Topic: Europe

La France face à la pandémie : les mesures sociales s’organisent

Le COVID-19 a fait son apparition en France il y a quelques semaines déjà et les Français sont confinés depuis le 17 mars dernier. Les répercussions de cette pandémie sont importantes, et le Gouvernement a été autorisé, par la loi n° 2020-290 du 23 mars 2020 d’urgence pour faire face à l’épidémie de covid-19, à … Continue reading

Compensation transition allowance after two years of illness can be requested as of today

By Annette van Beers on April 1, 2020 Posted in The Netherlands

As of 1 April 2020, employers can request compensation for the transition allowance paid to an employee who is dismissed after two years of illness. A request can be submitted to the UWV via the employers’ portal (werkgeversportaal). The requirements for compensation are as follows: the employee was dismissed due to the long-term illness; the … Continue reading

The UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – An Update

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on March 27, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, UK

As we noted in our previous blog post here the UK Government announced the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by which employers can apply to HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wage costs (up to 80%) of salary of workers who are temporarily not working but kept on the payroll (furloughed workers) … Continue reading

UK Government support to self-employed individuals

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on March 27, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, UK

On 26 March the UK Government announced a package of support to self-employed individuals. The main points of the proposal are: Self-employed individuals can apply for grants of up to 80% of their profits up to £2,500 per month The level will be calculated on the basis of the average monthly trading profit over the … Continue reading

France combats the pandemic

By Elodie Grangier on March 25, 2020 Posted in Europe, France

Since January 2020, Coronavirus COVID-19 has spread rapidly around the world, causing massive disruption to business and everyday life as well as thousands of deaths. The French Government has reacted in several stages. After issuing recommendations for barrier measures, it decided to close schools and more recently, it ordered the general confinement of French people … Continue reading

UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on March 23, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, UK

The UK Government is setting up a new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which will help employers pay their workers’ wages. Any employer (regardless of size or sector type) will be eligible for the scheme. Employers can apply to HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wages (up to 80%) of salary of workers … Continue reading

COVID-19 / Germany: Admissible measures and co-determination rights

By Frank Weberndörfer on March 20, 2020 Posted in Contracts, Coronavirus, Europe, General, Germany

The rapid spread of COVID-19 within Europe and the beginning of the pandemic have led many of our clients to consider how employees and, if necessary, customers can be protected against any further spread of the infection and which employment law related measures should they be taking. We have summarised and answered the main questions … Continue reading

UK – STATUTORY SICK PAY AND COVID-19

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on March 20, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, UK

One of the key issues for employers is what payments to make to employees if they are unable to work as a result of COVID-19. Entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay Where an employee has symptoms of the virus then they must be absent from work. These employees will be entitled to sick leave and sick … Continue reading

Economic measures taken by the Dutch government in light of the COVID-19 outbreak

By Maartje Govaert and Christine Daniels on March 18, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, General, The Netherlands

On 17 March 2020 the Dutch government announced exceptional economic measures. The aim is to protect jobs and incomes and to address the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak on self-employed professionals, SME-entrepreneurs and large companies. The measures aim to ensure that companies can continue to pay their staff, bridge the gap for self-employed workers and … Continue reading

COVID-19: Erleichterungen bei Kurzarbeit

By Cornelia Marquardt on March 18, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, General, Germany

Um Arbeitsplätze zu schützen und die infolge der Corona-Krise von einem Arbeitsausfall betroffenen Unternehmen zu unterstützen, hat die deutsche Regierung Erleichterungen bei der Kurzarbeit beschlossen. Rückwirkend zum 1. März 2020 können Betriebe bei der Agentur für Arbeit Kurzarbeit beantragen, wenn ein Zehntel (statt bisher 1/3) ihrer Beschäftigten von einem Arbeitsausfall wegen der Epidemie betroffen ist. … Continue reading

Germany: An Employer’s duties dealing with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Q&A

By Cornelia Marquardt on March 12, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, France, General, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, The Netherlands, UK

COVID-19 is spreading across the world and companies everywhere are faced with its challenges. In circumstances where a COVID-19 case impacts your German workplace we recommend close coordination with the public health authority on how to proceed. In doing so – especially against a possible liability for illness or even death – it will show … Continue reading

UK Pensions: Regulator plans big shake-up for DB scheme funding: “fast track” or “bespoke” options

By Lesley Harrold on March 10, 2020 Posted in UK

On March 3, 2020, the Pensions Regulator published the first of its two planned consultations on a revised DB funding regime. The first focuses on an entirely new approach for valuations and sets out eight principles underlying the new framework of “fast track” or “bespoke”. This consultation closes on June 2, 2020. The second consultation … Continue reading

UK: Pension Scams – How to help protect your pension scheme members

By Sabrina English on March 6, 2020 Posted in UK

In HMRC’s latest Pension Schemes Newsletter published at the end of February 2020, it was noted that the Pensions Regulator has published a new scheme transfer checklist, for use by pension schemes if their members request a transfer. The checklist, which was published in conjunction with the FCA, sets out a list of questions that … Continue reading

Covid-19: what should – or not – Luxembourg employers do?

By Yuri Auffinger on March 5, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, Luxembourg

The Coronavirus outbreak continues to spread and whilst its impact is currently contained, the threat of new countries being affected continues as the events which have recently occurred in Italy and the recent positive diagnosis of a Coronavirus case in Luxembourg have shown us. As it stands, China’s economy has been severely affected although it … Continue reading

The UK proposes a new points based immigration system

By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Amanda Sanders (UK) on February 20, 2020 Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized

On 19 February 2020 the UK Government published its policy statement setting out its proposals for a new points-based immigration system. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, free movement of workers will cease and all EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally from 1 January 2021. The Government will introduce a new immigration … Continue reading

UK: An employer’s duty to its employees in the context of Coronavirus

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on February 11, 2020 Posted in Contracts, Coronavirus, General, UK, Uncategorized

The World Health Organisation has declared that the Coronavirus is a public health emergency of international concern and the first reported cases have appeared in the UK. What steps should employers be taking in relation to their employees? Travel to affected areas Employers owe a duty of care to their employees to take reasonable steps … Continue reading

A new immigration landscape: Migration Advisory Committee Recommendations

By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Aida Geragusian on February 10, 2020 Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its widely anticipated report on 28 January 2020, setting out its recommendations for a new UK immigration system to be launched in time for the end of free movement of people on 31 December 2020. The Government will be considering the recommendations in the context of its Immigration Bill, expected … Continue reading

UK Pensions – Could ethical veganism impact on future pension fund investments?

By Lesley Harrold on January 29, 2020 Posted in Europe, UK

UK Pensions – Could ethical veganism impact on future pension fund investments? January 2020 In an employment tribunal preliminary hearing on 3 January 2020, Judge Robin Postle ruled that ethical veganism satisfies the tests required for it to be a philosophical belief, with the result that it was protected under the Equality Act 2010. For … Continue reading

UK set to introduce ‘world first’ right to two weeks’ parental bereavement leave

By Joanna MacKenzie on January 28, 2020 Posted in Contracts, General, UK, Uncategorized

The UK Government has announced that a new right to two weeks’ parental bereavement will come into force from 6 April 2020. The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations (which have been laid before Parliament and are awaiting final approval) implement a statutory right to a minimum of two weeks unpaid leave for all employed … Continue reading

Skilled Worker Immigration Act

By Cornelia Marquardt on January 21, 2020 Posted in Contracts, Europe, General

On 1 March 2020, the Skilled Worker Immigration Act will come into force. The law completely opens up the German labour market to skilled workers from countries outside the European Union. In addition to the measures set out in our blog the German legislator has included further measures including an accelerated administrative procedure and more … Continue reading

Ethical Veganism is a Protected Characteristic

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on January 13, 2020 Posted in Discrimination and harassment, UK

An employment tribunal in the UK has held that ethical veganism is a protected characteristic under UK discrimination law. In the UK an employee is protected from discrimination in the workplace under one of the nine protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. This includes protection in respect of religion, religious belief and … Continue reading

New Dutch employment act WAB: are you ready?

By Maartje Govaert, Annette van Beers and Christine Daniels on January 9, 2020 Posted in The Netherlands

New Dutch employment act WAB: are you ready? On 1 January 2020, the employment act the WAB came into effect. There are certain areas that require action by you as an employer, particularly if you engage flexible workers in your organisation. We have created a WAB Checklist which includes an overview of the most important … Continue reading

Upcoming Employment Law Changes in 2020

By Amanda Sanders (UK) on January 7, 2020 Posted in Contracts, General, UK, Uncategorized

As we start the new year with a new Government in the UK, we consider the important employment law changes that will, or may, come into effect in 2020. New right to a written statement of terms Currently, employees who have been continuously employed for more than one month must be provided with a written … Continue reading

De nouvelles obligations pour les plateformes de mise en relation

By Elodie Grangier on December 26, 2019 Posted in Contracts, Europe, France, General

Les plateformes de mise en relation (comme Uber ou Deliveroo), qui sont de plus en plus utilisées en France, font pourtant l’objet de nombreuses critiques, principalement fondées sur les conditions de travail des travailleurs indépendants qu’elles utilisent dans le cadre de leur activité. Le Gouvernement français s’est donné pour mission d’encadrer l’activité de ces plateformes, … Continue reading