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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
Walmart has reported increased employee confidence in AI following the introduction of AI training and certification programs across its 2.1m-strong workforce. A company survey, which received more than 1.7m responses, found that 77% of office-based employees were excited about AI's potential to improve their work, while 84% of U.S. frontline workers felt confident using digital tools. Employees who completed OpenAI training reported a 27% improvement in confidence using AI, supported by free learning programs developed in partnership with OpenAI and Google. Walmart also reported that automation has created more quality assurance roles in some operations, rather than resulting in widespread job losses.
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Human Times
UK
Stronger requirements on employers to prevent sexual harassment come into effect today. Future of work minister Kate Dearden said employers must take "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment, including warning notices and measures allowing staff to summon assistance. Dearden said the government understood that smaller employers faced different challenges from bigger ones with dedicated human resources departments, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance relating to the rules. The reforms also strengthen trade union access to workplaces, although businesses employing fewer than 21 people are exempt. Business groups have raised concerns about compliance costs and unclear guidance. The Office for Budget Responsibility this week warned that Labour's wider employment reforms could increase business costs and reduce flexibility, potentially outweighing any productivity benefits.
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Human Times
Europe
Dockworkers in 22 countries are to strike today in a protest against war and the use of ports for arms exports. The strike action, which was originally called by dockworkers' unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain's Basque Country, Turkey, and Morocco, is now supported by more than 25 unions in 113 ports. The Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) is also supporting the strike, and about a dozen ports in India could be disrupted. Organisers say the strike could disrupt more than 40% of Mediterranean cargo and affect over $2bn worth of freight. "We will send our own message of peace from Piraeus, and we will show our solidarity with the peoples suffering from war,” said dockworkers at Greece's largest port.
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Human Times
Middle East
Mnzil, The Development Group and Capital Partners have launched a SAR1bn fund to develop purpose-built workforce compounds accommodating up to 50,000 workers across Saudi Arabia. Mnzil will operate the portfolio, TDG will oversee site selection, design and development, and Capital Partners will manage the fund. Development is expected to begin in Q4 2026 across major employment centres including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, Makkah and Madinah. Compounds will include furnished rooms, recreational facilities, communal areas and on-site services, with locations chosen to reduce commuting. Mnzil chief executive Majeed Albabtain said, “Improving workers' lives is a collective effort.” The partners see the model as supporting Vision 2030 while establishing workforce housing as a scalable institutional real estate asset class backed by employer demand and long-term leases.
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