Industrial action North Sea strike wave gathers pace at Apache and Wood Group Separate disputes over pay and working conditions could disrupt oil and gas assets DEI EEOC sues Harvard over failure to comply with DEI subpoena University claims investigation is in retaliation to complaint against Trump administration’s decision to withhold $2.2bn in funding Artificial Intelligence Is AI about to have its whistleblower moment? As safety concerns mount and internal warnings emerge, AI labs face growing scrutiny over how they respond when employees raise uncomfortable questions Platform Workers Lyft agrees $272.5m California settlement over driver misclassification Agreement covers historic claims dating back to 2016, prior to Proposition 22 exemption Collective Bargaining VW cancels collective bargaining agreements in continued cost-cutting drive Works council and union gearing up for “fierce conflict” over the decision Flexibility Flexible working seen as vital by most UK employees Nearly eight in ten Brits highly rank remote arrangements, indicating that hybrid-sceptics may be losing out on talent Retirement US ESOP bill offers valuation clarity, not a safe harbour Retire through Ownership Act would give fiduciaries greater certainty over “adequate consideration” while preserving ERISA duties Family leave Samsung, SK Hynix parental leave rates fall following landmark labour deals Data suggests semiconductor workers are reducing time away so they don’t lose out on massive performance bonuses Restructuring Mercedes revives voluntary redundancy programme amid productivity push German car giant aims to cut €800m in costs while improving output with new return-to-office mandate and longer working weeks for factory staff Events Global Employment Summit International Employment Lawyer is delighted to announce that the third Global Employment Summit will take place on Thursday 15th October at Convene 117 W 46th Street, New York.The full-day event will bring together leading in-house counsel, HR and ER professionals, and private practitioners from across the world to take a deep dive into the key issues impacting the management of global workforces from the vantage point of US-headquartered multinationals. Research IEL Monitor IEL Monitor is a forward-looking, fully searchable database of upcoming and prospective employment and labour legislation from around the world, designed to alert in-house teams of new laws and regulations, and support timely compliance. Private Practice Leaders Natural justice and the high cost of getting it wrong Private Practice Leaders We’re living in an uncertain and troubling world In-house interview I was overwhelmed by what I didn’t know after moving in-house