Human Times

North American Edition

12th November 2025

THE HOT STORY

TSA faces lawsuit over its transgender policy

A Virginia transportation security officer, Danielle Mittereder, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, claiming sex discrimination due to a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policy that prohibits transgender officers from conducting security pat-downs. The policy, enacted in February to align with President Donald Trump's executive order defining two sexes, has been criticized for violating civil rights laws. Mittereder's complaint states: “Solely because she is transgender, TSA now prohibits Plaintiff from conducting core functions of her job.” The lawsuit highlights claims of an emotional toll on Mittereder, who is said to have experienced anxiety and humiliation due to the policy. Jonathan Puth, Mittereder's lawyer, described the TSA's actions as “terribly demeaning and 100% illegal.” The TSA maintains that the policy is necessary for operational needs, but critics argue it could lead to delays in airport security and further discrimination against transgender employees.

U.S. News

WORKFORCE

ADP: Private sector shed 11,250 jobs weekly in October

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) estimates that the U.S. private sector shed 11,250 jobs per week in the four weeks to October 25th, according to a new weekly data series tracking employment changes. In a separate monthly series released last week using different methodology, ADP estimated a gain of 42,000 jobs in October. Alternative statistics like ADP’s have gained prominence amid delays to official data releases during the U.S. government shutdown.

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

President Trump proposes $2,000 tariff check for every American

President Donald Trump has proposed issuing $2,000 tariff rebate checks to low- and middle-income Americans, funded from the $220bn in tariff revenue collected during his administration. The proposal, which faces major feasibility hurdles including insufficient funds, legal uncertainties, and likely Congressional opposition, comes amid affordability concerns and echoes previous pandemic-era stimulus checks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant noted that while he hadn't directly spoken to Mr Trump about the idea, the dividend could manifest through various forms, including tax cuts.

STRATEGY

PwC cuts business-service roles

PwC is laying off around 150 employees across marketing, HR, operations and other support roles in the U.S., as part of a broader reorganization aimed at boosting efficiency through AI and data. The cuts represent 1.5% of its 10,000-strong U.S. business services workforce, with more layoffs expected as process reviews continue. This follows previous rounds of job cuts, including 1,800 last autumn and 1,500 in May. PwC’s global workforce has shrunk by 1.5%, and a prior hiring pledge has been scrapped, despite global revenue rising 2.9% to $56.97bn in the year to June.

Wall Street Journal

Solar manufacturer to furlough 1,000 workers at Georgia facilities

Qcells, the U.S. solar manufacturing division of South Korea's Hanwha, has announced the furlough of 1,000 workers at its Georgia factories due to ongoing delays in shipments caused by U.S. customs checks. The company's components, primarily sourced from Malaysia and South Korea, have faced routine detention under a 2021 law aimed at preventing imports linked to forced labor in China's Xinjiang region. Despite these setbacks, a Qcells spokesperson said the company expects to resume full production shortly, and reaffirmed a commitment to establishing a complete solar supply chain within the United States.

Reuters

HIRING

BofA expands veteran support

Bank of America (BofA) has announced a $350,000 grant to American Corporate Partners (ACP), a leading nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and military spouses transition into meaningful civilian careers through one-on-one mentoring. The commitment will support 250 mentorships. BofA first partnered with ACP in 2018, and since then, nearly 200 employees have taken part in 400 mentorships, providing guidance on career planning, networking, and professional growth. To date, dozens of individuals have come through ACP to join the bank.

Fox Business

LEGAL

Nike faces lawsuit over discrimination claims

Patricia Coleman, a former senior director at Nike with 25 years of service, has filed a federal lawsuit against the company in U.S. District Court in Oregon, alleging age, gender, and disability discrimination. Coleman claims she was terminated in February 2024 at age 61 to avoid including her in a mass layoff that would have provided severance. She asserts that she was the only woman of her age on her leadership team and faced differential treatment compared to younger male colleagues. Coleman is also alleging retaliation after reporting her boss's discriminatory behavior to human resources.

The Oregonian

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Law firm Goodwin Procter mandates four-day office week

Multinational law firm Goodwin Procter has announced a new policy requiring staff to work in the office at least four days a week, starting next year. Global managing partner Mark Bettencourt and chief operating officer Mary O'Carroll communicated the decision in a memo, stressing the need for "connectivity, collaboration, learning, and showing up with and for each other with intention." While staff can still work remotely on Fridays, most employees in Europe and Asia have already returned to a five-day office week.

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

Activists slam proposed changes to landmark EU privacy law

Activists have criticised proposed changes to Europe's landmark privacy law. EU antitrust chief Henna Virkkunen will present the Digital Omnibus, in effect a package of proposals to simplify overlapping legislation including the General Data Protection Regulation, the Artificial Intelligence Act, the e-Privacy Directive and the Data Act, on November 19. Austrian privacy group noyb commented: "The draft Digital Omnibus proposes countless changes to many different articles of the GDPR. In combination this amounts to a death by a thousand cuts." Max Schrems of noyb said: "This would be a massive downgrading of Europeans' privacy 10 years after the GDPR was adopted."

Reuters

Australian miners to receive compensation for Christmas and Boxing Day work

BHP has been ordered by Australia's Federal Court to compensate 85 coal mine workers for unlawfully requiring them to work on Christmas and Boxing Day without proper rights to refuse. Each worker will receive between A$800 and A$2,400, along with an additional A$15,000 penalty payable to the Mining and Energy Union. MEU Queensland President Mitch Hughes observed: “the bigger principle here is that Australian workers can raise reasonable grounds to refuse to work on public holidays.”

Reuters

U.K. bosses expect AI to reduce workforce

One in six U.K. employers anticipates workforce reductions due to AI over the next year, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The CIPD's latest labor market outlook survey, involving over 2,000 employers, shows that 62% expect clerical, junior managerial, professional or administrative roles to be most affected. Large private sector firms are particularly concerned, with 26% expecting headcount reductions compared with 17% in the private sector overall and 20% in the public sector. Of the firms that expect to cut roles because of AI, a quarter said they were preparing to lose more than one in 10 staff. James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at the CIPD, said: "AI has great potential for improving productivity . . . but it also risks leaving many people behind."

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

Bangladeshi workers demand justice in Malaysia

About 100 Bangladeshi workers have protested in Dhaka, demanding unpaid wages and fair treatment from Malaysian employers. Organized by the Migrant Welfare Network, the rally highlighted alleged mistreatment of migrant workers in Malaysia. The demonstrators called for compensation for 431 workers reportedly exploited by Mediceram and Kawaguchi Manufacturing. Former employees shared experiences of wage withholding and hardship. The group urged authorities and international buyers to ensure justice and address systemic abuses. Complaints have been filed against companies, including Ansell, for forced labor and neglect.

Yahoo News Australia

OTHER

U.S. retailers offer inflation-beating meal deals for Thanksgiving

Major grocery retailers are rolling out Thanksgiving meal deals to help consumers manage ongoing inflation. Retailers including Walmart and Kroger are suggesting smaller turkeys and store-brand items to lower costs. Since March 2020, grocery prices have surged by 28.8%, straining household budgets. For instance, Kroger's Thanksgiving list will cost less than $4.75 per person, while Walmart offers a meal for 10 for under $40 by substituting items. President Donald Trump recently highlighted Walmart's reduced prices, claiming a 25% drop in holiday costs from last year, although he dismissed concerns about the smaller basket size as "fake news." With inflation still affecting consumer sentiment, retailers are adapting their offerings to provide more affordable options for the holiday season.

Cincinatti Enquirer

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