Women underrepresented in science

To mark UN International Day of Women and girls in Science, on 11 February, we’ve been taking a look at the issue of gender equality in science as a profession. It seems that despite numerous initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality in the workplace, discrimination against women in the field of science continues to be a persistent and systemic issue. From gender bias in the…

Immigration and Global Mobility Update / February 2023

See below our Immigration and Global Mobility Update, which shows the changes in global mobility and immigration from around the world over the past two months. We hope you find this information useful and we aim to continue to update you regularly. Immigration & Global Mobility Update Every 2 months, our experts from around the world put together an Update on the law on immigration…

Cost of living – Impact on the world of work

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, setting off a chain of global events and triggering a cost of living crisis in many countries. In the preceding months, unforeseen demand from a world emerging from Covid had already pushed up prices and compounded supply chain issues for many products. However, it was war in Ukraine that shifted higher costs into a crisis. Action taken by…

Ten steps to prioritise the planet in 2023

With every organisation having a key role to play in the collective corporate effort to reach net zero, now is a prime opportunity for HR to step up and take the lead. Climate remains a top concern for Gen Z and Millennials, with one recent survey showing nearly half saying that they are pushing their employers to do more. Tackling climate change should arguably be on the…

New year, new mechanism for US-EU data transfers?

Last October, President Joe Biden’s administration published an executive order regarding a new EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework – the replacement of the so-called Privacy Shield mechanism that previously allowed transfers of personal data from the EU to the United States. The executive order immediately sparked the European Commission’s process to assess the new U.S. regime and prepare a respective adequacy decision, which would bring considerable…

Is it time to review your vacation policy?

The new year should prompt employers to review (and re-think) their annual leave policies for employees in Israel. As 2022 has just ended and a new (vacation) year begins, it is good timing for reviewing your vacation policy and whether it is enforced in practice. If changes to the policy are planned, make sure to determine and adopt the lawful process for making those changes.  Social Benefit Entitlement to annual leave is treated in Israel as a social…

The four-day week trial results are in: what happened?

A final report into a multi-national four-day week trial has been published. It declares the trial ‘a resounding success on virtually every dimension’, with the vast majority of participating employers pledging to continue. Background In early 2022, 33 employers signed up to test out four-day working weeks for a six-month period. The trial, organised by the organisation 4 Day Week Global in collaboration with researchers at Cambridge…

Unreported sexual harassment: do employers have duties?

The Luxembourg Court of Appeal has ruled that an employer did not breach its obligations by failing to act on sexual harassment when an employee did not report alleged incidents until she resigned. At a time when victims of sexual violence are speaking out, and making significant waves in the media and beyond (the Weinstein affair, #Metoo, Balance ton porc, etc.), the Luxembourg Court of…

Neurodiversity, harassment and misconduct

Employers are becoming more aware of neurodiversity and the benefits of more inclusive hiring strategies. At the same time, neurodiversity-based discrimination claims are on the rise. Cases where employees have committed misconduct linked to their neurodivergence can be particularly difficult, as a recent UK ruling illustrates. Neurodiversity can include a range of neurological differences including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or…