Human Times

European Edition

6th February 2026

THE HOT STORY

Maersk cuts 1,000 corporate roles

Maersk said it will eliminate about 1,000 corporate positions, roughly 15% of its 6,000 corporate roles, as part of a plan to save about $180m per year. The company said it has “announced steps to simplify the organisation and reduce the company’s corporate overhead,” aiming “to drive continuous productivity improvements and maintain strong cost discipline,” and that notification and consultation processes have begun. Maersk reported 2025 revenue of $54bn, down $1.5bn.

Copenhagen Post

Bloomberg

The Local

WORKPLACE

Luxembourg invests €2bn in research

The Luxembourg government has committed nearly €2bn to higher education and research from 2026 to 2029, with the University of Luxembourg receiving €1.09bn. This funding marks a 20% increase from the previous agreements. The new multi-annual agreements include obligations for staff well-being and workplace quality, addressing concerns raised by staff about governance and working conditions. Minister Stéphanie Obertin said: "We are durably strengthening the Luxembourg research and innovation ecosystem." Despite ongoing allegations of a toxic work environment, the ministry stated these claims did not impact budget negotiations.

Luxembourg Times

LEGAL

UWV's illegal photo requests exposed

The Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) has been illegally obtaining passport and ID photos from municipalities to investigate welfare fraud, according to reports. Despite acknowledging the illegality, UWV staff were instructed to acquire these photos indirectly. Some municipalities complied, while others, like Apeldoorn, refused. The union FNV condemned the practice, highlighting concerns over employee pressure and potential discrimination. Experts noted that UWV's actions violate Dutch passport law, which restricts photo requests to specific authorities. UWV defended its actions, claiming they are necessary for certain investigations.

NL Times

WORKFORCE

Employers warn against blanket hour cuts

The Malta Employers' Association (MEA) has expressed concerns over blanket reductions in working hours, advocating for flexible arrangements instead. President Ivan Refalo stated: "Every employer should be free to offer working conditions suited to their organisation." The MEA's position paper, "Debating the Concept of a Four-Day Week in Malta," highlights that a four-day week may not be universally applicable. Director General Kevin J Borg noted that any reduction in hours must follow an economic transition towards higher value-added activities. Preliminary survey results show 56% of employers oppose a four-day week at this time.

Independent

Nordzucker AG to halt sugar production

Germany-based Nordzucker AG will cease sugar production at its Trenčianska Teplá plant by mid-March, resulting in over 90 job losses. The decision stems from declining profitability due to climate change, which has affected sugar beet yields and increased production costs.

The Slovak Spectator

HSBC to cull underperformers

HSBC is set to implement significant bonus cuts for some bankers, aligning with a more aggressive pay strategy similar to Wall Street firms. Chief executive Georges Elhedery aims to encourage underperforming staff in investment banking and wealth management to leave following upcoming bonus payouts. “We are committed to ensuring our employees are rewarded competitively, with a focus on differentiation determined by performance, to attract and retain talent, ” a representative for the bank said.

Business Times SG

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

TSB boss to become Sabadell chief

Marc Armengol, the chief executive of TSB, will leave the bank to become CEO of its Spanish parent company, Sabadell, replacing César González-Bueno. The move coincides with TSB's impending acquisition by Santander in a £2.9bn deal which is expected to close in the first half of the year, pending regulatory approval. TSB plans to announce Mr Armengol's successor closer to his departure date in May.

The Times

The Daily Telegraph

Amazon CEO appoints new ‘shadow’ advisor

Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy has named Dharmesh Mehta, vice president of worldwide selling partner services, as his new technical or “shadow” advisor, a highly sought-after role that often leads to senior leadership positions. Mr Mehta will begin the role in March, accompanying Jassy to key meetings to gain exposure across Amazon’s businesses. As part of the change, senior vice president Amit Agarwal will assume Mehta’s marketplace responsibilities under an expanded remit. Mr Jassy himself once served as Jeff Bezos’ shadow, underscoring the role’s importance in Amazon’s leadership pipeline.

CNBC

CORPORATE

Vodafone vows no retail job cuts

Vodafone's chief executive has said there will be no forced redundancies for retail staff following the £16.5bn merger with Three. "Our presence in the high street is really key to our business model," said Margherita Della Valle. The merger is expected to result in £700m in cost savings or extra sales, with integration progressing ahead of schedule.

City A.M.

Henkel to acquire Stahl for €2.1bn

Henkel has announced an agreement to purchase specialty coatings firm Stahl for €2.1bn (approximately $2.5bn), contingent upon the completion of mandatory consultation processes. The acquisition, alongside Henkel's plan to acquire ATP Adhesive Systems, is expected to significantly enhance its Adhesive Technologies business, adding nearly €1bn in sales potential. Stahl, which employs around 1,700 people, generated adjusted sales of about €725m in 2025.

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Finance leaders embrace AI

Finance teams are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence, but most are still struggling to demonstrate clear returns on their investments, according to Deloitte’s Finance Trends 2026 survey. While 63% of finance leaders say AI is fully deployed in their functions, only 21% report clear, measurable value so far, and just 14% have fully integrated AI agents into day-to-day finance operations. The gap reflects challenges moving beyond pilots, with legacy systems, unclear ROI, and data complexity slowing progress. Data privacy is also a major concern, especially given the sensitivity of financial information.

Wall Street Journal

GEOPOLITICAL

Russia expels German military attache

Russia has declared a military attache at the German Embassy in Moscow persona non grata, citing Germany's recent expulsion of a Russian diplomat on espionage charges, which Russia denies. The Foreign Ministry described this action as a "symmetrical response" and stated that Germany is responsible for escalating tensions.

Deutsche Welle (EN)

INTERNATIONAL

AI reshapes China's job landscape

The rise of AI is transforming China's labour market, creating new roles and enhancing employee skills. Hu Pingping, an AI trainer at Xunfei Healthcare, exemplifies this shift, merging her medical expertise with AI technology. According to PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer, AI-related positions are increasing globally, with workers in this field earning a 56% wage premium. Liu Cong from iFLYTEK noted that AI is pushing the workforce towards higher-value roles. However, concerns about job displacement persist as AI technology evolves rapidly, challenging traditional career paths.

Chinadaily US Edition

Nike faces federal investigation over diversity policies

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating Nike for alleged discrimination against white employees through its diversity policies. The inquiry, revealed in a court motion, seeks information on Nike's layoff criteria and race-based mentoring programs. Nike said it has cooperated with the EEOC, calling the subpoena "a surprising and unusual escalation." The investigation follows a complaint filed by EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, and not from any employee grievance.

U.S. News

AND FINALLY...

From Kiss Cam to crisis comms

Kristin Cabot, the HR executive caught on a Kiss Cam during a Coldplay concert, is charging $875 for tickets for her upcoming speech titled "taking back the narrative." The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led to widespread speculation about her relationship with her married boss, Andy Byron. Cabot described the experience as public shaming, stating she felt branded with a "scarlet letter." Her speech, scheduled for April 16 at PRWeek's 2026 Crisis Comms Conference, aims to share her strategies for reclaiming her narrative, alongside PR expert Dini von Mueffling.

The Independent UK

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