Work/Life: international employment news update

Quick read

Issue 71

Welcome to the latest edition of our international employment news update.

European restructuring

On 23 March 2023 we are hosting a webinar on restructuring and redundancies across leading European locations. You can find the link to register here.

French Instagram account calls out sexual misconduct of powerful ad men

An account called 'Balance Ton Agency' (which translates as 'Out Your Ad Agency') has led to dismissals by employers following disclosures of sexual misconduct by powerful men in the French advertisement industry. More than 150 companies in the country have since made a public commitment to abolish sexism in the workplace.

Six weeks of Dutch transport strikes

Regional transport workers started a new round of strikes in the Netherlands over a pay dispute and strikes are expected to run until 7 April. There are two main unions involved. The FNV is asking for a 16.9% pay rise over the next year, while the CNV has demanded a 14% spread over 18 months.

Pay rise and new working terms for Danish industrial workers in collective bargaining agreement

Up to 230,000 workers in Denmark's industrial sector now have new working terms under a new collective bargaining agreement with a pay increase of at least 4% over the next two years.

Employees in the UK are re-defining the meaning of 'work-life balance' to fit individual priorities

Post-pandemic, UK workers, as opposed to companies themselves, have changed their definition of 'work-life balance' in a way that includes flexibility for individual priorities. The reformed definition is seen to encompass a balance between personal and professional lifestyles.

US companies seeking CHIPS funding to provide affordable healthcare for employees

Under the Biden administration, US companies seeking funding of at least $150 million for workers to build or operate new plants will be asked by the US Commerce Department to submit a proposal on how they aim to guarantee affordable childcare for their employees.

Obligation to record working time to be passed into law in Germany

The Federal Ministry of Labour in Germany intends to integrate the time recording obligation in the EU Working Time Directive into the Working Time Act within the first quarter of 2023 following a ruling by the ECJ relating to Spain in 2019 that a general recording of working hours must be implemented due to the protection of employees. The legislation is intended to be designed in such a way which benefits the low-wage sector where legal working hours and minimum wages are often not adhered to. Many countries affected by the Directive are yet to ensure compliance including the UK.

Eight EU member states still yet to implement EU Whistleblowing Directive

Eight EU member states have either not started or delayed transposing the EU's Whistleblowing Directive into their national legal systems despite it being over a year since the deadline passed for implementation. The European Commission has started infringement proceedings against eight countries for failing to implement the Directive including Poland, Hungary and Germany.

For more on Taylor Wessing's whistleblowing resources click here.