THE HOT STORY

Nestlé pressures underachievers with new bonus structure

Swiss food giant Nestlé is overhauling its bonus system to reward top performers. The company is introducing six rankings for its employees to determine payouts. Employees deemed "exemplary" will be eligible for a payout of as much as 150% of the bonus target. Those employees given an "unsatisfactory" rating will receive between 0% and 50% of the target. Bonus targets vary across teams. Nestlé said the system simplifies performance evaluation, development planning and employee feedback. A Nestlé spokesperson said: “The idea behind the whole framework is to really develop people. We also want to change how people behave.”

Bloomberg

Reuters

HR TECH EUROPE 2026 AGENDA IS LIVE

The HR Tech Europe 2026 agenda is officially live!

Bringing together voices shaping the future of work, expect insights from CHROs and industry leading speakers from brands like Amazon.com, Disruptive HR, Marriott International, Pandora, Samskip, SoundCloud, Josh Bersin and more. Read on for a taste of what’s taking shape on stage this 22–23 April at RAI Amsterdam.

Explore the Agenda

WORKFORCE

48-hour strike set to disrupt Germany's public transport

Travellers are preparing for severe disruption to public transport services across Germany starting this morning. Industrial action lasting for 48 hours has been called by the Verdi union, which represents about 100,000 workers employed across 150 transport companies. The union aims to gain leverage in negotiations that cover working conditions, specifically working hours and shift work, allowances for night and weekend work, as well as salaries. "Our colleagues urgently need relief – and employers need a clear signal that we are determined to fight for our demands," Verdi Deputy Chair Christine Behle said. "Employers still don't seem to understand that public transport services cannot continue to function in the long term if we don't make decisive improvements to working conditions now," she added.

Euronews

Reuters

Belgian railway union announces fresh strike

Train disruptions are expected for cross-border commuters and travellers to Brussels from 8 to 11 March due to a planned strike by the CGSP Cheminots union. The action will impact the entire Belgian rail network, including SNCB, Infrabel, and HR Rail. The strike is part of a broader labour dispute over proposed reforms to the railway code, which the union argues could harm staff employment conditions.

Luxembourg Times

LEGAL

Milan prosecutors move against Deliveroo

Prosecutors in Milan have placed the Italian unit of food delivery platform Deliveroo under judicial supervision and its chief executive under investigation for alleged exploitation of workers, according to documents seen by Reuters. The prosecutors have appointed a judicial administrator to oversee the company to "regularise" its workers and to monitor compliance with labour rules and conditions. The UK-based business was acquired last year by US meal delivery company DoorDash for about £2.9bn ($3.92bn).

Reuters

Tesla and IG Metall reach truce in dispute

Tesla and the German union IG Metall are for now to set aside their dispute over a labour meeting at the company's factory near Berlin earlier this month, the union has said. The automaker had filed a criminal complaint against a union member it accused of secretly recording the meeting on February 10. IG Metall had described the claim as a "calculated lie". Local IG Metall leader Jan Otto said: "Now, just a few days before the works council election, we can concentrate fully on the issues [over working conditions] . . . there's a lot to do," said

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

UK news giants unite for AI standards

Five major UK news outlets have formed the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights coalition (SPUR) to address the challenges posed by AI's use of news content. The coalition, which includes the Financial Times, The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the BBC, and Sky News, aims to establish protocols for fair use and protect original journalism. In an open letter, they said: "We believe we need to come together to protect original journalism and secure the long-term sustainability of our industry." SPUR seeks to create shared standards that ensure fair compensation for publishers while allowing AI developers access to quality journalism.

Sky News

Press Gazette

RISK

Foreign power 'may strike Nordics' electricity grid'

An individual thought to be linked to a foreign power has made a serious threat directed at the energy network of the Nordic countries, Swedish TV4 News reported on Thursday. The channel reported that a number of Swedish authorities have been involved in a joint international effort and are working on the case.

YLE Uutiset

INTERNATIONAL

Super Retail takes A$23.8m hit from CEO affair scandal as profits slide

Australia's Super Retail Group has absorbed a A$23.8m ($16.9m) legal bill stemming from a workplace scandal involving its former chief executive, significantly denting first-half 2026 earnings and overshadowing new chief executive Paul Bradshaw’s debut results. The costs, largely linked to settlement payments to two former executives-turned-whistleblowers, Rebecca Farrell and Amelia Berczelly, were disclosed in fine print within the retailer’s results. The pair had alleged bullying, misuse of corporate funds and an undisclosed relationship between former CEO Anthony Heraghty and head of HR Jane Kelly. The A$23.8m expense consumed almost 20% of the group’s statutory net profit of A$104.1m for the December half.

The West Australian

The Australian Financial Review

The Australian

US courts wants Trump administration to reveal information about Elon Musk's DOGE

Bloomberg reports that US courts are forcing the White House to reveal information about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk's role in it. Judges have ordered the government to disclose the names of DOGE employees and contractors, and to investigate phone numbers that Musk may have used for official business. The Trump administration faces multiple lawsuits seeking transparency and accountability for the department's actions, including its access to government systems and records with sensitive financial or personal data. “You really are seeing an unwillingness from the government to shed any type of light or any type of accountability for what happened,” said Tianna Mays, legal director of Democracy Defenders Fund.

Bloomberg

OTHER

Italy's ruling parties agree overhaul of ⁠electoral law

Italy's ruling coalition has proposed an overhaul of the electoral law in a bid to secure Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's tenure ahead of the 2027 elections. The new plan would shift to a fully proportional system, ensuring a majority for any coalition that receives over 40% of the vote. Forza Italia deputy head Stefano Benigni said: "The centre-right is working on an electoral law that will bring stability to the country." Opposition parties, however, argue that the move is designed to protect the ruling coalition's interests.

U.S. News

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