workplace

Companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to help set employee pay, often without workers knowing. The Wall Street Journal reports that employers rely on algorithmic systems to benchmark salaries and determine compensation, raising questions about transparency, fairness and potential bias in how wages are decided across industries.

Dairy farmers in Idaho are voicing concern that President Trump's immigration enforcement campaign, which has so far largely left agricultural workplaces alone, could soon extend to farms. Dairy work depends heavily on immigrant labor, and producers say a shift in enforcement would threaten their operations and milk production.

Pennsylvania Democrats are trying to convert frustration with President Trump's immigration policies into Latino voter support. With the state a key electoral battleground, party officials and organizers argue that workplace raids, deportation threats and tougher border enforcement are galvanizing Latino communities, and they hope that anger translates into turnout and votes for Democratic candidates.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, 18.8% of working-age people now use artificial intelligence tools. The figure highlights how quickly AI has moved from a niche technology into everyday work routines, covering uses such as writing, research and automation. The report is drawing attention as analysts weigh what rising adoption means for productivity and jobs.

Trade unions are intensifying efforts to counter what they see as a growing risk from artificial intelligence to their members' jobs. The push reflects broader concerns across labour movements about automation replacing workers and eroding workplace protections, with unions seeking safeguards, negotiations and policy responses as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

PwC warns that companies risk losing their most AI-capable employees while failing to bring the majority of their workforce along with new AI tools. Firms that focus AI investment and training only on a small tech-savvy group may see those workers leave, while the wider workforce remains undertrained and disengaged from AI adoption.

Companies are stepping up calls for employees to return to the office, even as many workers and firms settle into hybrid arrangements that split time between home and workplace. The shift has revived debate over productivity, company culture and flexibility, with some organisations enforcing office attendance while others maintain looser hybrid policies. Asahi Shimbun reports the trend is playing out unevenly across industries.

Chinese state media reports that embodied AI robots developed in China are increasingly being deployed in real-world workplaces rather than remaining confined to research and classroom settings. The feature highlights how the country's robotics sector is pushing humanoid and intelligent machines into practical jobs, reflecting China's broader push to lead in embodied artificial intelligence and industrial automation.

A college president is warning that artificial intelligence could either strengthen education or create dangerous shortcuts for students, saying the outcome depends on how institutions manage the technology. The remarks add to an ongoing debate in higher education over AI tools, academic integrity, and how to prepare students for a workplace increasingly shaped by AI.

Kansas officials have asked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to scale back enforcement operations at the state's meat processing plants. The request reflects concern that workplace raids disrupt a key industry that depends heavily on immigrant labor and affect local communities. The detail has been reported by NPR, though officials' full reasoning and ICE's response are not yet clear.

Several artificial intelligence companies are asking their own employees to review and flag text that appears to be written by AI, with one company reportedly using a steak emoji as an internal marker for such content. The practice highlights the irony of AI firms policing machine-written text in their own workplaces, and has drawn attention as companies grapple with distinguishing human writing from AI output.

Microsoft has moved GitHub's coding engine into the office application that workers already use daily, tying its developer tools directly into mainstream productivity software. The move signals Microsoft's push to bring automated coding assistance beyond developers to everyday business users, reinforcing its position in workplace AI tools.

Former staffers of Mary Peltola have raised allegations of hostile workplace behavior, and the claims could shape Alaska's closely watched US Senate race. The accusations add a new complication for a prominent Alaska Democrat as the contest draws national attention in a state that often decides Senate control.

A court has heard claims that a Christian was discriminated against after a job offer was retracted because of his views on LGBT issues. The case raises questions about the balance between religious belief and workplace equality protections, and how far employers may take an applicant's expressed opinions into account when deciding whether to hire.

Elon Musk said Tuesday that "jobs are going to change" as artificial intelligence spreads through the workplace. Speaking about concerns over AI's impact on work, he predicted an "evolution of roles" driven by AI and robots across different fields. He added that the most likely outcome is worth considering seriously, remarks that have drawn wide attention amid ongoing debate about automation and employment.

NPR reports that anxiety over artificial intelligence is spreading across workplaces and daily life, and argues that history offers guidance: past generations faced disruptive technologies and learned to manage the resulting fears. The piece draws on earlier technological upheavals to suggest coping strategies for today's AI-related worries.

A journalist has been using an iPhone and a thermal sensor to document temperatures in homes, workplaces and public spaces during an intense heatwave gripping the city. The readings reveal stark disparities: construction workers labouring in direct sun, delivery riders crossing hot streets, and residents of old, poorly insulated apartment buildings facing dangerous indoor temperatures.

A CNBC report examines how artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming human resources and the wider workplace, with growing anxiety among workers about job security. The piece looks at how automation is changing hiring, management and everyday roles, and what employees can do as machines take on more tasks once handled by people.

Japanese companies are reportedly introducing 'grandchild leave', letting employees take time off to care for grandchildren. Rising retirement ages and financial pressures mean more grandparents must stay in work, leaving them less available for the informal childcare families have long relied on. Commenters note the development reflects a broader squeeze on working families and an ageing workforce.

The Netherlands is developing a sovereign Linux-based workplace for government use. The move follows February 2025, when the US government sanctioned the International Criminal Court in The Hague, giving the Dutch a direct lesson in the risks of depending on foreign-controlled software. Commenters see it as part of a broader European push for digital sovereignty and independence from US technology providers.

The satire site Le Gorafi reports that the president of French employers' association MEDEF has proposed replacing sick leave with outright dismissal. The piece is a parody mocking employers' hardening rhetoric on workplace absenteeism and calls to tighten sickness benefits in France. Readers are sharing it amid ongoing debate over labour costs and employee absence rates, mistaking or celebrating its exaggerated take on employer demands.