Employment & Immigration updates
Belgium
Contributed by ALTIUSPoints for retail sector employers to consider when dismissing employees for economic or technical reasons
- Belgium
- 02 December 2020
The retail sector has been one of the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result employers therein might be considering dismissing employees for economic or technical reasons. Employers must be aware that most joint committees in the retail sector have entered into collective bargaining agreements obliging employers to first take measures to avoid dismissals and, if dismissals cannot be avoided, to comply with a specific procedure.
Hungary
Contributed by SchoenherrLimited stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions: what are you allowed to do?
- Hungary
- 02 December 2020
As of 4 November 2020 and 11 November 2020, the government introduced new COVID-19 restrictions, including the limited order to stay at home between 8:00pm and 5:00am. The law treats employment and business-related travel as a key exception from the rules. Thus, for business purposes, not only is cross-border travelling allowed, but so is travelling during curfew hours.
Ireland
Contributed by Lewis SilkinIs it time for a specific right to disconnect in Ireland?
- Ireland
- 02 December 2020
The mass move to homeworking triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the increasingly blurred boundaries between work and home and reignited the debate on the right to disconnect. Notwithstanding the protection afforded to employees under existing working time rules and health and safety legislation in Ireland, the current legal framework is inadequate to ensure a genuine right to disconnect. It remains to be seen how the government will choose to tackle the issue.
Norway
Contributed by Homble Olsby | LittlerNew ruling on principle of equal treatment for hired workers
- Norway
- 02 December 2020
The Supreme Court recently ruled on whether hired personnel were entitled to a company bonus on an equal footing with permanent employees and apprentices in the company in which they were hired pursuant to the equal treatment rule in Section 14-12a of the Working Environment Act. This article analyses the ruling and highlights the key points for employers.
Poland
Contributed by Sołtysiński Kawecki & SzlęzakHow is remote work regulated in Poland?
- Poland
- 02 December 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic many companies have decided to let their employees work from home. However, the issue of remote work is often problematic for Polish employers as it is not regulated in the Labour Code, which regulates only telework. The current regulations have not kept up with the changing circumstances and therefore pose difficulties regarding interpretation for employers. Employers should be careful and monitor both the situation and opinions presented by officials.
