2015's HR stories from around the world

From workplace apartheid to bullying on national TV – there was no shortage of international stories to attract HR’s attention in the first half of 2015.

January

Pull the other one – 24-year sickie sees public servant sacked

The Indian government was left red faced as a story surfaced that electrical engineer AK Verma had only just been sacked despite being off sick since 1990.

HR whistleblower – missing in China

HR manager Jia Lining was reported missing following reports he made corruption claims against high-level execs – he was later found dead in a stream running from the Huanpu River.

Febuary

$15 million for workplace apartheid

Seven warehouse workers were awarded an eight-figure settlement after their employer’s shocking racism came to light.

Caught on cam. Not-so-secret office sex

Video footage of two New Zealand workers went viral after onlookers spotted them engaging in a very public, very passionate, office tryst.

March

Germanwings crash – employee burnout to blame?

26th The Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing a plane with 150 people on board had confessed to “burnout” earlier in his employment.

X-Factor judges sacked for bullying behaviour

Two panellists from the New Zealand edition one of the world’s most popular TV shows were ousted after their scathing remarks strayed into bullying territory.

April

(Continued...) #pb# 

April

Is IKEA wrong to promote anti-gay magician? 

The furniture giant’s Singapore operation caused controversy when it announced it would continue to promote a show by an outspoken magician, publicly opposed to homosexuality.

CEO raises minimum wage to $70,000 – by slashing own salary

Seattle-based CEO Dan Price earned international praise when he took a 98 per cent pay cut in order to boost every other employee’s wages.

May

AT&T president sacked for sharing racist meme

One of America’s largest telecommunications companies was hit with a US$100 million law suit after a high powered exec shared racist material on his work phone.

Undercover agents target prejudiced hiring practices

One US government agency revealed a controversial new way its officials would be enforcing employment law.

June

Amtrak employees claimed to work 40-hour days

One U.S. audit revealed evidence of widespread and shocking overtime abuse – or time travel.

How does Canada’s minimum wage compare?

A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development revealed how Canada’s minimum wage compares to other developed countries – and it doesn’t look good.

HRM will recap international HR stories from the second half of 2015 tomorrow.
 
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