The Employment Rights Bill is close to being finalized. This article is an updated version of our August article, reflecting the most recent developments. In short, and as predicted, the House of Commons has rejected non-government amendments that the House of Lords made to the Bill in July, thereby restoring the government’s stated policy intentions.
HR Trend Watch: Maintaining compliance while unlocking the talent rewards of flexible work arrangements
We are clearly (and thankfully) well past the pandemic, and yet demands for flexible and remote work press on. While the overall global trend of transforming the traditional 9-to-5 work model is consistent, laws governing flexible work arrangements can vary significantly by jurisdiction.
We monitor this space closely (see our previous update here) and advise multinational companies on a multitude of issues bearing on remote, hybrid and flexible arrangements, including health & safety rules, working time regulations, tax and employment benefit issues, cybersecurity and data privacy protections, workforce productivity monitoring and more.
Key recent updates around the globe (organized by region) include:
Asia Pacific
- Australia: Right to disconnect – Working 9 to [to be determined…]?
In August 2024, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission finalized the new “right to disconnect” model term, which will soon be inserted into all modern awards. Whilst we wait for the Fair Work Commission to issue its guidance on the new workplace right, here’s what you should know, and what we think you should do to prepare for the introduction of the right to disconnect
Return to Work (for Real This Time!)
As we pass the 2.5 year mark since many of us were sent to work from home for “two or three weeks” in early 2020, a number of employers are getting closer to having formal policies to address remote work and hybrid work arrangements. One of the more enduring consequences of the pandemic for employers
Let’s Map It Out! Our Local Experts Provide Direction for Navigating Key Global Employment Laws and Trends All Over the World (Webinar Series)
Join us for a four-part webinar series as our US moderators welcome colleagues from around the globe to share the latest labor and employment law updates and trends. US-based multinational employers with business operations in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific regions will hear directly from local