AGP Executive Report

Mass Layoffs: Netflix plans to cut about 1,000 jobs, or 6% of its workforce, in its largest round of layoffs since 2022. Product, technology, legal and HR teams are among those affected, despite the company’s profit growth. Union Rights: Rockstar executives face questioning at a Glasgow tribunal over allegations that 31 workers were fired for union activity; the company says they breached confidentiality rules. Career Pathways: Malaysia’s MyBakat Veteran initiative aims to help 15,000 armed forces personnel and veterans find second careers by matching their skills with employer needs and relevant training. Pay and Hiring: New Zealand wages were flat over the past three months, while September hiring rebounded among small and midsize businesses.**

AI at Work: Workday is making agentic AI central to HR and finance, with Sana as its new home screen and a planned acquisition focused on identity governance. But controls are lagging: 79% of executives say employees work around AI governance policies, while just 11% of small-business owners trust AI to take over payroll. Retention and Well-Being: Marsh reports a 24% fall in thriving employees across the Middle East energy sector over two years; 31% plan to leave within 12 months. Cedar Rapids schools offer a brighter note: teacher turnover fell from 15.52% to 10.12% in two years, alongside investments in pay progression and development. Hiring and Career Paths: UK review findings point to AI-driven recruitment as a barrier for young applicants, while the IMF warns AI could narrow early-career routes. Employers are being urged to build internal development pathways and help staff keep growing even in a sluggish job market. Workplace Rights: Employers face approaching third-party harassment liability, and SHRM was ordered to pay $400,000 to a job applicant seeking to bring a service dog to work.

Workplace Law: SHRM must pay $400,000 after a jury found it violated disability laws by withdrawing a job offer when an applicant sought to bring her service dog to work. Il Fornaio agreed to a $3 million settlement over EEOC claims of harassment and retaliation affecting at least 100 women and teens. AI at Work: Workday introduced agents to automate HR and payroll tasks, as a separate survey found nearly four in five executives say employees bypass AI rules to move faster. Hiring & Jobs: Jackson, Tennessee, is joining a national program to use hiring data to remove barriers and speed up city recruitment. In Kansas, HIX Corporation’s sudden closure leaves 45 workers facing job losses, with severance still unclear. Youth Careers: UK employers have pledged more than 1,000 placements for young people outside work or education through The Sun’s Jobs Army campaign.

AI and Skills: Malaysia says 74,332 people have joined upskilling programmes to prepare for automation and AI, while HRD Corp approved 19,084 training places worth RM47.67 million. Krafton, meanwhile, plans its biggest intake yet, hiring more than 100 entry-level employees for AI-related roles. Workforce Outlook: The IMF warns AI could narrow young workers’ routes into careers as automation takes over tasks that once helped juniors build experience. HR Policy: California’s new laws require employers to disclose AI and automation in layoff notices, adding a fresh compliance step for HR teams. Employee Wellbeing: New findings highlight gaps in workplace menopause support, while a UK council report puts staff sickness absence costs at £378,000 a month. HR Leadership: Government HR leaders from across the Gulf are due to meet in Abu Dhabi on October 20–21 to discuss AI, workforce strategy and talent development.

AI Layoff Rules: Starting Jan. 1, 2027, California employers whose mass layoffs are substantially driven by AI or automation must disclose affected roles, job functions and technology in Cal/WARN notices. Worker Support: Crystal Jade’s Singapore restructuring has closed four outlets and issued termination notices to about 120 employees; a union and NTUC’s career-support arm are helping affected workers. AI and Careers: New IMF analysis finds AI-vulnerable occupations saw lower employment in regions with strong AI demand, while job ads requiring new skills offer higher pay. HR leaders also worry that automating junior tasks could erode the experience workers need to develop leadership skills. Recruiting Safeguards: HR teams using chatbots are urged to test vendors, check system integrations and tell candidates when they’re interacting with AI, given risks ranging from wrong answers to data exposure. Graduate Hiring: Employers say workplace experience, communication and reliability matter; students can build those skills through jobs and volunteering, not just internships.

Gig-Worker Rights: China has proposed its first dedicated labor rules for platform workers, including contracts for those whose work meets the legal test for employment. The draft is open for public feedback through Nov. 8. Jobs and AI: China says it created 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months and plans new employment measures focused on AI and services. Redundancy: UK employers proposed 50,904 job cuts in September, the highest monthly total since 2020, while the £30,000 tax-free redundancy limit remains unchanged since 1988. AI in Recruitment: AI-written CVs and automated screening are creating a hiring arms race. In one law firm’s trial, an AI agent’s top-candidate rankings differed from the human shortlist. Internal Mobility: A new survey finds many employers struggle to prove the impact of learning programs, even as skills development and redeployment can help fill roles and reduce hiring costs. Hiring Push: South Korea’s Toss Place is recruiting hundreds across functions, including HR, engineering, finance and sales. Workplace Accountability: Police in Bengaluru have registered a case against an HR manager accused of sexually harassing an employee; the investigation is ongoing.

Dismissal Rights: An Auckland employment authority awarded international student Yucen Xi $27,890 after finding she was unjustifiably fired from a jewellery store. Xi says workers on student visas need stronger protection. Leadership Move: AS Watson named Katinka Ruikes managing director of Kruidvat Belgium from January; she began her career in HR before moving into sales and operations leadership. Workforce Pressure: University of Colorado research professors face worsening pay and job security as federal funding falls, with some relying on grants to cover salaries. Jobs Outlook: China reported 10.52 million new urban jobs in the first nine months of 2026 and plans measures to expand services employment and address AI-driven workforce shifts. Workplace Culture: New research suggests teams are more likely to innovate when employees can speak up about workload and decline extra assignments.

Youth Hiring: Namibia’s first Chinese-language campus job fair connected students and graduates with about 30 employers, offering jobs, internships and graduate training across sectors including mining, tourism and logistics. Pay and Benefits: TCS will withhold quarterly variable pay for employees at grade C3A and above after missing internal targets, while junior staff will receive their full eligible payout. Flexible Work: UK employees can request a four-day week from their first day, but employers may reject it only on specified business grounds; HR advice is to explain how the work will be covered. Employment Outlook: China added 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months of 2026 and plans to boost service-sector hiring as AI reshapes work. Layoff Risks: Indonesian labour unions estimate up to 50,000 East Java workers could face job losses this year, with manufacturing and other labour-intensive sectors most exposed.

China Jobs: China added 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months, reaching 87.7% of its annual target. Officials plan to boost services-sector hiring and respond to AI-driven workforce changes with new occupations and skills policies. Workforce Gaps: A Georgian College report says communities in central and southwestern Ontario are growing faster than their workforce; Ontario will need nearly 947,000 college-educated workers over the next decade. AI and HR: Employers and HR leaders are rethinking hiring and career paths as AI changes how work gets done, while professional-services firms emphasize human judgment, trust and accountability alongside automation. Labor Market: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, adding to concerns about employment conditions. Union Leadership: Shawn Fain won a second four-year term as United Auto Workers president with more than two-thirds of counted votes, backing his union’s organizing and contract-fight strategy.

China’s Jobs Push: China created 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 87.7% of its annual target. New initiatives will support young people, flexible workers and jobseekers adapting to AI, alongside expanded vocational training. Canada’s Labour Market: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, a sharp signal for employers and workers navigating a softer market. AI and Hiring: A Toshiba HR chief argues AI should change junior recruiters’ work, not erase entry-level roles: automation can screen résumés while giving recruiters more time to improve hiring plans and advise managers. Workplace Wellbeing: HR teams are urged to look beyond awareness campaigns and make it easier for employees to seek clinical advice when symptoms could have more than one cause. Gig Worker Protections: China is proposing dedicated labour rules for platform workers, including employment contracts—an emerging test of how governments balance flexible work with worker protections.

Layoffs: Amazon cut fewer than 1,000 jobs across the US, UK and India, affecting customer service, marketplace support and engineering teams amid a wider restructuring. Worker protections and pay: China is seeking public comment on rules that would offer gig workers employment contracts and regulate platform algorithms. Malaysia’s employers federation welcomed a proposed RM2,000 minimum wage, a transition period and a possible exemption for smaller businesses. AI in HR: California’s new laws require employers to disclose AI use in hiring and firing decisions. LinkedIn also plans to tie bonuses more closely to individual performance from 2026. Labor relations: Rockstar Games’ HR director faced questions at a UK tribunal over claims that union activity was monitored before developers were fired; the company says the dismissals were for gross misconduct. Job market: Canada shed 68,000 jobs in September, while US job openings reportedly fell 4.8% in the third quarter. Workplace rights: A former Lockheed Martin engineer alleges discrimination based on national origin and perceived religion, and retaliation after he complained of a hostile work environment.

Job Losses: Malaysia is stepping in after CJ Bio’s Kerteh factory closure put 372 jobs at risk, checking termination payments and helping workers find new roles; 224 have taken part in career-support sessions. Gig-Worker Protections: China has proposed its first nationwide rules for platform workers, including delivery riders and drivers, to address opaque algorithms, withheld pay and excessive hours. AI and Hiring: California’s new employment laws will require human involvement in consequential AI-driven decisions and notice to affected workers, starting in 2027. Workplace Wellbeing: HR leaders say practical support can start with listening, checking in and making it safe for employees to ask for help. Skills Gap: China’s manufacturers face shortages as young people favor university degrees and office work over vocational training and factory careers.

Workplace AI: California now requires employers to disclose AI use in hiring and firing. In China, proposed rules would extend employment contracts to gig workers, as companies cut middle-management roles and reorganize work around AI. HR’s Strategic Role: Brené Brown says HR leaders are hardest to replace when they connect employees’ concerns with business decisions—and have the CEO’s trust. Burnout: A survey found 55% of UK professionals feel burned out; more than half of those affected cited heavier workloads linked to understaffing. Hiring Compliance: El Dorado Furniture will pay $1.3 million to settle an EEOC investigation into claims it favored Hispanic applicants, and must review hiring practices and train hiring staff. Small-Business Preparedness: Employers are urged to plan how managers should respond to workplace mental health crises before one occurs.

Talent Shortages: UAE recruiters say AI, cybersecurity and sales roles are among the hardest to fill. Employers want experienced candidates who can contribute quickly, and niche or senior searches can take six to eight weeks. AI and HR: Gartner urges HR leaders to work alongside technology teams on AI adoption, building workforce skills and clarifying who owns the people-related changes. Graduate Hiring: UOB plans to recruit 1,000 graduates as AI reshapes entry-level work. In Singapore, just 74.4% of 2025 university graduates secured full-time jobs; one student argues employers should stop using GPA to screen applicants. Worker Protections: New bereavement rules will give employees two weeks of unpaid leave from day one, including after pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Employers are advised to update policies and train managers to handle requests sensitively.

Benefits and Retention: Ford will change salaried employees’ vacation rules in 2027, ending its vacation-purchase program and increasing time off for some workers as it seeks to stay competitive. Labor Relations: Wisconsin’s Act 10, which sharply restricted public-sector union rights, is again in the spotlight as candidates debate its future ahead of November’s election. AI at Work: HR leaders may need to take clearer ownership of AI-related workplace problems, as employees increasingly work alongside automated agents and digital assistants. Hiring and Talent: Hawaiian Electric workforce manager Kazunori Hayashida received a state award for efforts to recruit and retain local talent. Workplace Law: A federal judge dismissed a paralegal’s discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, despite her claim that she was fired 24 minutes after reporting a supervisor’s conduct to HR.

Workforce Fraud & Hiring Scrutiny: New research says deepfakes, identity fraud, and falsified job histories are pushing HR leaders to move from pre-hire checks to continuous monitoring and periodic rescreening, with most already using AI in hiring. HR Tech & Compliance: The U.S. Technology Modernization Fund is funding $83.4M in AI-enabled modernization, including a major USDA payroll overhaul tied to HR 2.0, while California’s workplace AI rules raise accountability expectations. Cybersecurity for HR Teams: Australia’s “awareness gap” shows that even when staff know passkeys are safer, legacy onboarding still leaves many relying on passwords, alongside rising AI-driven phishing and deepfake impersonation attempts. Public Sector Staffing Pressure: Tuolumne County employees staged pickets over staffing shortages and pay/benefit disputes, warning services like eligibility processing and disease investigations are strained. Benefits & Eligibility Modernization: Alabama launched a SNAP/TANF pilot with a new self-service portal (ACES) to streamline applications and document submissions. AI for Real Operations: Oman business leaders urged practical AI use for operational challenges, emphasizing trusted data and workforce skills. Talent & Learning Ecosystems: XVenture appointed Peche Consulting to bring its learning ecosystem to the UK and Ireland. Workplace Injury Guidance: A new explainer focuses on what employees should do after workplace accidents—documentation, reporting, and managing medical follow-ups to protect claims.