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North American Edition
22nd June 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Canadian lender TD will use software to track some employees

Canadian lender Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank has told some staff in its financial crimes and risk management team that it would run software to track the time they spend on browsers and internal chat and meeting applications. TD said the deployment of such software is "standard practice across the industry . . . the tool allows managers to more accurately manage workflows, team capacity and performance. Where deployed, colleagues are ​informed about where they are used and for what purpose." Deanna Pacitti, TD's associate vice president of high-risk investigations, ​told her team on a call reviewed by Reuters: "The idea is it's going to ​show pain points, where do we spend too much time . . . We know we have a lot of pain points across our systems." 
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TECHNOLOGY

AI-shy tech workers face triple the layoff risk

Research from Gallup has found that U.S. tech workers who use artificial intelligence (AI) at least monthly have a significantly lower risk of being laid off, with a predicted probability of 6% compared to 18% for infrequent users. The study surveyed over 23,000 workers and found that AI adoption is becoming crucial for job security. The link between AI use and job security held even after accounting for factors including age and education, according to the researchers. Outside the tech sector, infrequent AI users also face a greater layoff risk than their peers, Gallup said, though the gap is smaller.

Rhode Island adopts AI rules for lawyers

Rhode Island’s Supreme Court has amended its professional conduct rules and issued guidance on the use of generative AI as the technology spreads in the legal industry. The ​new guidelines, which are advisory, say lawyers must independently review and verify AI-generated ⁠work, and caution that such tools can “hallucinate” legal citations or mischaracterize legal precedent. Lawyers licensed in the state are required to stay up to date on changes in the ​law “including the benefits and risks associated with existing and developing technology."
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LEGAL

DOJ moves to end oversight of Teamsters union

The U.S. Justice Department is to end its nearly 40-year oversight of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, saying that the union has successfully eliminated corruption and organized crime. In joint filings with the Teamsters in Manhattan federal court, the Justice Department noted that the 1.4m-member union has restored democratic governance and removed a "campaign of fear" that had included serious crimes. The oversight began following a 1988 lawsuit by then-U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani, which claimed the mafia had controlled the Teamsters. The settlement established a monitor to oversee the union's internal affairs and led to the permanent barring of around 400 individuals from membership. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters represent workers in a broad range of industries, including more than 300,000 UPS drivers, Costco warehouse employees, and freight ​and airline workers.
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WORKFORCE

Amazon employees face scrutiny over AI testimony

Amazon employees who publicly criticized the rapid expansion of AI data centers and called for stronger regulation are being investigated by the company, according to a complaint filed with Seattle officials. The workers testified before the Seattle City Council ahead of a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data centers, arguing that the industry's AI-driven infrastructure buildout carries significant social and environmental costs. The complaint alleges Amazon's actions were intimidating and may violate local protections against discrimination based on political ideology. Amazon said it respects employees’ right to express personal views but is examining whether staff breached company policies by appearing to speak on the company's behalf.
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ECONOMY

Lower-income spending rebounds as K-shaped economy shows signs of easing

Bank of America says the gap in spending between higher- and lower-income households has narrowed significantly in recent weeks, raising hopes that the long-running “K-shaped” economy may be beginning to fade. Card spending data shows consumption by wealthier households has remained steady since March, while lower-income consumers have started increasing spending on goods and services excluding gasoline. The bank noted that the divergence between income groups had been evident since late 2024, but recent economic developments may be improving consumer confidence. Analysts point to several potential drivers, including easing concerns over Middle East tensions, falling oil prices, stronger after-tax wage growth for lower- and middle-income households, and a stable labor market. Unemployment remains at 4.3%, while private employers added 122,000 jobs in May. Bank of America said continued improvement could be supported by broader hiring across blue-collar industries such as leisure, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing.
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INTERNATIONAL

AI use in U.K. hits 'tipping point'

Maureen Costello, Google Cloud's ​vice president for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa, has told ​Reuters that AI adoption has reached a "tipping point" in the U.K., as companies move from experimentation to large-scale deployment and ​begin to see returns. Google research suggests that AI could boost ​productivity by about 20%, effectively giving business owners "a day ​back" each ⁠week, Costello said, but there needs to be investment in skills, leadership engagement and trust. "Technology is only half ⁠of ​the answer - people are the other half," ​Costello said. "Leaders can't sleep at the wheel, they need to get hands-on and understand how to ​apply this in their organizations."

Hanson calls for overhaul of Australia's industrial relations laws

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for an overhaul of Australia's industrial relations laws. During her National Press Club address, Hanson said that "Industrial relations, I can assure you, needs a complete overhaul, because it's not working. Businesses also tell me you can't sack people these days . . . [Workers are] on their phones, they don't work, they don't turn up, they actually are lazy, and businesses are tied to it." ABC notes that a HR representative for small business said Hanson's words did resonate, observing that many of her clients were "terrified to terminate people." But Anne Nalder, CEO of the Small Business Association, said existing laws allow employers to dismiss staff, as long as a clear process is followed. "It's not true that you can't sack workers," Nalder said.

India demonstrates how extreme heat can hit productivity

Bloomberg reports on how India is becoming a case study in how rising temperatures can undermine productivity and growth in nations that still rely heavily on physical labor. “My productivity is down 40%,” says Asad K. Iraqi, the chief executive of Kanpur-based leather-working business AKI. “Workers can’t survive in this heat without proper hydration and cooling.” A 2020 study by the McKinsey Global Institute found that lost labor from increasing heat and humidity could jeopardize 2.5% to 4.5% of India’s gross domestic product by 2030. Meanwhile, University of Chicago research published in 2021 found factory output in India fell by about 2% for each 1C rise in temperature amid reduced worker productivity and a rise in absenteeism.

Unions urge workers to stay away from anti-migrant protests

South Africa's major labor unions have advised workers to avoid participating in anti-immigrant protests scheduled for June 30. "We urge ​workers to report for duty and not place their employment at risk," the unions said. They ⁠echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa's call ⁠on Tuesday ​not to scapegoat migrants for South Africa's problems. "Removing foreign nationals from workplaces, communities or public ​spaces will not reopen ⁠factories, repair municipalities, strengthen public healthcare or create sustainable jobs," said the unions COSATU, FEDUSA, SAFTU and NACTU.
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OTHER

IRS Criminal Investigation warns of rising elder fraud schemes

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is warning of increased fraud targeting older Americans, with the agency launching 97 new elder fraud investigations in fiscal 2025 and another 64 cases halfway through the current fiscal year. From fiscal 2021 through fiscal 2026, IRS-CI opened 255 elder fraud investigations involving alleged losses of $885.86m, including $736.82m tied to cases initiated within the last two years. Common schemes include government impersonation scams, emergency scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes fraud, investment fraud, cryptocurrency scams, and fake charity solicitations. The agency urged older adults and families to watch for red flags such as urgent payment demands, requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency, unsolicited messages, threats of arrest, and requests for sensitive personal information.
 
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