Human Times

European Edition

21st July 2026

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THE HOT STORY

Men 'more likely than women to use job offers for pay rises'

A study suggests that men are more likely than women to use outside job opportunities as leverage to negotiate higher pay in their existing ‌jobs. The research by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin estimates that renegotiation accounts for around half ⁠of the gender pay gap and suggests that pay transparency alone may not close persistent gender pay gaps. The ‌study seen by Reuters ⁠found that outside job opportunities raise men's wages in their existing jobs, but women in the same situation see no comparable gains, even though they are just ⁠as likely as men to change employer.

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!

WORKFORCE

Portugal's migrant rules hit construction firms

Curbs on migrants introduced by Portugal's centre-right coalition government have exacerbated an already acute shortage of workers, undermining efforts to meet demand for affordable housing. "The government has restricted immigration too much and too quickly given the country's needs," said Oscar Afonso, an economics professor at the University of Porto. "It was ⁠a political choice, but immigrants are essential to the economy." The government has said it wants to restrict "uncontrolled inflows" of migrants and ensure dignified conditions for those already living in Portugal.

Reuters

WORKPLACE

Employees are scheduling fake meetings to make time for real work

Workers admit scheduling fake meetings to make time to complete essential tasks or build their network as they seek to escape the relentless cycle of calls and catch-ups.

Financial Times

REMOTE WORKING

Narcissistic leaders 'more likely to oppose remote work'

Research from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that leaders with narcissistic traits are more resistant to remote work. The study examined CEO behaviour, public comments, and personality surveys, finding that narcissism correlates with a desire for power and control, which in-person work facilitates. Sylvia Fuller, a sociology professor, noted that leaders may have personal motivations for wanting employees back in the office. While some argue for collaboration, the study suggests that the push for in-office work is often self-centred, rather than productivity-driven.

Yahoo News Australia

TAX

Spain's World Cup win delivers prize money to players - and tax revenue to the IRS

Spain's victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup earned its national soccer federation the tournament's $50m first-place prize, but tax experts say the US Internal Revenue Service will claim a share of the earnings because the tournament was held in the United States. Although FIFA pays prize money to national federations rather than directly to players, coaches, or staff, any compensation distributed for work performed in the US is generally subject to federal taxation. Tax professionals say international tax treaties may reduce or eliminate some liabilities for certain participants, but the rules vary by country, role, and type of income, creating a highly complex tax landscape. The tournament also highlights the impact of state income taxes. While some host states do not levy income tax, others, including New Jersey, where the final was played, do. Athletes and team personnel may therefore face additional "jock tax" obligations based on where they earned their income during the competition.

Market Watch

STRATEGY

Tesla increases production at German factory

Tesla is to boost production at its plant in Gruenheide, Germany, as the carmaker affirmed expectations for stronger demand there this year. “For the 2026 financial year, the company forecasts a significantly higher production volume compared with the previous year and expects a corresponding increase in capacity utilization,” Tesla Manufacturing Brandenburg SE said in its annual report for 2025.

Bloomberg

CORPORATE

Volvo Cars sees 'challenging' environment

Volvo Cars reported a sales decline in Q2 2026, citing a "very challenging environment." CEO Hakan Samuelsson noted that the China market weakened, alongside global uncertainties from the Middle East conflict. Revenues fell to 77.7 billion kronor ($8.05bn), down from 93.5 billion kronor the previous year, with vehicle sales dropping 6% to 171,500. However, net income improved to 417 million kronor, recovering from a loss of 8.1 billion kronor last year. Samuelsson expressed optimism for the second half, anticipating stronger sales driven by recovery in the US and growth in Europe.

France 24

REGULATION

AliExpress fined record €550m by EU

The European Commission has fined AliExpress €550m for failing to prevent the sale of illegal products, including unsafe toys and counterfeit clothing. The penalty is the largest ever under the Digital Services Act. The commission's investigation found that AliExpress's detection systems were ineffective, allowing many illegal items to remain on its platform. Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said: “The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not an unavoidable cost of shopping online – it is a failure by AliExpress to comply with its obligations under the Digital Services Act . . . Scale is not an excuse; risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online.” AliExpress plans to contest the penalty.

BBC News

The Guardian

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

Japanese mayor makes history with maternity leave

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata, Japan, has made history by becoming the country's first sitting mayor to take maternity leave. Kawata, who is six weeks pregnant, announced her decision in a move that has highlighted the lack of established protocols for mayors regarding maternity leave. "I was very surprised myself to learn that I am the first mayor to (take maternity leave)," Kawata said, as she emphasized the need for societal reform to encourage women in leadership roles to have children. "People talk about gender equality and work-style reform, but we ⁠need to build a society in which people, across all professions, including among those in leadership roles, do not hesitate to have children. Otherwise, I believe continual population decline resulting from falling birth rates, and the resulting economic deterioration are inevitable," Kawata said.

U.S. News

JPMorgan sexual harassment lawsuit dismissed, but refiling is expected

A lawsuit by former JPMorgan Chase banker Chirayu Rana, who in graphic terms said his former supervisor Lorna Hajdini coerced him into sex, has been dismissed at Rana's request by a New York state judge, though it is expected to be refiled in federal court. Rana will pay some legal fees of JPMorgan and Hajdini as a condition of the dismissal, Justice Dakota Ramseur wrote. The dismissal does not affect Hajdini's defamation countersuit against Rana, which remains in the state court in Manhattan.

Reuters

OTHER

WhatsApp blocks Dutch sex workers

WhatsApp blocked the accounts of at least five Dutch sex workers last year, cutting off their primary channel for arranging client appointments, according to investigative journalism platform Pointer. “Sex work is legal here and should therefore be able to be offered legally online,” said Sandra Beckerman, a lawmaker from the Socialist Party (SP), who linked the blocks to a conservative shift in the United States. “Tech companies like Meta are going along with that to gain a better political and economic position. Unfortunately, that has major consequences for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalised groups in the US, but . . . also in the Netherlands.” The blocks also made it harder for support services to provide urgent assistance to sex workers.

NL Times

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