Fortune’s top companies, tighter customs controls and Asda workers’ victory

Fortune’s most admired companies: embracing flexibility to attract talent 

Fortune has released its annual list of the Most Admired Companies, highlighting those that have excelled in leadership, innovation, and investment value. This year, a key factor driving admiration is adopting hybrid work models, with 80% of top-ranked companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia, embracing flexible work policies.

These companies, ranked by executives, directors, and analysts, stand out for fostering trust, attracting top talent, and adapting to the evolving workplace landscape.  

Shein, Temu, and the EU’s push to combat dangerous e-commerce products 

The European Commission is cracking down on online retailers like Shein and Temu, using tougher customs controls to restrict the influx of dangerous and non-compliant products. Last year, 4.6 billion low-value parcels entered the EU, many of which contained unsafe or counterfeit products. The Commission aims to protect consumers and ensure a competitive e-commerce sector.

To tackle these growing issues, the EU is working with national authorities to increase market surveillance, test products, and potentially remove the €150 import duty exemption.  

Asda workers win key victory in decade-long equal pay case 

Thousands of Asda workers, mainly women in shop-based roles, have won a key battle in a decade-long equal pay case, potentially leading to a £1.2bn payout. The Manchester employment tribunal ruled that many of these workers perform jobs of equal value to their male counterparts in warehouses despite earning up to £3.74 less per hour.

The case, involving 60,000 workers, has broader implications for the supermarket industry. Potential compensation across the sector could reach £8bn. Asda now faces a final stage of justifying the pay differences.