Employment Law
Muslim barista awarded $23K over Ramadan shift denial
A barista at New York’s Hungry Ghost Coffee was denied time off for Ramadan fasting.
Education
universities face legal questions over offer cancellations
universities are revoking student offers to meet visa refusal rate targets. legal experts are questioning the legality of these actions.
Why it matters: students may face financial and academic consequences from offer cancellations
Today's briefing
Policy
Dhs to charge colleges for student work permits
Colleges could face up to $100,000 in fees per student.
Employment Law
acLU sues over hiring tool's alleged medical bias
the acLU filed a complaint against emotify over its hiring assessment tool, claiming it mirrors clinical autism diagnostics. the tool is accused of violating california's fair employment practices.
Research
Young parents face career hurdles due to job quality
A study highlights that many young working parents struggle to find high-quality jobs. Career development and economic mobility are critical for their future.
Employment Law
Nhs Consultant Regains Title After Tribunal Ruling
A senior nhs consultant was awarded reinstatement of her title after a tribunal ruled her dismissal was unjust. The decision followed her taking time off due to a knee condition.
Benefits
Employers Plan Pension Overhaul Amid Member Concerns
Aon survey shows 51% of employers are rethinking defined contribution pension plans. Over a third think alternative structures could improve outcomes for workers.
Research
Workforce health costs UK economy £241 billion yearly
Poor worker health costs UK economy £241 billion annually, per new report. This equals 8% of GDP and £7,000 per worker.
Policy
dwp outlines plan to boost workplace health initiatives
the dwp has outlined a strategy to improve workplace health through employer engagement. the plan focuses on reducing economic inactivity linked to health issues.
Employment Law
Hospitality firm ordered to pay €25k after miscarriage dismissal
A bar manager was dismissed 11 days after a miscarriage. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled the employer must pay €25,000.
Benefits
Tesco expands paid leave for domestic abuse survivors
Tesco has introduced paid leave for employees affected by domestic abuse. The policy covers up to 28 days of unpaid leave, with potential for paid time off in specific cases.
Workplace
office noise ranks as top workplace annoyance
diamond interiors survey highlights loud phone calls as most irritating office habit. return to workplace trends linked to growing preference for remote work.
Policy
Burnham to limit non-compete clauses in employment contracts
Andy Burnham is preparing to restrict non-compete clauses and long notice periods in employment contracts. The move follows reports of increased legal challenges against such clauses.
More from the wire
Policy
swedish spouses face pay gap in new parental leave policy
a new policy in sweden requires spouses to share parental leave, creating a pay gap for those taking time off. the change affects 2025 and applies to all public sector workers.
Policy
dwp halts publication of key benefits statistics
the department for work and pensions has stopped updating several benefit statistics. some data remains available from previous years.
Policy
Erasmus+ replaces Turing scheme amid student support concerns
The UK is replacing the Turing scheme with Erasmus+ for international student mobility. Concerns arise over whether disadvantaged students will still receive adequate support abroad.
Research
AI bots face pay gap despite gender-neutral design
Research shows woman-presenting AI bots are paid less than male-presenting ones. A researcher warned against reproducing inequality in tech.
Pay
Employers raise salaries for AI expertise
A study shows over half of employers are increasing pay for AI skills. The shift reflects competition for technical talent.
Market
hr payroll integration issues persist despite system upgrades
a report highlights ongoing challenges in hr and payroll integration, citing manual handovers as a key problem. the report warns of increased errors and inefficiencies.
Employment Law
Penn Faces Legal Pushback Over Employee Record Handling
The AAUP secured an appeal against a court order requiring Penn to comply with a subpoena over Jewish employee records. The Trump administration had previously backed off the request.
Policy
Dwp issues guidance on apprenticeship certificate replacements
The department for work and pensions has issued guidance on how apprentices can claim replacement certificates. The process outlines steps for those who have lost or damaged their original documents.
Policy
gov.uk outlines apprentice hiring process and funding
the dwp has published guidance on employing apprentices, including how funding works. the report details eligibility and financial support for employers.
Policy
Dwp updates apprentice assessment guidance
The dwp has revised its guidance on how apprentices are assessed during end-point evaluations. Employers are now given more detailed advice on how to support apprentices through the process.
Policy
Dwp launches api for apprenticeship grade recording
the department for work and pensions has released an api for end-point assessment organisations to record apprenticeship grades. the system is designed for use with apprenticeship standards.
Policy
dwp outlines rules for apprenticeship assessments
the dwp has issued guidance for end-point assessment organisations. the document outlines best practices for evaluating apprenticeships.
Research
menopause policies lack evidence of workplace impact
a study claims mandatory menopause policies have no effect on employee engagement or productivity. the report found no link between menopause and work absence or performance.
Market
uk hiring shows slight uptick in permanent and temporary roles
permanent placements and temporary billings rose in the uk, according to a report. the growth suggests a modest recovery in the jobs market.
Benefits
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home gets menopause accreditation
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has received menopause-friendly employer accreditation. The accreditation was issued by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace.
Policy
UKHospitality warns 300k young workers at risk without NIC reform
UKHospitality says NIC reforms are needed to protect 300k young people from job loss. The sector argues current rules threaten employment in hospitality.
Research
Kahoot! Survey Shows 33% UK Frontline Staff Plan to Leave
Kahoot! commissioned the study to assess workforce stability.
Workplace
Few FTSE 100 firms disclose disability workforce data
A report reveals only 12 FTSE 100 companies share disability representation data. Firms not publishing risk losing talent, the report claims.
Skills
ai challenges traditional hiring practices
reliance on cv credentials is fading as ai reshapes hiring. hr faces pressure to adapt to new talent assessment methods.
Benefits
nhs staff seek employer-led health support amid rising absences
sickness absence rates are climbing as nhs workers turn to employers for health support. employers are urged to maintain personal connections in wellbeing programs.
Education
universities fail to embed anti-racism in operations
university anti-racism pledges are not being implemented in governance or budgets, according to a report. the lack of structural integration is weakening commitment to racial equality.
Market
Boots expands seasonal hiring for 6,000 roles this Christmas
Boots has launched recruitment for 6,000 seasonal positions across its stores, warehouses and customer support centre. The hiring drive is set for the holiday period.
Employment Law
supreme court avoids disability bias and vaccine cases
the supreme court declined to rule on disability bias and vaccine-related employment disputes. appeals courts have taken up these issues instead.
Policy
federal contractors to get $14 hourly minimum wage
the department of labor announced a new minimum wage for federal contractors. the rate is lower than the previous administration's target.
Benefits
Magrock Introduces Flexible Work Week for Staff
Magrock has rolled out new full-time contracts for its 125 employees, allowing them to structure their work weeks differently. The change aims to improve work-life balance without reducing hours.
Policy
gov.uk allows apprenticeship certificates to be shared
the department for work and pensions now lets people view and share apprenticeship certificates online. the change allows individuals to access and distribute copies of their certificates.
Workplace
Employer faces burnout warning over staff workload
An employer has been advised to address rising burnout risks among staff. Managers are urged to monitor early signs of exhaustion.
Redundancy
Royal Mail to reduce 2,500 head office roles by 2027
Royal Mail has announced plans to cut 2,500 head office positions by the end of 2027. The move follows a 70% drop in letter volumes and rising customer demand.
