Author: HR Talk

Starbucks is facing legal action from employees in three U.S. states who claim its new dress code forces them to spend their own money on work clothes without reimbursement. Class-action lawsuits were filed in Illinois and Colorado this week, while workers in California lodged complaints with the state’s Labour and Workforce Development Agency, with plans to sue if regulators decline to act. The policy, introduced earlier this year across North American stores, requires staff to wear plain black shirts, khaki or dark denim bottoms, and muted-colour waterproof shoes. It also restricts personal expression by limiting facial piercings, banning face tattoos…

Amazon has announced a $1 billion investment to raise wages and cut healthcare costs for its U.S. fulfilment and transportation employees, a move that will lift average total compensation to over $30 an hour. The company said average hourly pay will rise above $23, translating into an annual increase of about $1,600 for full-time staff. Beginning in 2026, Amazon will also slash the cost of its entry-level health plan to $5 per week, with co-pays capped at the same amount—a 34% reduction in employee contributions. Amazon, which employs more than 1.5 million full-time and part-time workers, also supplements its workforce…

Google has laid off around 200 contractors working on its artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including Gemini, in a move that many of the impacted staff believe amounts to being replaced by the very systems they helped build. The contractors—often called “super raters”—were responsible for rating and evaluating AI outputs, creating prompts to test Gemini, and refining summaries generated for Google Search. Their work ensured accuracy, reliability, and safety in the company’s AI responses. Many of them, including qualified researchers, writers, and teachers, said they were underpaid—earning between $18 and $32 an hour—and faced heavy workloads and job insecurity. Some were…

Fiverr International, the global online services marketplace, has announced plans to cut nearly 30% of its workforce—about 250 employees—as part of a major restructuring to reposition itself as an “AI-first” organisation. In a letter to employees, CEO Micha Kaufman said the move is aimed at creating a leaner structure with fewer management layers, a stronger AI-driven infrastructure, and teams tasked with significantly higher productivity. As of December 2024, Fiverr employed 762 people, according to company filings. The firm did not disclose which roles would be affected but confirmed that marketplace operations will remain unaffected in the near term. Fiverr’s platform,…

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a Central PSU under the Ministry of Mines, has announced a set of welfare initiatives aimed at strengthening financial protection and fostering organisational unity among its employees and contractual staff. A key highlight is the Group Personal Accident (GPA) Insurance Policy, which now provides ₹20 lakh coverage for every contractual worker while on duty—a move that extends social security beyond permanent staff. In addition, HCL has partnered with State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, and other institutions to introduce a Corporate Salary Package (CSP). Under this scheme, contractual employees will receive accident insurance coverage of…

India’s leading listed companies reported a 6.2% increase in sexual-harassment complaints in FY25, according to mandatory disclosures under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. Data from 30 major firms across technology, banking, energy, and manufacturing sectors suggests the rise reflects growing employee confidence in workplace redressal mechanisms rather than a surge in incidents, HR leaders said. Enacted in 2013, the POSH Act requires organisations with over 10 employees to set up Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and file annual compliance reports. Once treated as a box-ticking exercise, POSH compliance has evolved into a cornerstone of corporate governance. Companies are strengthening…

Meta has terminated about two dozen employees after an internal review found they misused the company’s daily meal credit perk, Business Insider reported. The benefit—known internally as the Grubhub meal credit—offers staff $25 a day, mainly for those working late or in offices without cafeterias. Investigators found that some employees repeatedly used the credits to buy non-food items such as laundry detergent and kitchenware. While staff with isolated violations reportedly received warnings, those with multiple breaches were dismissed. The move has divided opinion inside the company. On Blind, an anonymous workplace forum, some workers defended the firings as fair enforcement…

Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) to create wider career opportunities for veterans, military spouses, and war widows. The initiative is designed to ease the transition from military to civilian life through recruitment pathways, training, and career development programmes. Under the agreement, Amazon will share relevant job openings with AWPO, which supports ex-servicemen, spouses, and war widows. The company will also conduct webinars and workshops to familiarise candidates with available roles and growth opportunities within the organisation. Deepti Varma, vice president – people experience and technology, Amazon Stores India, Japan…

In a first-of-its-kind move to expand social protection for gig economy staff, the Tamil Nadu government has rolled out a free accident insurance scheme providing annual coverage of up to ₹5 lakh. The initiative is targeted at food delivery riders, ride-hailing drivers, and courier personnel, who frequently face hazardous road conditions. The policy, administered by the state’s Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board, guarantees full compensation in cases of death or permanent disability, while partial injuries—ranging from hearing loss to loss of limbs—will be covered based on medical certification. Premiums of about ₹105 per worker will be fully borne by the…

Budget airline SpiceJet has delayed salary disbursements for a section of its employees, citing its phased payment system that comes into effect during periods of tight cash flow. The airline said the practice, spread over a few days, is routine and well known to staff. According to sources, employees earning up to ₹55,000 have received their salaries on time, while senior staff are experiencing delays in August payouts. By September 7, over 60% of the workforce had been paid, with the remainder expected to be cleared in stages. SpiceJet’s annual report shows it employs 6,484 people, including nearly 4,900 permanent…