Contingent workforce and flexible working continue to be a dominant issue in the current employment landscape. The laws in this area are still evolving, as governments adapt to modern workforce models, which companies are increasingly engaging with in order to help “futureproof” their businesses.
Recognizing this issue, our multipractice team of industry specialists have come together to provide resources that guide organizations through essential considerations and risks that come with these flexible working models and less traditional forms of worker engagement.

The Presidents of the Employment Tribunals (England & Wales and Scotland) have issued Presidential Guidance updating the Vento bands for damages for injury to feelings and psychiatric injury in discrimination claims.

The government has announced the annual increases to tribunal compensation awards and statutory redundancy payments from 6 April 2024.

On 7 February 2024, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) issued several investment promotion measures under the announcements as follows: 1) Investment Promotion Measure for Social and Local Development 2) Retention and Expansion Program 3) Relocation Program 4) Investment Stimulation Measure for Economic Recovery

Employees will have a statutory right to a week’s unpaid leave each year to care for a dependent from 6 April 2024. The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 have been laid before Parliament and are expected to be made shortly. They set out details of the scheme intended under the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, as previously reported.

Employers will need to decide whether they wish to enhance the new rights, for example, by paying for some or all of the leave, as part of an employee benefits package to recruit, retain, and support employees with caring responsibilities. Some employers may already offer a form of contractual carer’s leave.

Welcome to the next edition of our quarterly HR Privacy newsletter designed to keep you updated with key cases, legal developments, trends and news relating to employment / HR data privacy matters, which is brought to you by the Baker McKenzie EMEA Employment and Compensation practice group.
This edition explores high-profile case-law decisions and new consultations and guidance in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Spain markets.

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 is due to receive Royal Assent. The Act will introduce a new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and is expected to come into force 12 months after Royal Assent is granted. This duty will sit alongside employees’ existing protections from sexual harassment in the workplace.

Welcome to the first edition of our quarterly HR Privacy newsletter brought to you by the London employment team designed to keep you updated with key cases, legal developments, trends and news relating to UK and EU-wide employment / HR data privacy matters.

At first sight, the case of Webb v London Underground is a typical first instance unfair dismissal and race discrimination case. What is more interesting from an employment and privacy perspective is the employment tribunal’s findings in relation to Ms. Webb’s private Facebook posts.

In a recent Baker McKenzie global survey, 87% of senior lawyers expressed concern about facing an internal investigation in 2023 – a 22% increase from last year. At the same time, data privacy concerns, new regulations – including the EU Whistleblowing Directive – and a rising focus on ESG considerations are further compounding the challenges for organizations in this space. Explore the drivers for whistleblowing and investigations activity, key regional trends and steps to overcome common compliance pitfalls.