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Regulations underpinning the 3-tier lockdown system are now in force in England, as part of the government’s efforts to step up its response to the pandemic. This article considers if the new regulations demand a stricter approach to office work and meetings. The current work from home guidance On 22 September, the government changed its guidance on office workers in England and advised that they…
The Belgian DPA has recently fined a company for delaying the closure of ex-employees’ email accounts. The Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) recently decided to impose an administrative fine of EUR 15,000 on a company that only closed email addresses linked to employees (surname and first name) who had left the company after 2.5 years. According to the DPA, non-closure of these email addresses constitutes…
As the benefits of increasing diversity across the workforce gain traction, some forward-thinking employers are starting to consider how to harness the talents of people who may be highly skilled or have a lot to offer, but find it hard to function well in traditional workplaces. Specifically, they are looking at how to welcome people who think differently into their work space – not only to…
Employers in the Netherlands suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis are entitled to assistance in managing their pension liabilities. This article provides details. At the very beginning of the COVID crisis in March, it was announced that pension providers would accommodate employers facing financial problems due to the COVID crisis as much as possible. The Dutch Labour Foundation, the Pension Federation and the…
A new Bill in California confirms and extends the presumption that illness or death related to COVID-19 is an occupational illness. This article examines the conditions for the presumption to apply and the circumstances in which employers will be able to dispute it. On 17 September 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill (Senate Bill 1159, the ‘Bill’) which modifies and extends…
This article discusses the current rules regarding face coverings at work in the UK and some of the practical issues that arise for employers. At the end of August there were reports of a ‘debacle’ on a flight from the Greek island of Zante to Cardiff, which resulted in 193 passengers and crew facing two weeks‘ self-isolation. The incident prompts several questions, not just for…
On 28 August, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate announced that the NOW job retention scheme will be extended for three three-month periods starting from 1 October. The temporary emergency scheme for job retention (NOW) in the Netherlands provides compensation for the wage costs of employers who expect a significant loss of turnover due to the Covid-19 crisis. NOW 3.0 represents the second extension and…
EEA nationals and their employers are now turning their minds towards how frequent business/work travellers and cross-border commuters can continue to come to the UK from 2021. For some, the best solution may be offered by the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), but there are also other options to consider. This article is not intended to cover the position for Irish citizens, who will continue to…
The UK Government and the Pensions Regulator have been very active over the past few months, introducing financial assistance, regulatory flexibilities and guidance aimed at helping employers and pension schemes to deal with the impact of COVID-19. This article provides details, followed by a comparison with other jurisdictions. Delaying or reducing pension scheme contributions To try and help employers to ease cash flow problems caused…
In Schrems II, the European Court of Justice rejected the Privacy Shield as a legitimate basis for personal data transfers: what are the potential consequences for data processing in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries? This article provides guidance. The European Court of Justice’s recent Schrems II decision (case C-311/18) has attracted a lot of attention in data protection circles. One of the key outcomes of…