AGP Executive Report

HR and AI: Valoir’s latest research finds only 28% of HR leaders trust AI answers about their workforce; just 42% of organizations provide employee AI training, raising concerns about adoption outpacing readiness. Workplace Rights: The EEOC alleges Kroger-owned Fred Meyer fired a pregnant worker the day she requested childbirth leave and denied pregnancy-related accommodations; the claims have not been proven in court. Measuring HR: A new HR leadership essay urges teams to track whether programs improve employee outcomes, not simply count activity. Retention and Well-being: Cedar Rapids schools report teacher turnover fell to 10.12% in 2025–26, while a Marsh study finds thriving employees in the Middle East energy sector dropped 24% over two years and 31% plan to leave within a year. Employer Compliance: China is standardizing social insurance enforcement, with employers potentially fined up to three times unpaid contributions.

Hiring and Layoffs: Kittitas County has frozen hiring across all roles, citing financial pressures, while Lynnwood’s proposed budget includes 14 staff layoffs. Pittsburg manufacturer HIX also closed, leaving 45 employees uncertain about severance. Workplace Accountability: An investigation found Lewes’ city manager retaliated against the police chief after he filed a bullying complaint, violating the city’s anti-bullying policy. Il Fornaio will pay $3 million to settle a federal sexual harassment and retaliation case brought on behalf of at least 100 women and teens; the agreement requires a dedicated HR function and employee complaint hotline. HR and AI: Workday is rolling out AI agents for hiring, payroll and other processes, underscoring the growing push to automate HR work. Disability at Work: A disabled veteran says requests for reasonable accommodations stalled at two employers, highlighting gaps in how workplaces handle employees’ needs.

Internships: Unpaid placements are growing: their share of Finnish internship ads rose from 4.5% in 2023–24 to 7.3% in 2025–26. More than half of ads that disclosed no salary also failed to say whether the role was unpaid. AI and Skills: Malaysia says 74,332 workers have joined government upskilling and reskilling programmes as it prepares employees for automation and AI, with funding approved for 19,084 more training places. Labor Rights: Wisconsin’s fall elections and a pending state Supreme Court case could shape the future of Act 10, the law restricting public-sector collective bargaining. Workplace Culture: A former Randstad employee says the company failed to properly address her harassment complaint and terminated her after she raised concerns; the allegations have not been independently verified. Employee Wellbeing: A new report highlights gaps in workplace menopause support, with potential consequences for employees’ health and productivity. HR Leadership: Ciena named Monika Fahlbusch its chief people officer.

Workforce Cuts: Singapore’s Crystal Jade has closed four outlets and issued termination notices to about 120 workers; union and NTUC employment services are helping affected staff. UAE Hiring Rules: Employers can use 12 types of work permits, including options for part-time work, students and juveniles. Separately, the ministry says detected sham Emiratisation cases fell 34.5% in 2025. Early-Career Readiness: A UK survey found 34% of employers say young applicants lack understanding of workplace expectations, while 29% of young jobseekers cite insufficient experience as a barrier. AI at Work: Executives at Fortune’s AIQ Summit said useful AI adoption requires redesigned workflows, workforce development and clear governance—not simply rolling out tools. Employee Benefits: East Baton Rouge is weighing 2027 health-plan increases of about 25% for HMO and POS coverage and 35% for high-deductible plans, raising concerns among city-parish retirees.

Gig Work: China has proposed its first dedicated labor-rights rules for platform workers, including contracts when employment criteria are met and written agreements for more flexible arrangements. The draft is open for public comment through Nov. 8. Hiring and Skills: Korean job postings naming generative AI tools rose 170% year over year in the third quarter; mentions of Claude jumped 770%, as employers seek hands-on AI skills across roles. Workplace Wellbeing: Indian industry leaders are urged to build workforce health into business strategy, addressing work design, management and performance expectations—not just wellness benefits. Productivity: Indonesia is targeting an 18.7% rise in manufacturing labor productivity by 2029, with officials emphasizing vocational training aligned to industry needs. Jobs: China reported 10.52 million new urban jobs in the first nine months of 2026 and plans further employment measures focused on AI and services.

Employment Outlook: China says 10.52 million urban jobs were created in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 87.7% of its annual target. Officials plan to protect employment and respond to AI’s effects on the labour market. Migrant Workforce: Saudi Arabia has opened a two-month process for eligible Yemeni workers to regularize their status and transfer to new employers through Qiwa and Musaned. Skills and Inclusion: Qatar’s Awqaf ministry is training 26 frontline staff in sign language to improve service for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. HR Leadership: Shirlyn Ng has joined The Kallang Group as Group Head of Human Resources and Organisation Development, with priorities including leadership capability and talent development. Early Careers: A Nigerian foundation and the Nigeria Computer Society will provide mentoring, technical training and workplace experience to 1,000 technology students.

Jobs and Hiring: China added 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months and plans measures to expand service-sector hiring. In Namibia, a first Chinese-language job fair connected students and graduates with about 30 employers. Layoffs and Pay: East Java unions warn that up to 50,000 formal-sector workers could face layoffs, with manufacturing most exposed. TCS is withholding quarterly variable pay from employees in grade C3A and above, while junior staff will receive their full eligible payout. Migrant Workforce: Saudi Arabia will cancel eligible Yemeni workers’ overdue permit levies when they transfer to a new employer, easing a barrier to regular employment. Skills and Inclusion: Muscat health services launched a leadership development program for health-sector managers. Qatar’s Endowments Ministry is training 26 frontline staff in sign language to improve service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Hiring Practices: Employers are urged to set clear rules for online candidate searches to reduce bias and privacy risks.

Migrant Hiring: Malaysia will keep a restricted roster of approved agencies for recruiting Nepali workers, rejecting Nepal’s request to open hiring to all licensed firms. The system takes effect November 5. China Jobs: China added 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months, reaching 87.7% of its annual target. Officials plan to expand service-sector hiring and introduce measures to help workers adapt as AI reshapes employment. Fair Hiring: Employers are urged to set clear rules for online candidate searches, limiting checks to relevant information and applying them consistently to reduce bias and privacy risks. Labor Relations: DeKalb School District 428 approved a teachers’ contract through 2031, including an average 3.48% salary increase over four years.**

AI and Jobs: China created 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months, reaching 87.7% of its annual target, and plans new hiring and training measures as AI reshapes work. HR and Hiring: Toshiba’s Americas HR chief says AI can surface stronger applicants and free junior recruiters to focus on candidate and manager conversations — changing entry-level work rather than eliminating it. Talent Mobility: The U.S. suspended eight major technology companies from the PERM green-card program, raising uncertainty for Indian tech workers and potentially increasing employers’ costs and attrition risks. Worker Protections: China is drafting rules that could give millions of gig workers employment contracts, while Arkansas’ appeals court struck down a provision allowing whistleblowers to seek temporary reinstatement during retaliation lawsuits. Labour Market: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, a sharp warning for employers and job seekers.

Workforce Cuts: Amazon reportedly eliminated fewer than 1,000 jobs across the US, UK and India, while Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September. Pay & Benefits: Malaysia’s employers’ federation backed a proposed RM2,000 minimum wage, with a transition period and possible exemptions for smaller businesses. In the Philippines, covered private-sector employees are entitled to 13th-month pay by Dec. 24. Gig Work: China is seeking public comment on draft rules that could give millions of platform workers employment contracts and new protections. AI at Work: California will require employers to disclose AI use in hiring and firing decisions. At Verve Coffee, unionized workers are voting on a contract that bars AI from making management decisions. Employee Relations: Genpact staff in Hyderabad allege gender discrimination, harassment and excessive hours; the claims remain unverified, and no investigation findings have been made public. HR Leadership: Jindal Group appointed Shivani Hazari as group head of human resources.

Pay and Protections: Malaysia’s employers federation backs a proposed RM2,000 minimum wage, with an exemption for smaller businesses and until June 1, 2027, for employers to prepare. Gig Work: China is proposing employment contracts and new protections for platform workers. AI at Work: California employers will have to disclose AI use in hiring and firing decisions, as US employers face wider state rules on workplace AI. Labour Relations: California state workers’ union has authorized a strike, accusing the Newsom administration of bargaining in bad faith. Hiring Outlook: Job openings fell 4.8% in the third quarter, according to Morgan McKinley. Employee Wellbeing: HR leaders say small gestures—listening, checking in and making it safe to ask for help—can support mental health at work.

Gig-Worker Protections: China has proposed labor rules for platform workers, including delivery riders and drivers. The draft would extend basic protections to a workforce estimated at more than 200 million. AI in HR: California now requires employers to disclose AI use in hiring and firing decisions, as Irish employers report growing use of AI in recruitment and more AI-generated applications. Hiring Trends: Job openings in Ireland fell 4.8% year over year in the third quarter, while jobseeker registrations climbed 51%. Target, meanwhile, plans to hire 2,150 seasonal workers in Arizona, with more than half of last year’s seasonal team continuing after the holidays. Benefits: Shawnee County approved a prescription plan for employees using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, with a $50 monthly copay and annual counseling. Workforce Pipeline: Virginia is offering $1.3 million in scholarships and incentives to nursing students and clinicians, amid a projected shortage of registered nurses.

Pay and Labor Standards: Newly hired radiographers in Johannesburg say they have gone six months without pay, with 13 workers affected; South Africa’s health department says salaries will be backdated. In the Philippines, labor officials flagged alleged wage and safety violations by the operator of a ferry that caught fire, killing 77 people, and are investigating whether failures contributed to the disaster. Workforce Planning: Ghana’s health minister says specialist nurses need proper deployment, career paths and equipment to turn training into better care. Virginia is offering scholarships and incentives to help address a projected nursing shortage. AI and Jobs: UOB plans to hire 1,000 graduates as AI reshapes entry-level work, while California’s new workplace AI laws are set to change employer obligations.**

Federal Workforce: OPM has launched an AI chatbot that lets users query federal hiring, departures and workforce trends in plain English using the agency’s public data. Pay and Benefits: Ford will change salaried employees’ paid-time-off rules in 2027, ending its vacation-buying program and increasing vacation days for some workers. School Staffing: Kuwait’s education ministry transferred 8,703 teachers and supervisors to address staffing imbalances, though the mid-semester moves have strained some teachers. Employment Rights: A Texas welder has sued his former employer, alleging disability discrimination after he was fired while restricted from welding; the company has not yet responded in the provided report. Labor Policy: Wisconsin’s Act 10, which sharply limited public-sector collective bargaining, is back in focus ahead of November’s elections, with candidates divided over restoring union rights. Whistleblower Protections: Arkansas’ appeals court struck down a provision allowing public employees seeking retaliation claims to request temporary reinstatement while their cases proceed.

Redundancies: Malaysia’s human resources ministry is helping 372 CJ Bio workers facing the plant’s Oct. 15 closure, checking termination benefits and connecting employees with job-search and upskilling support. HR Data Security: The FBI removed an Accenture contractor after an unpatched PeopleSoft vulnerability exposed employee records, including sensitive personal and medical information. AI at Work: Utah ordered state agencies to provide AI literacy training and use AI to improve services, with safeguards for privacy and human oversight. Staffing and Retention: Tuolumne County employees took a labor dispute public, citing vacancies affecting public services; nearly 15% of positions were vacant, and compensation was a leading reason workers left. Succession Planning: Insurance leaders warn retirements could deepen skills gaps: 84% of surveyed employers expect retirements to hurt capability, but only 11% have formal knowledge-transfer programs.

Workforce Retention Wins: Halifax County reported turnover falling from 19% (FY22-23) to 14% last year, with early-year data tracking near 12%, crediting cost-of-living adjustments, bonuses, performance pay, and longevity funding. HR Compliance in Focus: A U.S. appeals court decision highlights ADA “interactive process” expectations when employees seek lighter-duty work, warning employers against vague or no engagement. Childcare Staffing Strain: In Richmond, YWCA Sprout School closed indefinitely after a teacher strike, with parents citing understaffing and licensing ratio concerns. Hiring & Pay Signals: Miami Beach is recruiting park rangers with pay up to $49.22/hour (no degree required, but experience and certifications). Workplace Equality: BirchStone Management agreed to a $500,000 EEOC settlement over sex discrimination in warehousing hiring, including Amarillo. Talent Pipeline: Fargo-Moorhead HR professionals met college students to keep graduates local. Global HR Policy: Malaysia’s HR minister urged easier pathways for returning Malaysians abroad, citing REP and PERKESO’s job portal. AI & Work: Fortune’s AIQ Summit takeaway: people—not tech—drive whether AI scales successfully.