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The future of work is changing fast. Future Focus cuts through the noise with three trends each week that matter most to HR and business leaders. When everything else is in flux, stay focused with Future Focus.

How People Feel About Vaccines Is Now Largely Political (Time) 

What to Know: A new survey of 5,000+ Americans shows vaccine attitudes are sharply polarized: 59% don’t plan to get the latest COVID-19 shot, including 83% of Republicans versus 44% of Democrats. Awareness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s updated COVID-19 guidance is low, and support for school vaccine mandates — especially among Republicans — has fallen despite most still agreeing that vaccines’ benefits outweigh risks.  

Where to Focus: Vaccine sentiment is now a political signal, not just a health preference, making it a potential flashpoint in workplace interactions.  Political differences are among the top 5 sources of workplace incivility, according to the SHRM Q3 2025 Civility Index. This means that vaccine-related health communications and policies can trigger polarized reactions. 

Why Is It So Hard to Pay Cross-Border Employees In Europe (Fast Company)

What to Know: Hiring Europeans remains administratively complex: national labor, tax, and social security rules differ. Layer on inconsistent EU directives and misclassification risks amid the persistent talent shortage, and the hiring regulatory landscape just got a little more complicated. 

Where to Focus: Growth increasingly depends on accessing global talent, yet the operational drag of entity setup, social security coordination, and tax residency rules can erase speed-to-hire advantages. With EU labor shortages expected to worsen and demand for specialized talent up 112% in three years, organizations will need to upskill teams and draw from domestic untapped talent pools to close critical gaps.

Research: The Global Skills Mismatch

How Campbell’s Leaked Audio Turned a Pantry Staple Into a PR Crisis (Fortune)

What to Know: A leaked audio recording of a Campbell executive mocking Indian workers, disparaging customers, and referencing “bioengineered” or “3D” meat triggered swift public backlash over Thanksgiving weekend. The company confirmed the recording’s authenticity and removed the leader, but allegations in a related lawsuit suggest deeper questions about internal reporting culture and leadership oversight. 

Where to Focus: This moment highlights the direct link between leadership conduct and organizational trust. Leaders should revisit reporting pathways along with escalation protocols and prepare for the reality that unguarded moments can shape brand trust in seconds. Reinforcing crisis communications and training leaders on values-aligned behavior are essential steps to prevent isolated misconduct from escalating into an enterprise-level crisis.

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