative on March 28, highlighting its role in the broader effort to manage energy use amid regional tensions.

Zawya EN

WORKFORCE

Saudi unemployment holds at 3.5% in Q4 2025

Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate for the working-age population held at 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The overall unemployment rate for Saudi males and females combined was 7.2%. Notably, the unemployment rate for Saudi women decreased to 10.3%, down 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. The economic participation rate for Saudi males rose to 64.7%, while the employment rate for Saudi women increased to 31%. The labour force participation rate for the total population was 67.4%. GASTAT reported that job seekers employed an average of four active job search methods.

Zawya EN

Arab News

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Sharjah launches AI Hub as ‘gateway' for global talent

Sharjah has launched a AI Hub to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence. The hub will unite regional and international partners, providing organisations with access to specialised expertise and emerging technologies. It aims to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation by offering services such as AI consulting, data analytics, and advanced computing infrastructure. The hub will also focus on capacity building through training programmes and certifications for professionals and government entities.

Khaleej Times Online

INTERNATIONAL

Many employees say work has been stripped of fun

The loss of small perks and the rise of AI in a push seemingly aimed at squeezing more work out of fewer people have conspired to strip the office of all fun, many employees are saying. The Wall Street Journal notes that chief financial officers at large US companies mentioned “efficiency” at least once on 307 conference calls in the latest quarter as of March 26, up from 219 a year earlier and the highest level since at least 2020, according to AlphaSense. “There’s almost nobody who is feeling positive vibes about their job right now,” said Rocco Seyboth, a longtime software marketer outside Seattle. “Everyone I talked to is consumed by AI - either how to use it, how to pretend to use it, how much they hate using it, how it’s going to eliminate their position or their company’s product,” he said. Human resources executives say they are aware of the concerns of white-collar staff. “There’s fear in the workforce,” said Jacqui Canney, chief people and AI enablement officer at the technology company ServiceNow.

Wall Street Journal

British Airways offers pilots financial incentive to cut fuel consumption

British Airways is offering its pilots a financial incentive to reduce their aircraft's fuel consumption. Pilots would be required to cut their jets' carbon dioxide emissions by 60,000 tonnes above 2025 levels to achieve a bonus that could equal 1% of their basic salary, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. The proposal is to be voted on by members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association at the end of April. “Flight crew decisions have a direct and measurable impact on fuel burn and emissions,” states a document sent to BA pilots in the union. “The incentive exists only to recognise and reward fuel efficient behaviours when, and only when, they are compatible with uncompromised safety and sound airmanship.”

Bloomberg

Apple calls in PwC to resolve Australian payroll blunder

Apple's Australian subsidiary has engaged PwC to investigate a significant internal technology error affecting thousands of employees' pay and leave entitlements. The company must reimburse hundreds of former employees and provide additional leave to current staff due to a mistake in its human resources systems, which incorrectly counted public holidays as leave days. "We are committed to rectifying this issue," a spokesperson said.

Financial Review

Hong Kong weighs tax exemption for fund managers

Hong Kong is considering a change to the local tax regime that would exempt private equity and potentially hedge fund managers from paying tax on their earnings from carried interest and performance fees. The exemption will apply at both the corporate and individual tax level. Hong Kong is aiming to lure more asset managers and talent to the financial hub and boost its status as Asia’s leading asset management centre. Adam Williams, managing director with Alvarez & Marsal Tax in Hong Kong, said: “If the tax incentives are implemented, it will create certainty for qualifying private equity managers to enjoy carried interest exempt in Hong Kong regardless of where their funds are structured . . . While yet to be confirmed, there’s still a chance some hedge funds may also be able to structure themselves to enjoy exempt carry, which would be a game changer for that segment of the asset management industry.”

Bloomberg

OTHER

NYU Abu Dhabi campus closes amid tensions

New York University has closed its Abu Dhabi campus following threats from Iranian leaders who declared US educational outposts as 'legitimate targets' after a university in Tehran was struck during the ongoing Gulf conflict. The closure affects approximately 1,500 students and faculty members, disrupting academic activities and international collaborations. NYU is currently evaluating the situation and considering alternative arrangements for affected students and staff.

New York Times

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe