HR intelligence to lead, innovate & grow.
Want to get your daily slice of HR knowledge to your inbox? Sign up now
Human Times helps you stay ahead of the latest news and trends that impact the HR industry. Every weekday, our unique blend of AI and team of expert HR and employment editors and researchers monitor 100,000s of articles, and social posts to create summaries of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow. The award winning Human Times newsletter has four geographical editions with news tailored to your region.
From HR leadership to diversity and inclusion, hybrid working, organisational data, performance management, and retention strategies, Human Times is the only trusted free online news source dedicated to covering the most up to date headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re abreast of changes in the HR industry.
You’re all signed up for the Human Times
Thank you for your interest in our service.
Watch out for a confirmation email from our subscriptions team. Once you have confirmed you will join the worldwide community of over 30,000 subscribers who are receiving daily HR intelligence to lead, innovate and grow.
Note: Due to the nature of this message you may find this in your "promotions" or "spam" folders, please check there. If nothing arrives within a few minutes let us know. If you do not receive this email we will be happy to help get you set up.
Adding the email address humantimes@human-times.com, will help to ensure all newsletters arrive directly to your inbox.
Of all the newsletters I receive a month, Human Times has been easily the most valuable and a real pleasure to read.
I share it with my department, I excerpt it for other members of the C-Suite. And – we shook our heads trying to understand what the source organization is and what ultimately funds it.
“Although I’m a recent subscriber I really enjoy taking a few minutes to read through the selection of articles.
In terms of how I use it – I use it to stay informed on the range of human centred topics that the newsletter covers. I wouldn’t change anything – it’s extremely useful as-is.
Thoroughly enjoy this daily summary of news and tidbits.
We’ve used to start new conversations or dialogue on matters we are in process but getting differing viewpoints. The strategy and the technology sections are always very useful.
I find it very helpful for the busy executive who doesn't always have the time to read the newspaper or go online.
Being delivered to my In-Box gives me the opportunity to review when/where I can throughout the day.
Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
U.S. services activity slowed in December, with the S&P Global Services PMI falling to 52.5 – its weakest reading since April, but above the 50-mark separating expansion from contraction – as new business inflows and hiring momentum faded. Export demand contracted sharply, and employment growth stalled for the first time in nine months. Rising input costs and tariffs drove the fastest increase in service prices since August, while business confidence softened amid growing concerns over policy, affordability, and economic resilience heading into 2026.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
Employers are preparing for layoffs as payroll costs rise, according to the Institute of Directors' monthly business confidence survey. Headcount expectations fell from -17 in November to -21 in December, indicating a potential increase in unemployment. Anna Leach, chief economist at the IoD, commented: "Hiring freezes remain widespread, amidst concern over further cost increases." Business confidence remains low, with a score of -66, reflecting ongoing economic challenges. When asked what would have the greatest impact on business confidence in 2026, Leach said "top of the list were a lower tax burden and scaling back the proposed changes to employment law." She added: "More promisingly, improvements in regulation, trade deals with the EU, lower tax complexity and lower business costs were also high up the list – areas where the government has stated ambitions and where tangible progress could begin to rebuild confidence."
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has recommended that Portugal enhance the integration of older workers, the long-term unemployed, and young people into the local labour market. In its 'Economic Survey', the OECD noted that labour shortages and an ageing population could hinder Portugal's economic growth. Key sectors including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare are particularly affected. The OECD suggested measures such as lifelong learning policies and incentives for longer working lives. It emphasised the need for improved adult education quality and better working conditions to support older workers and reduce income inequality.
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
Saudi Arabia ranks 44th globally in remote work, and leads the Arab world due to advancements in cybersecurity and strong economic infrastructure. By the second quarter of 2025, 190,000 employees worked remotely, with women making up 85% of this workforce. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 has further propelled remote work through regulations and initiatives by the Ministry of Human Resources. However, a study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that remote work can reduce productivity by 18%. Despite challenges, remote work remains a stated priority for Saudi leadership, with initiatives supporting digital nomads and local talent.
Full Issue
Read the latest HR highlights
How HR is Tackling Long Covid?
Fingers remain tightly crossed around the world that the rampant hospitalization and fatality stage of the Covid-19 pandemic has generally peaked. Vaccination programmes are accelerating, and restrictions are gradually being lifted...
Discover
ESG Is Not Just Another Name For CSR
Back in the distant 1980s if you wanted to demonstrate your environmental and ethical credentials it was sufficient to shop at or purchase shares in retailer The Body Shop. The charismatic Anita Roddick, founder of the “hippy” tinged retail chain, heralded a new age of environmental concern, caring capitalism and corporate awareness that evolved into what became known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR was much talked about and lauded, but in reality often ended up being a lot of a hot air (excuse the pun) and often never progressed much beyond a footnote in the annual report.
Discover
Have Older Workers Paid The Highest COVID-19 Price?
Across the world the pandemic is slowly but surely moving into its next phase. Recovery beckons. As furlough schemes across the U.S. and U.K. are being wound down, restrictions eased or lifted, and workforces moving back up the gears, early signs indicate that older employees are more likely to be casualties of the pandemic aftermath than their younger colleagues. Here at the we have witnessed an increasing number of stories supporting the growing belief that older workers are disproportionately paying the highest Covid-19 price.
Discover
Bosses. What's not to like? Plenty, say employees
“You’ll never have another boss like me, someone who’s basically a chilled-out entertainer”
So said, David Brent, the fictional manager of Slough-based paper merchant Wernham Hogg in the seminal TV comedy The Office. Ricky Gervais’s portrayal of Brent as a flawed, narcissistic, incompetent, and deluded manager was so well observed that many (including me) believed it was a genuine fly-on-the-wall documentary when they alighted accidentally on the first ever episode.
Rolling with the Payroll
To mark National Payroll Week the team at the Human Times has provided some insight into the industry that we hope you’ll find useful.
Discover
