Human Times

North American Edition

23rd January 2026

THE HOT STORY

Guidance that expanded workplace protections for LGBTQ workers is scrapped

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s newly-established Republican majority has rescinded legal guidance that had strengthened protections against unlawful harassment for LGBTQ workers and women who have abortions. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas emphasized that the commission’s decision “will not leave a void where employers are free to harass wherever they see fit, leaving a trail of victims in their wake.” Recently-installed Commissioner Brittany Panuccio added that private sector resources on anti-harassment law would fill any gaps. But critics said the move could discourage employers from preventing harassment and leave workers without recourse when they face it. "This action is likely to increase the amount of harassment that occurs in workplaces across the country," a dozen former EEOC and U.S. Department of Labor officials said in a joint statement.

AP News

NPR / National Public Radio

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Companies 'must invest in redesign and training to gain from AI'

EY global vice chair Julie Teigland has told Reuters that firms are learning that artificial intelligence is not plug-and-play, and ROI requires organizational redesign and training, not just the deployment of tools. She cited work by EY indicating that intensive training can be linked to productivity improvements, observing that around 81 hours of training per employee could translate into roughly 14% weekly productivity gains, in concert with role redesign. AI's labor impact will be "multi-generational," changing entry-level positions and routine white-collar tasks, Teigland said, with employees needing to shift from "doing the task to supervising the task," and becoming "above the loop."

Reuters

Dimon warns of AI dangers

JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence could lead to civil unrest if not managed properly. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he emphasized the need for governments and businesses to support displaced workers. Dimon highlighted the potential job losses in sectors such as trucking due to automation, saying: "Should you do it all at once . . . No. You will have civil unrest." In contrast, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, argued that AI will create jobs, particularly in infrastructure and tradecraft, countering fears of mass unemployment.

The Guardian

STRATEGY

Amazon to cut thousands more corporate jobs in second wave of layoffs

Amazon is reportedly preparing to cut thousands of additional corporate jobs next week, targeting roles in Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and HR, as part of a plan to reduce its white-collar workforce by 30,000 - roughly 10% of its corporate staff. Following 14,000 job cuts in October, this second round could begin as soon as Tuesday. Chief executive Andy Jassy has attributed the layoffs to cultural inefficiencies rather than financial or AI-related pressures, despite Amazon's increased use of artificial intelligence to streamline operations. The move marks the largest corporate layoff in the company’s history.

Bloomberg

Reuters

The Seattle Times

LEGAL

Target store staff skip work over ICE crackdown

Target is grappling with internal disruption and external protests after U.S. immigration officials briefly detained two employees - both U.S. citizens - at a Minnesota store, prompting staff absences and postponed office returns. While the retailer has not publicly addressed the incident or wider ICE activity in the Twin Cities, internal memos reveal efforts to support staff and de-escalate tensions. It has told employees that it doesn’t have cooperative agreements with ICE. Federal agents have legal authority to be in parking lots and consumer-facing areas of stores without a warrant, but can’t enter backrooms or corporate buildings without one.

Bloomberg

WORKFORCE

Initial jobless claims hold steady at 200,000

The Labor Department reported on Thursday that new jobless claims in the seven days to January 17th rose 1,000 to 200,000, well below the 208,000 expected among economists polled by the Wall Street Journal. The four-week moving average of new applications fell to a two-year low of 201,500, while continuing claims, reported with a one-week lag, declined to 1.85m, from 1.88m. “With U.S. companies adding fewer seasonal workers, post-holiday layoffs have been limited, keeping initial jobless claims low. Layoff-related news remains relatively sparse, offering little indication that broader labor-market conditions have changed," commented economist Eliza Winger.

ECONOMY

U.S. economy grew at a revised pace of 4.4% in the third quarter

The economy expanded at a 4.4% annual pace in the third quarter of 2025, an updated estimate from the Commerce Department showed, to keep the U.S. on track to score the fifth straight year of above-average growth. That marked an acceleration from an initial 4.3% surge, growth of 3.8% in the second quarter, and from a slight economic contraction that began 2025. Consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of U.S. GDP, grew at a 3.5% pace. Spending on services such as healthcare rose 3.6%, while there was a 3% uptick on goods spending, including an increase of 1.6% on so-called durable goods.

RISK

AI-related disputes 'are biggest emerging litigation risk'

According to the Shoosmiths Litigation Risk 2026 report, AI-related litigation risks have overtaken traditional concerns such as intellectual property and breach of contract as the most threatening emerging risk over the next three years. The report, based on feedback from 360 general counsel and senior in-house lawyers, reveals that over half expect an increase in AI litigation. Notably, 87% of respondents expressed concern over AI-related employment disputes and discrimination claims. Geopolitical factors also play a role, with 73% of firms believing state-sponsored cyber-attacks have heightened litigation risks. Alex Bishop, partner at Shoosmiths, said: “We’re in an era of global instability, and that is having a real impact across boardrooms.”

The Global Legal Post

LEADERSHIP

IRS CI chief retires amid leadership overhaul

As part of IRS chief executive Frank Bisignano's overhaul of the agency, Guy Ficco, head of the IRS’s Criminal Investigation (CI) unit, is to step down from the role, and will be replaced by Jarod Koopman, who will serve as co-chief tax compliance officer. Meanwhile, whistleblower Gary Shapley - known for testifying on the Hunter Biden tax case - will become deputy chief of criminal investigation. The reshuffle fills numerous vacant or acting roles, with several appointees connected to congressional Republicans and Elon Musk’s federal workforce reduction initiative. These changes come after a quarter of the IRS workforce departed last year and follow Trump-era efforts to redirect the IRS’s focus toward immigration enforcement and internal efficiency.

Bloomberg Tax

TAX

NYC Mayor Mamdani pushes for millionaire tax hikes

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is advocating for tax increases on millionaires and corporations to address a looming $12bn budget gap. During a press conference, Mamdani said: “Our administration is preparing to make the case that it is the time for New York's most profitable corporations and wealthiest residents to pay their fair share.” The mayor's proposal comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul's $260bn budget plan lacks significant tax hikes, despite Mamdani's calls for them. The mayor aims to fund initiatives like universal preschool and affordable housing through a 2% tax increase on the wealthiest residents and a rise in the state's corporate tax rate. The state budget is due by April 1st, marking the start of the new fiscal year.

CPA Practice Advisor

INTERNATIONAL

Hyundai's union opposes humanoid robot plans, citing job concerns

Hyundai Motor's labor union has issued a warning about the company's plan to deploy humanoid robots by 2028, saying such actions may lead to "employment shocks" and threaten job security for workers. In an internal letter, the union insisted that no robots should be introduced without a labor-management agreement, reflecting their concerns that automation could be used to cut costs at the expense of the workforce. While Hyundai's shares have risen following news of the robot initiative, the union maintains that the push for automation could harm the jobs of employees in South Korea, particularly as the company expands its production facilities in the U.S.

Reuters

IBA ‘will speak out' if U.S. sanctions Hong Kong judges

Claudio Visco, the new president of the International Bar Association (IBA), has underscored the organization's commitment to opposing unjust sanctions against legal professionals in Hong Kong. His remarks follow calls from some U.S. politicians to sanction Hong Kong judges and prosecutors involved in national security cases. Visco said the IBA has consistently spoken out against violations of international law and that Hong Kong would not be excluded from its monitoring efforts. “Whenever sanctions occurred, and [they] were not justified and there were clear violations of international law, we intervened,” he told the South China Morning Post.

South China Morning Post

OTHER

U.S. officially leaves World Health Organization

The U.S. has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO). All U.S. funding to the WHO has been terminated and U.S. participation in WHO-sponsored leadership bodies and working groups has ended. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it took the decision due to the WHO's alleged "mishandling" of the pandemic, an inability to reform, and political influence from member states. The U.S. leaves behind unpaid debt of roughly $260m. There’s no requirement in statute to settle the debt before exiting the agency, a senior HHS official said. “It’s a very messy divorce,” observed Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO collaborating center on national and global health law at Georgetown University.

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