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The UK Government has committed to boost productivity by increasing the quantity and quality of apprenticeships. It aims to create three million apprenticeships by 2020 and introduce new apprenticeship standards. To help to fund this initiative, an apprenticeship levy will apply from 6 April 2017. Employers with a wage bill of more than GBP 3 million will pay an annual levy of 0.5%. Details of…
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently ruled on an Italian case in which the director of a company, a Mr Manni, had brought an action against the Lecce Chamber of Commerce. He had built a tourist complex in Italy, but argued that the properties had failed to sell because it was apparent from the companies register that he had been involved in a company…
The ECJ has ruled on a Belgian case about whether an employer can justify having a neutral dress policy and on a French preliminary question on a similar theme. It confirms that a dress code aimed at neutrality can be used to justify discrimination based on belief. In the Belgian case, a female receptionist was employed by a Belgian business. The business had an internal…
It has been a little more than a month since President Donald Trump took office, and employers are anxious to see what changes the new administration will make that will affect businesses and employees. President Trump is certainly business-minded and has promised to focus on creating American jobs and incentives for businesses that bring jobs back from overseas. However, he has also presented himself as…
The following remarks are intended to provide a short outlook on the significant amendments to employment law in Germany in 2017. From 1 January 2017, several changes to German Labour Law took effect. The statutory minimum wage was increased from EUR 8.50 to 8.84 gross per hour, the rights of temporary employees have been strengthened and certain abuses of work contracts have been prevented. From…
Employers introduce dress or ‚appearance‘ codes for various reasons, such as to protect health and safety or to portray a particular image. The new report, published jointly by the House of Commons Petitions Committee and the Equalities Committee, emphasises that employers should remain alert to potential discrimination (e.g. on grounds of sex, race, religion or age) that can be caused by some dress codes, as well…
Also the Netherlands have implemented or are planning to implement certain new employment law regulations in 2017. As part of our series „New regulations in 2017“ our text below gives an overview on the most important changes with regards to flexible working time, data protection and many other topics. Flexible working Act: This Act allows employees greater flexibility in relation to working hours and working from…
A recent headline could put fear in the hearts of general counsel and HR professionals alike. A restaurant franchisee in Ohio shells out $ 1.4 million to settle a sexual harassment case brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of multiple women. In that case, EEOC v. E. Columbus Host, LLC, the EEOC claimed a restaurant manager engaged in egregious sexual harassment…
The ‘Employment’ Act of 8 August 2016 has initiated the rewriting of the labour code: collective agreements must become central and the law must become more subsidiary. In concrete terms, the labour code will set out for each of its ‘themes’: public order rules (which can not be changed or negociated); measures that can be negotiated; the measures that apply in the absence of an…
As of 1 January 2017 a number of changes in the Swedish Discrimination Act have entered into force. The changes are briefly summarized below. 1. Since before, the Discrimination Act requires all employers to take active measures to bring about equal rights and opportunities in the workplace regardless of gender, ethnicity and religion. This requirement has now been extended to comprise all seven grounds for…