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Human Times
North America
Outgoing U.S. Attorney General tells employees to stick to 'norms'

In his farewell address, outgoing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has urged Justice Department employees to remain steadfast in their duties despite facing "unfounded attacks." He emphasized the importance of maintaining the department's independence, saying: "It is the obligation of each of us to follow our norms not only when it is easy, but also when it is hard." He went on to say: "I know that you have faced unfounded attacks simply for doing your jobs, at the very same time you have risked your lives to protect our country from a range of foreign and domestic threats. And I know that a lot is being asked of you right now . . . But before I leave, I have one more thing I want to ask of you. That is to remember who you are, and why you came to work here in the first place." As Garland prepares to step down, concerns loom over the incoming administration's potential impact on judicial independence. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has pledged to uphold the department's integrity. "There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I will not politicize that office. I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation."

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Human Times
UK
BP to cut 4,700 jobs to reduce costs

Oil giant BP is to cut about 4,700 staff, more than 5% of its total workforce, as part of plans to cut costs. The UK firm, which has a global workforce of about 90,000 people, confirmed the job losses on Thursday, but has not said how many roles will be affected in each country it operates in. An email to staff also confirmed that about 3,000 contractor positions will be axed this year. It is understood the cuts will be applied to those in office-based jobs rather than operational roles. In an email to staff, chief executive Murray Auchincloss said: "We have got more we need to do through this year, next year and beyond, but we are making strong progress as we position BP to grow as a simpler, more focused, higher-value company." Auchincloss added that he recognised "the uncertainty this brings for everyone whose job may be at risk, and also the effect it can have on colleagues and teams." BP employs about 16,000 people in the UK, of which about 6,000 are based in petrol and service stations, and will not be affected by the cuts. 

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Human Times
Europe
What's the secret to Denmark's happy work-life balance?

BBC News looks at why Denmark is consistently among the top five countries in the world for work-life balance rankings. Only 1.1% of Danes have to work 50 or more hours a week, according to the most recent global figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). That's a significantly lower proportion than the world average of 10.2%. By contrast, the figure for the UK is 10.8%, and the US is 10.4%. Meik Wiking, author of the book The Art of Danish Living, and who is also the boss of Danish think tank The Happiness Research Institute, identifies several policies that he believes help generate a strong work-life balance in Denmark, including the right to a minimum five weeks of paid vacation per year, in addition to public holidays. Denmark also offers a very generous six months of paid maternity and paternity leave. Janine Leschke, a professor in the department of management, society and communication at the Copenhagen Business School, says Denmark is definitely "not a work culture where you have to show up and be available all day, all evening, to show that you're working hard all the time."

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Human Times
Middle East
Most UAE employers expect salaries to increase in 2025

Three-quarters (75%) of employers in the UAE say they expect salaries to increase in their organisation in 2025, according to the GCC Salary Guide 2025 released by Hays. Meanwhile, nearly half (48%) of local employees received a salary raise last year and 74% expect their salaries to increase in 2025, according to the survey, which found that employees in the UAE typically received increments of between 2.5% and 5% in 2024. Khaleej Times also notes a 2025 Hays survey which found that over two-thirds (67%) of UAE nationals say they plan to switch jobs this year. In 2024, just 23% of people said they planned to move to another organisation. “Aside from salary, the leading cause for UAE nationals changing jobs last year was lack of learning and development. This is particularly important to these professionals and will also be a key reason for many people looking to leave their current organisation this year,” Hays said. “Providing employees with professional training, upskilling opportunities, and regular progression reviews is not only important for employee satisfaction and retention but also contributes to growing a skilled workforce.”

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