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Artificial Intelligence and employment law

Photo of Joanna MacKenzieBy Joanna MacKenzie on Posted in General, UK
On 11 August 2023, the UK House of Commons published a research briefing paper on artificial intelligence (AI) and employment law.  The paper provides an overview of AI and its various subcategories, outlines current uses of AI in the workplace, considers the implications of using AI and summarises the current proposals to regulate such use.  … Continue reading

Protecting Worker Entitlements reforms – more key dates for employers

Photo of Alexandra ShieldsPhoto of Jenny SmithBy Alexandra Shields and Jenny Smith on Posted in Australia, General
This article was co-authored with Lachlan Crosbie. Employers need to be aware of key changes to legislation protecting employee rights which will commence in the coming months. The Fair Work Legislation (Protecting Employee Entitlements) Act 2023 (Protecting Employee Entitlements Act) marks the Government’s second major reform to the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). The … Continue reading

Increase to civil penalties for illegal working

Photo of Charlotte EmmersonBy Charlotte Emmerson on Posted in General, UK
All UK employers must carry out right to work checks before employing someone, to ensure that the individual is legally permitted, by reason of their immigration status, to carry out the work in question. Correctly conducting a right to work check prior to employment will provide the employer with a statutory excuse against illegal working. … Continue reading

Singapore publishes Final Report on upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation

Photo of Wilson AngPhoto of Jeremiah ChewPhoto of Josiah ThamPhoto of Wang Chen YanBy Wilson Ang, Jeremiah Chew, Josiah Tham and Wang Chen Yan on Posted in Asia Pacific, Discrimination and harassment, General, Singapore
On 4 August 2023, the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness (Tripartite Committee) released[1] its final policy recommendations on the proposed legislative framework to enhance workplace fairness (referred to as the Workplace Fairness Legislation, or WFL), by way of a Final Report that has been accepted by the Singapore Government (Final Report). The Final Report follows … Continue reading

What next for UK Employment law?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Safwan Afridi on Posted in Europe, General, UK
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 preserved a number of EU laws in UK statute as Retained EU Law (REUL).  The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (REUL Bill) was introduced to amend, remove and replace the REULs that the UK government deemed to be unsuitable and replace them with bespoke UK provisions.  The … Continue reading

Les obligations de l’employeur en matière de violence conjugale et familiale : La Cour supérieure rend une première décision

Global Workplace InsiderBy Amélie Guillemette on Posted in General, Québec
Dans la décision Trivium Avocats inc. c. Rochon[1], rendue récemment, la Cour supérieure a accueilli la demande d’ordonnance de protection formulée par un employeur visant à protéger l’une de ses employées victime, sur son lieu de travail, de violence psychologique s’inscrivant dans un contexte familial. Par cette décision, la Cour supérieure a confirmé que l’obligation … Continue reading

UK: Changes in employment law current rates and limits – April 2023

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in General, UK
April marks the annual increase in the limits (maximum and minimum) applying to certain awards of Employment Tribunals and other amounts payable under employment legislation. Employers should ensure that they are aware of these changes and make adjustments where appropriate. Maximum Compensation Limits From 6 April 2023, there will be increases to the maximum compensation … Continue reading

Remuneration of works councils: Liability trap for HR managers

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
The remuneration of employee representatives on works councils is intended to save employers money and at the same time ensure cooperation based on trust. In a recent decision, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH, 10.01.2023 – 6 StR 133/22) sets strict requirements for the legality of the level of such remuneration and does not … Continue reading

Vergütung von Betriebsräten: Haftungsfalle für Personalverantwortliche

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
Die Vergütung von Betriebsräten soll Arbeitgebern Geld sparen und gleichzeitig eine vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit sicherstellen. Der Bundesgerichtshof macht in einer jüngeren Entscheidung strenge Vorgaben zur deren Rechtmäßigkeit (BGH, 10.01.2023 – 6 StR 133/22) und schließt eine mögliche Strafbarkeit wegen vorsätzlicher Untreue bei überhöhten Entgelten nicht aus. Arbeitgeber sollten diese Entscheidung zum Anlass nehmen, ihre bisherige Vergütungspraxis … Continue reading

CMA Advice on how to avoid anti-competitive behaviour

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in General, UK
On 9 February the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) published a short guidance note for employers on how to avoid anti-competitive behaviour. The aim of the guide is to boost compliance with the rules regarding anti-competitive behaviour and to remind employers of their legal obligations.  The CMA points out that anti-competitive agreements can negatively impact … Continue reading

A last sunset for Zombie Agreements

Photo of Melinda BellPhoto of Jessica KamlehPhoto of Phina ConroyBy Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on Posted in Australia, General
In the second update in our series, we take a closer look at the key amendments introduced by the Fair Work Legislation (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Secure Jobs Act) which significantly amended the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act). Our article summarising the key changes can be accessed here. This update … Continue reading

Changes to family and domestic violence leave in Australia

Photo of Melinda BellPhoto of Jessica KamlehPhoto of Phina ConroyBy Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on Posted in Australia, General
From today, Australian permanent and casual employees working for non-small business employers can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave (FDV Leave) every 12 months to deal with the impacts of family and domestic violence. This new entitlement replaces the previous National Employment Standards entitlement to 5 days of unpaid FDV Leave. Employees … Continue reading

Changes to the Fair Work Act – a closer look

Photo of Melinda BellPhoto of Jessica KamlehPhoto of Phina ConroyBy Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on Posted in Australia, General
Terminating enterprise agreements past their nominal expiry The Fair Work Legislation (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Secure Jobs Act) received Royal Assent on 6 December 2022, significantly amending the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). Our article summarising the changes can be accessed here. This update is the first in a series of updates taking … Continue reading

Germany – What to expect in 2023

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
German employment law will introduce numerous innovations and planned changes in 2023 that HR managers should be aware of. New legislation enters into force A number of new regulations have been in force since 1 January 2023. For example, employees with statutory health insurance will no longer have to submit a certificate of incapacity for … Continue reading

Employment Law – What to expect in 2023

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in General, UK
Last year saw little legislative changes in the UK with regard to employment law.  However, there may be changes of interest for employment lawyers over the coming year.   This blog post looks at what changes employers can expect in relation to employment law this year and what steps they should be taking to prepare for … Continue reading

COMMENT GERER AU MIEUX LE CSE DANS LES TRANSACTIONS COMMERCIALES

Photo of Marie-Thérèse EugénioBy Marie-Thérèse Eugénio on Posted in General
En matière sociale, l’un des points clés à prendre en considération dans les transactions commerciales, en particulier dans les transactions internationales, est l’implication éventuelle du comité social et économique (“CSE”).  C’est en effet un sujet à ne pas négliger compte tenu des pouvoirs importants attribués au CSE et de l’impact qu’une procédure d’information et de … Continue reading

Employment law – Government backing of Private Members Bills

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in General, UK
In the Queen’s speech in December 2019 the Government announced its intention to bring about changes to employment laws in a new Employment Bill.  These changes included provisions relating to carers leave, extension of protection for employees on maternity leave, rights regarding tips and gratuities, the right to request a more predictable and stable contract … Continue reading

Working time compliance: Legal obligation to record working time

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
The German Federal Labour Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht – BAG) has now published the reasons for its much-noted decision of 13 September 2022 (ref. 1 ABR 22/21). It is now clear that the recording of working time is a fundamental duty of occupational health and safety and must be observed. However, employers still have to wait for … Continue reading

Arbeitszeit-Compliance: Zeiterfassung zwingend erforderlich

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
Das Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG) veröffentlichte nun die Entscheidungsgründe zu seiner vielbeachteten Entscheidung vom 13.09.2022 (Az. 1 ABR 22/21). Nunmehr ist klar, dass die Arbeitszeiterfassung als grundlegende Pflicht des betrieblichen Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutzes gilt und verbindlich zu beachten ist. Bei wichtigen Detailfragen müssen Arbeitgeber jedoch noch auf die Klarstellung durch den Gesetzgeber warten. (English version available here) … Continue reading

CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE FRENCH WORKS COUNCIL

Photo of Marie-Thérèse EugénioBy Marie-Thérèse Eugénio on Posted in General
One of the main employment aspects to be taken into consideration in corporate transactions, in particular in multijurisdictional ones, is the potential role of the works councils.  This is a particularly hot topic when it comes to France where the social and economic committee (known as the CSE) has important powers and its involvement can … Continue reading

New WHS legal duties to manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Australia, General
Legal obligations requiring persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage psychosocial hazards in accordance with work health and safety (WHS) laws are continuing to come into effect across the country. Psychosocial hazards are hazards that may cause psychological and/or physical harm arising from, or in relation to, the design or management of work, … Continue reading

EAT decision reminds employers of the need for genuine consultation and reasonable selection criteria when carrying out redundancies 

Photo of Joanna MacKenzieBy Joanna MacKenzie on Posted in General, UK
In the recent case of Mogane v Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2022] UKEAT 139, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) found that the redundancy dismissal of a fixed term employee was unfair due to a lack of genuine consultation and the use of arbitrary selection criteria.   The Claimant, Ms Mogane, was employed as … Continue reading
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