THE HOT STORY

UK employers stuck in 'low-hire, low-fire' mode

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to partly reverse former finance minister Rachel Reeves's £25bn payroll tax increase to ease the cost burden on businesses so they can push ahead with hiring plans. British employers remain reluctant to hire and confidence has stayed near its weakest levels since the pandemic, according to ‌a poll from the HR lobby group. James Cockett, the CIPD's senior labour market economist said: "Our data suggests that the UK labour market has largely stopped moving. Hiring has weakened, but redundancy levels haven't risen, leaving us in a 'low-hire, low-fire' environment that's increasingly looking like a 'new normal'."

Reuters

The Times

CYBERSECURITY

Cyberattack hits French tax authority

The French tax authority experienced a cyberattack in late June, as confirmed by the Finance Ministry. Initial investigations indicate that the breach compromised data belonging to both businesses and individuals. The Ministry is set to conduct a more thorough investigation to determine the extent of the data breach and the number of affected users. The announcement followed a claim made by a "malevolent actor" asserting that they had infiltrated the system.

Bloomberg Tax

WORKFORCE

Devolution could drive 90,000 bankers and lawyers from London

Research from Robert Walters suggests that 90,000 bankers, lawyers and accountants could leave London by 2031 due to high living costs and a push for regional economic growth. Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham are expected to absorb over half of these jobs, with the North West gaining 15,000 to 22,500 positions, boosting the region's economy by £2.3bn. Overall, the shift could contribute £9bn to regional economies as white-collar workers migrate. Daniel Harris, the UK managing director at Robert Walters, expects the relocation trend will accelerate as "cost considerations remain high, and hybrid working allows organisations to build more geographically diverse teams."

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

French flights cancelled due to easyJet cabin crew strike

British budget carrier easyJet called off about 100 flights out of French airports on Aug. 15-16 because of a strike by cabin crew who were angry about repeated changes to their schedules.

Hurriyet Daily News

CORPORATE

Silver Lake in talks to buy Workday, sources say

Reuters reports that private equity firm Silver ‌Lake is in ongoing talks to acquire human resources and financial management software company Workday in a deal that would be among the largest software buyouts in history. Workday shares had fallen about 15% this year, as investors questioned the durability of traditional software amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Reuters

RISK

Thyssenkrupp weighs options as Rhine drops

Thyssenkrupp is closely monitoring the Rhine's water levels, which have reached record lows and disrupted raw material deliveries. The company has partially suspended barge deliveries and is using private vessels with lower draughts. Thyssenkrupp finance chief Axel Hamann said: "We have set up a dedicated task force in the steel division to monitor it." While customer supply is currently unaffected, Hamann warned that a significant deterioration could impact results. The German government has lifted a ban on Sunday truck transports to assist industries reliant on the Rhine.

France 24

INTERNATIONAL

Job seekers are adding AI terms and skills to their résumés

Job seekers are giving their work history an AI makeover, adding new skills to their résumés and obtaining certifications to demonstrate their aptitude in the technology in hopes of gaining the attention of employers. The share of LinkedIn users in the US who added AI-related terms to their profiles rose 70% last year, according to LinkedIn data. Employers, meanwhile, are doing likewise. Among all titles employers are hiring for on the jobs site Indeed in the US, 8% mentioned AI in the first quarter of 2026, up from 3% in 2022.

Wall Street Journal

Uber invests in Latin American motorcycle lender to finance gig workers

Uber is to invest in Santiago-based Galgo, a lender focused on motorcycle purchases, as the ride-hailing firm seeks to ‌expand access to vehicles for drivers and couriers. Galgo said the plan is to offer financing products tailored to Uber drivers and delivery workers. In Latin America, motorcycles are widely ⁠used for low-cost transport and delivery work.

Reuters

Most Japanese companies have yet to fully embrace AI, poll suggests

A Reuters survey indicates that more than four in five Japanese firms use AI in only a limited capacity in their operations or not at all. About 60% of respondents said AI is being used only in some parts of their business or in other limited ways, another 18% said they have not decided whether to introduce AI into the workplace, and 6% are not even considering adoption of the technology. A government report earlier this year showed Japan was behind peers in AI adoption, with 86.4% of local firms using generative AI for at least one task, compared with China's 98.1%, Germany's 91.6% and the United States' 90.9%.

Reuters

Pakistan date harvesters work through gruelling heat

In Pakistan's Sindh province, date harvesters face increasingly unbearable heat. Temperatures often exceed 42°C, forcing workers to start before dawn and take breaks to avoid heat-related illnesses. Pakistan, a major date producer, is grappling with the impacts of climate change, including erratic weather patterns that threaten crop yields and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and seasonal labourers. Multiple workers have told Associated Press they often suffer heatstroke, fainting and fever. "It used to be less intense," Muhammad Idrees, a date harvester, said. Now "the heat is much harsher and the days are extremely hot. We fall ill because of it."

France 24

OTHER

Antwerp diamond sector denies link between Trump gift and tariff exemption

Antwerp’s diamond sector has rejected allegations of a connection between an 18-carat gold ring set with 321 diamonds gifted to US President Donald Trump in June and the subsequent restoration of a 0% US tariff on European natural diamonds. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre said its lobbying for the exemption was “entirely separate” from the gift, which marked the 250th anniversary of US independence, after two Democratic senators raised questions over the circumstances. The White House has also denied granting special favours and said the July tariff exemption reflected an earlier US-EU trade agreement.

Reuters

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