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UK Edition
3rd December 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Rayner to push for speedy implementation of workers' rights bill

Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, will today propose an amendment to expedite the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. This comes after the Lords forced the watering down of day-one rights against unfair dismissal. After negotiations between unions and business leaders, the qualifying period will now kick in after six months - down from the existing two years. The move was a breach of the Labour party’s manifesto and has angered backbenchers who fear that further concessions on the bill will follow. Rayner will argue that because the compromise position is shortening the current system, it does not need consultation and therefore the change must be implemented more quickly.
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LEGAL

Workers who are sensitive to rejection can sue for disability discrimination

Employees can now sue for disability discrimination if they have rejection sensitivity, a symptom of ADHD. The ruling follows the case of Ryan Toghill, a former Lidl employee, who was unfairly dismissed due to his condition. Employment Judge Samantha Moore found that Lidl failed to consider Toghill's ADHD and its effects, leading to his wrongful termination. The judge noted that Toghill experiences intense anxiety and communication difficulties due to his condition. A future hearing will determine the compensation he will receive.
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HIRING

Bosses prepare to scale back on hiring following Budget

A survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), released on Tuesday, showed private sector bosses are expecting to accelerate jobs cuts and freeze recruitment following the Budget. Alpesh Paleja, the deputy chief economist at the CBI, said that uncertainty ahead of the Budget had caused many businesses to hold back on hiring and investment. This is unlikely to change after Labour unveiled a package of £26bn in tax increases and spending cuts in the Budget last week, the lobby group said. However, Paleja conceded that improved fiscal headroom created by the Budget "may provide some stability going forward."

‘Hair salons and saunas’: Perks are the new frontier in the battle for top lawyers

Law firms are seeking to differentiate themselves beyond pay, the Financial Times reports. From health food to juice bars, office perks have become the new frontier in the war for talent.
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STRATEGY

Omnicom to cut 4,000 jobs in IPG takeover

Omnicom will cut more than 4,000 jobs and fold several well-known advertising agency brands as part of an immediate restructuring following the completion of its $13bn takeover of US rival Interpublic (IPG). Reuters notes that the ad industry is under threat as artificial intelligence reshapes creative production and tech giants such as Meta make it easier for businesses to develop ads at scale and speed. IPG laid off about 3,200 employees in the first nine months of 2025, and Omnicom last year reduced its staff by 3,000 to about 75,000. "Advertising and technology sectors are undergoing contraction now. It's a tough job market. This announcement makes the market even more crowded," observed eMarketer analyst Ross Benes.
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ECONOMY

BRC reports cooling-off in UK shop inflation

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reported this morning that annual UK shop price inflation rose 0.6% in the 12 months to November, following a 1% rise in October. Food inflation fell from 3.7% to 3%, while prices of non-food items dropped 0.6%. "With Budget uncertainty behind us, retailers are hoping that consumer confidence rebounds in this crucial trading period and they will continue doing everything they can to keep prices down and help customer' money go further this Christmas", commented BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson. "Headwinds in the new year include rising employment costs which are likely to filter through to prices. This could shake already weak consumer confidence and present further challenges for consumers in the year ahead".
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INTERNATIONAL

Starbucks settles NYC labour law violation claims

Starbucks has agreed to pay approximately $35m to over 15,000 New York City workers as part of a settlement addressing claims of unstable schedules and arbitrary hour reductions. The company will also incur $3.4m in civil penalties under the agreement with the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The settlement ensures compliance with the city's Fair Workweek law, and underscores the importance of stable working conditions. Starbucks said in a statement that the law was “notoriously challenging for businesses to navigate.” The company said that the violations were “about compliance” and “not about withholding wages or failing to pay partners.”

India demands installation of government app on all smartphones

India’s telecoms ministry has said Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and other smartphone manufacturers must ensure that new handsets come installed with a government cybersecurity app, raising concerns about privacy. The Sanchar Saathi app would give Indian authorities access to the phone's call log, memory, and camera. For devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones via software updates. Apar Gupta, director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, described the app as "disproportionate, legally fragile, and structurally hostile to user privacy and autonomy”. Apple has reportedly indicated that it will resist the mandate, while others, including Samsung, are still reviewing the order.

Law firm settles long-running lawsuit with sacked HR executive

Alicia Gleeson, the former chief people officer at Slater & Gordon, has reached a settlement with the private equity-owned law firm after alleging that it underpaid employees and wrongfully terminated her. The lawsuit was filed in Australia's Federal Court last year, and the settlement was finalized last week, with both parties agreeing to cover their own legal costs. 
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OTHER

Urgent call to tackle violence against women

Lady Elish Angiolini, chair of an inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard, has called for urgent action to address the inadequate response to sexually motivated crimes against women. Despite being labelled a "national threat," these crimes receive less priority than others. Angiolini said: "Prevention in this space remains just words," as she highlighted that 26% of police forces lack basic policies for investigating sexual offences. The inquiry's findings reveal that 76% of women aged 18 to 24 feel unsafe in public. The report also lamented ongoing failures in police vetting, which were allowing individuals with sexual offence convictions to join forces in England and Wales.
 
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