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Liberalisation of the telecoms sector in Europe is causing huge business restructuring and union protests.
Newly privatised Telecom Italia will shed more than 13,000 posts under its new owner the computer firm Olivetti. Unions responded with a one-day strike and demonstrations in Milan and Naples, attended by about 10,000 people.
In response the management has agreed to negotiations, which will discuss industrial relations, job grades and working time, with a view to cutting the number of redundancies.
Rejection is not discrimination, US judge rules
The "other woman" who lost her job after her manager's wife discovered the affair lost sexual harassment and sex discrimination claims in a case in New York.
"Rejection and discrimination are not synonymous," ruled Judge Robert Sweet, throwing out Shayne Kahn's claim.
The judge said of the manager involved, Steven Wolfe. "Subjectively, he behaved like a cad."
Moustaches make a comeback at theme parks
Entertainment giant Walt Disney has relented its stance on facial hair by scrapping a 43-year-old ban on moustaches for its theme park staff.
Disney Attractions president Paul Pressler wrote to the 12,000 staff saying the moustache edict was lifted because surveys show customers do not find them objectionable - provided they are neatly trimmed.
But the dress code remains strict, with beards, nose rings and dyed hair still prohibited. Sideburns below the bottom of the ears are not allowed.
Nightmare of staff losing sleep over work
Half of all adults in the US commonly skip sleep to catch up on work, even though many reckon it harms their ability to do their work, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation.
Only a third of those questioned said they sleep the recommended eight hours a day.
Half of those questioned acknowledged that being sleepy at work affects how much they can get done, and a fifth admitted to making errors due to tiredness.
Lack of sleep caused 14 per cent to be late for work and 4 per cent to miss work altogether.
