Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI” Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the company. She explains how the use of AI enables the technology-driven transformation and innovation consulting firm to "maximise the efficiency" of its employees, make "more informed decisions" and "enhance" its performance.
Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce National legislation On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament.…
Réglementaire Switzerland: National Council relaxes remote work rules and introduces right to disconnect National legislation Swiss federal lawmakers have voted by a wide margin to extend the framework governing remote working, aiming to "better reflect the opportunities offered by digitalisation" and promote a healthier work–life balance. However, socialist and green MPs, who form a small minority, warned that the move could allow employers to exert greater influence over workers’ personal lives.
Italy: EU’s first law on artificial intelligence adopted in application of AI Act National legislation The Italian delegation law on artificial intelligence, in force since 10 October, is the first legislative framework in the EU on the development,…
Réglementaire EU: social partners once again divided on telework initiative European legislation Europe’s main social partners have published their contribution to the second phase of consultation on teleworking and the right to disconnect. In its response, the European Trade Union Confederation reiterates its commitment to a legally binding instrument to “protect workers”.…
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026 National legislation Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14 October, includes several HR-related measures. Overall, these provisions aim to curb social spending.
Exclusif France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy National industrial relations On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its skills strategy and introduces measures in anticipation of the forthcoming law on older workers. It also establishes dedicated social dialogue on the use of generative AI.
France: government proposes suspending pension reform National legislation French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu, reappointed on 10 October after resigning four days earlier, delivered his general policy speech to the National Assembly on 14 October. He announced the suspension of the 2023 pension reform — which raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 — and proposed reopening discussions on the future of the pension system amid the threat of a no-confidence vote. He also pledged to strengthen codetermination and step up efforts to combat social fraud.
Exclusif Réglementaire Italy: European pay transparency directive, a major step forward for businesses Comp and Ben @en Italy’s labour market continues to suffer from limited pay transparency and a persistent gender pay gap. The forthcoming implementation of the EU pay transparency directive — still awaiting transposition — could help address these issues, provided it drives a genuine cultural shift.
Réglementaire Austria: Social Affairs Committee green-lights improved redundancy conditions for self-employed workers National legislation On 8 October 2025, the Social Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council, the country’s lower house of parliament, approved new redundancy rules for self-employed workers,…
UNI Global Union urges BNP Paribas to address links to settlements in West Bank under its vigilance duty Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 9 October, the international trade union federation UNI Global Union published a letter it had sent the previous day to BNP Paribas. It calls on the French banking group (182,000 employees) to address its links with Israeli companies operating in the West Bank,…
French OECD Contact Point urges Shein to comply with international human rights standards Frame of reference/standards After two years of proceedings, France’s OECD National Contact Point on 29 September issued 10 recommendations urging Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein to overhaul its business model and exercise due diligence. The body, operating under the French economy ministry, cited numerous breaches of OECD guidelines — allegations Shein contests.
Poland: state-backed reduced working hours trial launched Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Poland’s labour ministry on 14 August launched a pilot scheme to test shorter working hours, allowing companies to trial either a four-day week or reduced daily hours. Employers selected for the programme will receive state financial support to help implement the new work arrangements.
Mexico: platform for reporting labour law breaches launched On 4 September, Mexico’s labour ministry unveiled a new platform allowing workers to file confidential complaints over potential rights violations or health and safety risks.…
Deutsche Telekom to expand its ‘Growth Hub’ skills management platform globally Training/Professional development German telephone operator Deutsche Telekom is launching the global rollout in 2025 and 2026 of ‘Growth Hub’, its new AI skills and career management platform. For the group, the launch of this new tool marks a further step in the use of artificial intelligence, a technology the implementation of which now comes under DT’s ‘AI Manifesto’, namely a set of rules that will evolve and be negotiated with the company's social partners.
Algorithmic management improves managers’ job satisfaction (study) On 6 February, the OECD published a study on the prevalence of algorithmic management in the United States, Germany,…
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI” Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the company. She explains how the use of AI enables the technology-driven transformation and innovation consulting firm to "maximise the efficiency" of its employees, make "more informed decisions" and "enhance" its performance.
Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce National legislation On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament.…
Réglementaire Switzerland: National Council relaxes remote work rules and introduces right to disconnect National legislation Swiss federal lawmakers have voted by a wide margin to extend the framework governing remote working, aiming to "better reflect the opportunities offered by digitalisation" and promote a healthier work–life balance. However, socialist and green MPs, who form a small minority, warned that the move could allow employers to exert greater influence over workers’ personal lives.
Exclusif France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy National industrial relations On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its skills strategy and introduces measures in anticipation of the forthcoming law on older workers. It also establishes dedicated social dialogue on the use of generative AI.
France: insurance sector becomes first to sign agreement on employment of older workers National industrial relations On 25 June 2025, France Assureurs – the employers’ association for the insurance industry – and five representative trade unions signed the sector’s first three-year agreement aimed at promoting the employment of experienced workers. Covering 161,300 employees, the agreement establishes a general framework for future negotiations within insurance companies employing 300 or more people.
France: Auchan Retail job protection plan ruled invalid due to lack of consultation with trade unions National industrial relations As Auchan Retail moves ahead with plans to cut its store floor space by 25%, the Lille Administrative Court on 23 September annulled its job protection plan (PSE).…
Free Looking back at 2023: new inclusion topics emerged Diversity and inclusion were in the spotlight in 2023. This was reflected in Spain, where a law was passed to combat discrimination against LGBTI people and menstrual leave was introduced, as well as in Ireland, where domestic violence leave was introduced. These issues are also gaining ground within companies.
Free Looking back at 2023: initiatives across the board to tackle the skills shortage Amid the shortage of skilled labour, thinking ahead to the professions of the future and securing the skills needed to support business transformation have been among the main concerns of HR departments – as well as European governments – in recent times and numerous initiatives were launched in 2023 to attract and train new sources of talent.
Free Looking back at 2023: a new way of viewing older workers With the retirement age rising and a skills shortage in many parts of the world at present, companies need to learn to change the way they look at older employees and see them as an opportunity. Initiatives have begun to emerge in this area.
Confidentiel [mind RH news] Veolia strikes European agreement on diversity and inclusion Transnational industrial relations Veolia, the French multinational providing water, energy and waste recycling management services, is to sign a European framework agreement on diversity and inclusion with the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It will create a right to paid leave in cases of domestic violence and commits the group to LGBTQ+ rights. The agreement comes as Veolia adjusts to the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and comes at a time when large international companies are renouncing their policies in these areas under pressure from the Trump administration.
Confidentiel mind RH news – Draft global CSR agreement submitted for signature at EDF Transnational industrial relations French energy company EDF and two global trade union federations have struck a draft agreement on social and environmental responsibility, which has been submitted to 16 trade union organisations to be signed before 28 January, mind RH understands. If signed, the text will pave the way for a global social protection floor and a decent wage for the group's 180,000 employees. It will also bring the sustainability due diligence duty and the climate into the scope of social dialogue and regulate the use of subcontracting.
