Human Times

European Edition

20th July 2026

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THE HOT STORY

UK financial firms tighten employee scrutiny

UK financial firms are sharpening their scrutiny of employee conduct ahead of new rules from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that are set to take effect on September 1. The changes, which will amend conduct rules and fitness-for-office tests to add serious, work-related bullying, harassment and violence against colleagues, clarify how firms should take non-financial misconduct into account when assessing employees' fitness and propriety. The new regime puts the onus on managers, rather than human resources departments, to identify, investigate and report potentially serious cases. Lawyers report that some companies are dismissing staff suspected of misconduct before the rules increase accountability. Wendy Saunders, a partner at law firm Lewis Silkin, says she has seen two or three instances where firms appeared to "dress up a minor conduct issue as non-financial misconduct" to dismiss an underperformer.

Reuters

WORK FROM ABROAD

How to offer location-flexibility without the compliance risk

The best people increasingly want this kind of freedom, whether it’s working near a partner posted overseas or from their home country a few weeks a year. In fact, 97% say flexibility is a key factor in their job decisions: allow it and you win those hires and keep the people you already have.

The catch is the compliance underneath: corporate tax, social security, immigration and labour law, any of which a single trip can trigger. Get a clear breakdown of the key compliance risks of working from abroad, with practical tips on how to manage them before they arise.

Download the No-Risk Handbook for HR & GM teams here!

LEGAL

Luxury brands' offices searched in labour abuse probe

Chanel says it is co-operating with Italian authorities after its offices were searched by investigators probing allegations of labour exploitation in the luxury industry’s supply chain. Italian police on Thursday visited the headquarters of nine luxury brands, including Chanel, Moncler and Brunello Cucinelli, seeking documents related to ⁠governance and supply chain controls as part of an investigation into alleged worker exploitation at subcontractors. Italy's government has previously come to the defence of the country's luxury brands. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said last year that the reputation of Italian brands was "under attack".

Euronews

Financial Times

Reuters

WORKFORCE

ASML staff get €20,000 in shares if they stay until 2030

Veldhoven-based chip machine maker ASML has promised its employees a one-time share package worth €20,000, subject to several conditions. One condition is that the employee must remain employed until at least January 1, 2030, before they can sell the shares. The other conditions are still being worked out, a spokesperson for the company told broadcaster NOS.

NL Times

DutchNews.nl

STRATEGY

JYSK to invest €60m in major Iberian expansion

Danish home furnishings retailer JYSK will invest €60m over the next four years to open 120 new stores across Portugal and Spain, marking its largest expansion in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain will receive most of the new outlets, while Portugal's store network is set to grow by around 50% from its current 38 locations. The company expects the expansion to create about 1,200 jobs, with each new store employing around 10 people. JYSK said the strategy aims to bring its stores closer to customers in cities, towns and retail parks, while strengthening its long-term presence in both markets.

The Portugal News

CORPORATE

Telecom Italia backs Poste Italiane takeover bid

Telecom Italia’s board has unanimously approved Poste Italiane’s voluntary public tender and exchange offer for all of the company’s shares. Poste became TIM’s largest single shareholder last year with a 20% stake in the company, and launched a bid in March for the shares it does not already own. “The board unanimously deemed the consideration offered fair from a financial point of view and positively assessed the rationale and business prospects of the operation and its consistency with the path undertaken by TIM,” the company said in a statement. Telecom Italia, which was once a state monopoly, was privatised in 1997.

CNBC

Financial Times

REGULATION

Organised crime groups 'move billions through crypto'

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, an ⁠intergovernmental anti-money laundering group, has said criminals are taking advantage of gaps in regulation to move billions in illicit proceeds through the ‌crypto sector. In its latest review into the role of virtual assets and illicit finance, the group said crypto-enabled crime had become more "complex and interconnected" in the past year, and national regulators, financial institutions and crypto companies face "significant and ongoing challenges" in detecting and stopping money-laundering flows coming from scam compounds and investment fraud networks.

Reuters

HIRING

New Romanian platform to revolutionise foreign recruitment

The Romanian government has introduced a draft decision for a new platform aimed at simplifying the recruitment and visa processes for foreign workers. The initiative, named WorkInRomania, seeks to enhance the efficiency of hiring foreign talent. "The platform will streamline procedures and make it easier for companies to find qualified candidates," said a government spokesperson. The move is expected to attract more skilled workers to Romania, addressing the country's labour market needs.

Romaniapress

INTERNATIONAL

AI threats put executives on guard

AI companies are strengthening security as threats against executives, employees and facilities escalate alongside public anxiety about jobs, affordability and social disruption. Incidents involving Anthropic and OpenAI include attempted violence, threatening messages and demands linked to customer disputes. Liferaft recorded a sevenfold rise in digital threats between late February and May, while executive-protection spending has increased sharply at technology companies including Palantir, Oracle and Salesforce. Some leaders now travel with armed guards, and employees are discouraged from wearing corporate logos. Anthropic said it tracks concerning behaviour to identify escalation early. Industry figures acknowledge that warnings about AI-driven unemployment may have intensified hostility. Palantir chief executive Alex Karp said political unrest is the sector’s greatest challenge, warning that “none of us are going to make any money when the country blows up.” Despite public concern, companies continue developing increasingly advanced models.

Wall Street Journal

Tokyo embraces casual wear for summer

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is promoting a relaxed dress code under the "Tokyo Cool Biz" campaign to help staff cope with rising summer temperatures. Workers are encouraged to wear shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers instead of traditional suits. Toru Suda, a public servant, noted that the initial awkwardness of casual attire faded as more colleagues joined in. With temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius, the campaign aims to reduce energy costs and improve comfort.

Daily Sabah

OTHER

Coffee drinkers turning to whole beans as prices soar, says Lavazza

Giuseppe Lavazza, chair of Italian coffee roaster Lavazza, has said coffee drinkers are buying “less but better” as prices surge, fuelling demand for whole beans and bean-to-cup machines.

Financial Times

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