Latest news with #Employee
India Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Karnataka truckers end strike after state orders release of Rs 244 crore dues
The Karnataka government has issued an official order releasing Rs 244.1 crore to lorry association towards pending dues connected with the Anna Bhagya food grain distribution scheme. The amount covers transportation charges for the period between February and May 2025. Following the government's decision, the lorry association has called off its strike and resumed grain transportation under Karnataka's Anna Bhagya Guarantee Scheme had come to a standstill on July 7, with lorry owners halting operations across the state in protest over non-payment of dues by the government. The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association and the Karnataka State Public Distribution Food Grains Transport Contractors' Association alleged that the state had failed to clear outstanding payments of over Rs 260 crore since Shanmugappa, president of both associations, said the lorry operators had transported nearly 25 lakh tonnes of rice under the scheme from February to June but had not received any payment. On Jun 19, the contractors had issued a 15-day ultimatum, warning of an indefinite strike if the dues were not cleared. They had also demanded that their Earnest Money Deposits be refunded and flagged their financial distress, stating that many owner-drivers were struggling to pay Employee Provident Fund, Employees' State Insurance and taxes. Despite repeated appeals, the associations claimed the government had failed to act, forcing them to stop lorry strike threatened to severely disrupt the Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the Congress party's five flagship guarantees announced ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. The scheme has already faced multiple setbacks. Since July 1, 2023, the government had reduced the monthly rice allocation from 10 kilograms to 5 kilograms after the Union government declined to provide rice under the Open Market Sale response, the state had begun direct cash transfers of Rs 170 per beneficiary, calculated at Rs 34 per kilogram. However, when the Union government later agreed to sell rice at a fixed price until June 2025, Karnataka resumed distributing rice in kind instead of cash. - Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
IOL News
08-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Fight against climate change: Environment department launches one million trees campaign
Deputy Minister of DFFE, Bernice Swarts in the tree bank of the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens after the launch of the One Tree, One Employee campaign Image: Supplied/ Michael Mokoena DFFE The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) launched the one million trees campaign at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens under the banner" My tree, my oxygen, plant yours today". Launched on Monday, the campaign aims to encourage South Africans to plant trees with the intention of preserving biodiversity and mitigating the impact of climate change. The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts said everyone has a responsibility of contributing to the cause of planting trees as they are suppliers of oxygen. Ambassadors, traditional leaders, NGOs and learners at the occassion of the launch of the one employee, one tree campaign Image: Supplied/ Michael Mokoena/ DFFE Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ "The country has borne the brunt of climate change and the resultant devastation it causes in communities and economies. We have witnessed fires, deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, and prolonged droughts. These events underscore our shared vulnerability, but also our shared responsibility to act, to adapt, and to do so in a way that leaves no one behind. We have made a plea to our traditional leaders to not harm trees for whatever reason, because sometimes one just needs the leaves, or the bark, not the root, they don't need to harm the tree," said Swarts. According to Global Forest Watch, South Africa lost 10% of its humid primary forest from 2002 to 2024. Further information from Climate Home News indicated that global deforestation reached record highs in 2024 with climate change driving the charge. 6.7 million hectares of primary tropical forest were lost, which is nearly double the loss compared to 2023. Tree planting is one of the mitigating factors that are recommended to slow down this environmental threat. It is for this reason that the department is pursuing the coordination and implementation of the National Greening Programme, remarked Swarts. The country hosted the second African Forum on Urban Forestry from the 18th to the 21st March 2025 and the International Day of Forests, where 2,000 trees were planted at Diepsloot. Swarts outlined that they have chosen to plant one million trees on 24th September 2025 as the country commemorates Heritage Day. Obakeng Ramabodu, Tshwane's MMC for Environmental and Agriculture Management, announces the city's ambitious tree-planting initiative to combat climate change. Image: Supplied / City of Tshwane Meanwhile, Tshwane MMC for Environment, Obakeng Ramabodu indicated that they have embarked on a process of cleaning the city and are exhausting all available avenues to keep it clean. Ramabodu remarked that the City of Tshwane fully supports the government initiative, citing that the planting of trees makes the environment cleaner and safer for everyone. "This is a people's programme, it does not need any political affiliation, it would be good to see our townships get a facelift and look as aesthetically appealing as the suburbs and parts of the inner city, looking clean and with trees. "Please stop peeing on the streets and please stop littering, we are in the process of getting our city clean and we want to keep it that way," he added. IOL News
STV News
30-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
Growing mental health crisis among Scottish police officers, Labour warns
Labour has warned of a 'growing mental health crisis' among Scottish police officers, as figures show the number of officers taking time off because of psychological issues rose by more than 50% over the last three years. The figures, obtained by the party via a Freedom of Information request, show the number of officers off work because of anxiety, depression, stress or post-traumatic stress rose from 814 in 2021 to 1,236 in 2024, an increase of 52%. The figures also show the number of officers taking time off grew each year over the period, with 1,024 in 2022 and 1,102 in 2023. The party said the figures showed officers are at 'breaking point' and called on the government to address the 'mounting pressures' facing officers. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'It's clear police in Scotland are at breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and neglect. 'We owe it to police officers to ensure they have the support they need while they work to keep our communities safe, but it's clear that is not the case under the SNP. 'The SNP has let police officer numbers collapse over the last five years, piling pressure on remaining officers and threatening to undermine public safety. 'The SNP must wake up to this growing mental health crisis and work with Police Scotland to support officers struggling with stress, trauma or poor mental health. 'Dealing with this crisis is vital to keeping police officers in work and on duty at a time when we need visible officers in communities. 'Police officers cannot keep bearing the brunt of SNP failure – more must be done to support police and the vital work they do.' Earlier this year it was reported that the number of days taken off by police officers and staff suffering from mental ill health rose from 63,797 in 2019/20 to 96,509 in 2023/24, a 51.3% rise Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'The health and welfare of our officers and staff remains one of Police Scotland's highest priorities with enhanced provisions from both our Employee Assistance and Your Wellbeing Matters programmes. 'This will be further enhanced through the implementation of our new HR structure with increased resource within our Health and Wellbeing team. 'We also have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work for any reason. 'We continue to work with our occupational health provider to support police officers and staff in their journey back to health and, subsequently, to work.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Police officers and staff do a challenging job and we have welcomed the Chief Constable's commitment to workforce wellbeing. 'Staff and officers can access a range of services to support their physical and mental wellbeing. 'This includes access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme, and direct access to occupational health services. 'We are investing a record £1.64bn for policing in 2025-26, an increase of £90m on 2024-25, and Police Scotland took on more recruits in 2024-25 than at any time since 2013, with more intakes planned this year.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Business Wire
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Alorica Named CMP Research Best of the Best for Employee Experience at Largest CX Industry Event of the Year
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alorica Inc., a global leader in digitally-powered customer experiences (CX), has been recognized by Customer Management Practice (CMP) as the CMP Research Best of the Best for Employee Experience during the 2025 CCW Excellence Awards at Customer Contact Week (CCW) Las Vegas. This award honors organizations—both end users and vendors—that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the employee experience in contact centers and customer service environments. 'This win is a direct reflection of the dedication and talent of our 100,000+ people around the world,' shared Mike Clifton, Co-CEO of Alorica. 'We've built a tech-enabled, people-first model where creating easy access to resources our teams need and opportunities for real-time feedback and growth are top priorities. It's something we strongly believe in at every level across regions, and it's paying off in performance, retention and innovation.' Highlights of Alorica's award-winning employee experience strategy: Alorica Connect – A gamified, all-in-one platform that unifies communication, training, scheduling, recognition and feedback, delivering a seamless digital employee experience from day one. Ignite & Concierge – Integrated within Alorica Connect, these tools empower employees to submit real-time feedback and access 24/7 support across the employee lifecycle. Hypercare Insights & CARE Committees – Data-driven systems and employee-led groups that capture sentiment, identify friction points and execute tailored action plans to continuously improve satisfaction and performance. Wellness Program – Alorica provides modern, user-friendly tools for managing stress, improving confidence and navigating life challenges. The internal wellness program also includes weekly thematic activities, daily meditations, resiliency courses and access to licensed therapists for individual and group counseling. Career Advancement – Programs like Alorica Academy, Level Up, Quest Training and Rising Star prioritize internal mobility and professional development from internships to senior leadership roles. Making Lives Better with Alorica (MLBA) – With chapters across eight countries, this employee-run nonprofit enables teams to fundraise and award 100% of donations to their local communities. In 2024 alone, MLBA raised over $769,000, granting assistance to more than 1,000 individuals for needs ranging from housing and medical expenses to food and funeral costs—resulting in a 40% boost in retention at participating sites. 'An exceptional employee experience is earned. Through trust and a commitment to continuous improvement, we've seen significant results from putting our people first,' said Max Schwendner, Co-CEO of Alorica. 'Record-high eNPS scores, double-digit drops in attrition, and a 30% growth in our global workforce are positive proof points that our teams are supported and feel empowered to be their best every day. When you prioritize the employee experience at scale, you create a ripple effect that not only transforms our business or our clients', but the entire industry.' 'What impressed us most about Alorica was the depth and intentionality behind every aspect of their employee experience,' said Nicole Kyle, Managing Director and Co-founder of CMP Research. 'They've built a culture that is both authentic and actionable—one that drives engagement, seamlessly integrates technology, inspires loyalty and sets a higher standard for the industry.' This recognition is another addition to the growing list of accolades for Alorica, including seven technology awards earned by Alorica IQ in 2025 alone—a testament to the company's leadership in AI-powered CX innovation. At the same time, Alorica continues to be recognized as a top employer worldwide, earning Great Place to Work ® certifications this year in India, Jamaica, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay, along with repeat honors in the Philippines, Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. These milestones reflect Alorica's dual commitment to advanced technology and a people-first culture, further reinforced by recognitions such as the 2024 Stevie® Award for Customer Service Employer of the Year and the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Award for Innovative Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion. To learn more about Alorica's award-winning employee experience model, visit About Alorica Alorica is a global leader in designing and deploying tech-enabled, personalized customer experience (CX) solutions at scale. As a full-service, strategic CX partner, we combine next-gen technology and managed service expertise with a digital-first, human-focused approach. Our 100,000+ experts across 17 countries—including agents, technologists and solutionists—empower brands around the world with tailored interactions customers crave. Through our multifaceted technology portfolio and 150% YoY investment in digital innovation, our clients have access to pioneering technology and digital transformation results that include a 120% increase in engagement, 45%+ in contact reduction, and 20% in cost savings. With 25+ years of proven BPO experience and a track record of best-in-class performance, Alorica has earned world-class customer and employee satisfaction scores—driving long-term loyalty. To learn more, visit
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New research shows benefits of a four-day work week
Economist and professor Juliet Schor discusses her new book 'Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter'.
