Human Times

European Edition

17th September 2025

THE HOT STORY

Ford to cut up to 1,000 jobs at its factory in Cologne

Ford is to lay off up to 1,000 workers at its Cologne plant in Germany due to low demand for electric vehicles in Europe. The plant will shift to operating only one shift per day starting January 2026. The company said: "Demand for electric vehicles in Europe remains significantly lower than industry forecasts." The decision adds to the 2,900 company job cuts previously announced in Germany as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative across Europe.

ANSA.it

The Local Germany

HR TECHNOLOGY

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WORKFORCE

French minister warns of 'black day' for transport tomorrow

Philippe Tabarot, France's transport minister, has warned of a "black day" for the country's transport network tomorrow due to impending strikes. Multiple unions, including those representing rail, Metro, and airline workers, are preparing to take action. This strike is expected to cause significant disruption.

The Local

CORPORATE

American brands stress European ties

The Wall Street Journal explores how major US brands including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble are playing down their American roots in Europe, highlighting local sourcing, jobs and investment instead. Coca-Cola has launched a "Made in Germany" campaign, stressing that 97% of its drinks sold locally are produced there and showcasing employee stories, while also celebrating 125 years in the UK with a documentary on corner shops. McDonald’s emphasised its €3bn German investment and local ingredients, while P&G highlighted its ten German plants and research centres. The WSJ suggests the shift comes amid rising anti-American sentiment linked to Donald Trump’s tariffs and foreign policy, with surveys suggesting European consumers could shy away from US brands.

The Wall Street Journal

TECHNOLOGY

Workers hide AI use from bosses

Research by Ipsos reveals that 33% of UK workers do not disclose their use of AI tools to their bosses due to fears of being judged. Only 13% openly discuss AI with senior staff, because many believe it could indicate a lack of competence. Concerns about AI's impact on social structures are prevalent, with 63% doubting its ability to replace human interaction.

The Guardian

AI can’t write good analyst research yet, says analyst

AI tools which sought to mimic the thought processes of an equities analyst make too many mistakes, lack predictive power and tend to miss the big picture, according to Bernstein Research.

Financial Times

LEGAL

New UK rules to tackle wage gaps

Large employers in the UK will soon be mandated to publish gender pay gap action plans under the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). The new requirement aims to enhance transparency and accountability in addressing wage disparities. Analysis by law firm Pinsent Masons shows a slight decrease in the average hourly median pay gap to 11.28% for 2024-25. While women's representation in top salary quartiles has improved, they still dominate lower-paid roles, making up 54.72% of the lowest quartile.

The Scotsman

REGULATION

Many Dutch temp firms operate without oversight

More than 50% of the 16,000 temporary employment agencies in the Netherlands operate without oversight, according to a report by industry watchdog SNCU. Director Jaap Buis said: "This analysis confirms that a significant group of companies operates under the radar." Concerns have risen over the exploitation of migrant workers following widely-publicised reports of Filipino and Indonesian staff at a luxury gym being mistreated. The Dutch Labor Inspectorate has received 131 complaints from Fairwork about underpayment, but no cases resulted in back pay, leaving many workers disillusioned.

NL Times

STRATEGY

North Face cuts 80% of its orders from long-time supplier

Türkiye's textile sector has suffered another loss after North Face decided to cut 80% of its orders from long-time supplier Gelisim Tekstil, shifting the majority of production to Vietnam and Bangladesh. Global brands have been deserting Türkiye due to rising costs, with price differences reaching up to 100% compared to Far East competitors. Gelisim currently employs 1,200 staff, but these developments could see numbers drop by half, said Mustafa Akcay, chairman of Gelisim Tekstil's board of directors.

Türkiye Today

MANAGEMENT

Asda's chairman sends managers on a reading spree

Asda chairman Allan Leighton has sent 700 store managers at the UK retailer copies of the 1988 book Zapp! The Lightning of Empowerment to energise staff and support a company turnaround. He urged managers to read the book before attending a "maverick" leadership course, describing it as a guide to empowering employees, improving stores daily, and restoring "Asdaness" across the retailer after years of declining sales. The book uses a fable to teach managers how to make staff feel ownership of their roles, and aims to boost motivation and drive performance.

The Daily Telegraph

INTERNATIONAL

US workers learn the limits of free speech

In the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, numerous workers in the US have been terminated for their comments regarding his death. Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel at Engage PEO, observed: “Most people think they have a right to free speech . . . but that doesn't necessarily apply in the workplace.” The legal landscape varies by state, with many employees lacking protections for speech made outside of work. While some states have laws against punishing workers for political views, exceptions exist for conduct deemed disruptive. Amy Dufrane from the Human Resource Certification Institute observes: “HR has got to really drill down and make sure that they're super clear on their policies.” Employers are increasingly reviewing their policies on political speech to maintain workplace safety and brand reputation.

Los Angeles Times

Over 40% of private sector staff in Thailand suffer sexual harassment

Over 40% of employees in Thailand's private sector have experienced sexual harassment, according to a study by Mahidol University. The research, supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, surveyed 603 employees across five industries. LGBTQ+ workers reported the highest harassment rate at 60.2%, followed by women at 45.9%. The study found significant gaps in workplace protections, with 45.4% of employees saying their companies lacked clear anti-harassment measures. Lead researcher Suchada Tawisith said: "Sexual harassment is not only a violation of dignity but also has economic consequences and reputational risks for companies."

Bangkok Post

Japanese employers face challenge of hiring more disabled workers

Companies in Japan face the task of hiring more people with disabilities as the statutory minimum employment rate for the disabled will be lifted to 2.7% next July from 2.5% at present. Prospective employers are required to follow a thorough selection process that takes into account the traits of each candidate. "With the number of new graduates limited, the hike of the statutory minimum employment rate is gradually making it difficult to recruit students," observed an official for Kirin Holdings. The food and beverage maker allows disabled newcomers to choose between a career-track position and an area-restricted post involving no transfer.

Nippon.com

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