THE HOT STORY

Unilever works council worries about McCormick deal job losses

Unilever's European works council has said that the company's $65bn merger with McCormick could precipitate union action over potential job losses. The labour pushback comes as Unilever CEO Fernando Fernández seeks to streamline operations and focus on high-growth categories. The deal, which combines brands including Hellmann's and Knorr with McCormick's spices, is expected to close next year pending approvals. "We fear that a possible transaction could be accompanied by further personnel measures," the Unilever European Works Council (UEWC), which represents nearly 20,000 employees in Europe and Britain, told Reuters. "Uncertainty among the workforce is high." The UEWC said it would weigh what action might be taken if Unilever does not "find good solutions for affected employees," adding "It could ⁠lead from negotiations to maybe strikes in different countries where that is possible. It depends on the legislation around Europe."

DutchNews.nl

Reuters

LEGAL

Court orders Air Malta to pay former HR chief €65,000 in unpaid bonuses

Air Malta has been ordered to pay €65,000 in unpaid performance bonuses to its former Chief Human Resources Officer, James Genovese. The ruling came after the airline ceased operations on 30 March 2024. Judge Audrey Demicoli said: "The contractual bonus clauses created binding obligations." Despite Air Malta's claims that the bonuses were discretionary and unenforceable due to a lack of formal policies, the court upheld Genovese's entitlement. The amount awarded includes 8% annual interest and legal costs, although Genovese initially claimed €103,407.

Independent

WORKFORCE

Youth unemployment in Finland hits young women hardest

Young women in Finland aged 15–24 are facing higher unemployment than young men of the same age. The young women's jobless rate is now 21.8% compared to men's 21.7%. The shift marks the first time since 2009 that young men have not experienced higher unemployment than women. The situation affecting young women is being largely driven by cuts in social and healthcare sector employment. "When jobs in healthcare decline, it has a direct impact on young women's employment, " explained Pertti Taskinen of Statistics Finland.

YLE Uutiset

Germany's Merz says most Syrian immigrants should return home

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa aim for 80% of the Syrian diaspora in Germany to return home within three years. The stated agreement follows Sharaa's first presidential visit to Germany, where he discussed a "circular" migration model to allow Syrians to contribute to their homeland's reconstruction. But rights campaigners have criticised Sharaa's Germany visit, pointing to his Islamist past and ongoing violence and instability in Syria.

France 24

HIRING

Polish workers are ready to jump ship

Studies by OLX Praca and Business Growth Review reveal that 70% of office workers in Poland view job changes positively. Key motivators include a better workplace atmosphere (54%) and higher pay (45%). Financial reasons drive 74% of employees, with job stability (43%) and flexibility (32%) also important. However, poor management contributes significantly to turnover, with one third of employees leaving due to a bad boss. Despite 44% planning to change jobs within a year, only 12% actively search, primarily due to concerns about stability.

Warsaw Business Journal

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Night shifts worsen diabetes management

According to a study published in Diabetic Medicine, night shift workers, particularly nurses and midwives, face significant challenges in managing type 2 diabetes. Lead researcher Rachel Gibson, a registered dietitian at King's College London, observed: “What struck me is that these are people who work in health care, yet they don't have access [to] a healthy nighttime food environment or tailored dietary advice.” The study tracked 37 UK healthcare workers over 10 days, revealing that those on night shifts consumed more calories, particularly from sweet snacks, due to limited healthy food options. Additionally, night shift workers were found to stay awake for about 22 hours, compared to 17 hours for day shifts, further complicating blood sugar control. Gibson emphasized the need for clinicians to consider work schedules when advising patients on diabetes management.

U.S. News

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 U.S. 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

ABC proposes new pay offer to staff

Australian national broadcaster ABC has proposed a new pay offer following a 24-hour strike last week. The updated proposal includes annual pay increases of 4% in the first year and 3.25% in the following two years, along with clearer progression pathways through pay bands. Unions will consult members before a vote on the offer. Michael Slezak, co-chair of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), noted that while the offer does not address all the union's concerns, it represents significant progress. However, issues regarding job protection from artificial intelligence remain unresolved.

ABC Online

Employee disengagement is affecting Singapore business

Over 80% of employers in Singapore report that employee disengagement is impacting their business, according to a survey by recruitment agency Robert Walters. The survey revealed that 65% of workers experience so-called "quiet cracking," a state whereby employees appear present but struggle internally due to pressure and job uncertainty. The phenomenon can, it is claimed, lead to a decline in well-being and productivity. Kirsty Poltock, country manager of Robert Walters Singapore, emphasised the need for leaders to care for their employees to foster a motivated work environment. The report warns of a potential "engagement recession" in 2026 if these issues are not addressed.

Business Times SG

OTHER

OpenAI abandons erotic chatbot

OpenAI has shelved plans to release an erotic chatbot “indefinitely” amid concerns from employees and investors about the effect of sexualised AI content on society. “AI shouldn’t replace your friends or your family; you should have human connections,” commented one former senior employee, who said they left OpenAI in part due to the issue.

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