Understanding how different countries regulate and experience working hours offers valuable insights into managing work-life balance, productivity, and worker well-being across various regions.

In this podcast, employment law specialists from Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Turkey, all members of the leading international employment law alliance Innangard, delve into the ever-relevant topic of working time in their respective jurisdictions, as well as in the EU as a whole.

Chaired by Johannes Traut from Seitz (Germany), with contributions from Sofia Gomez of Assembla (Mexico), Çiğdem Soysal of KP Law (Turkey), and Michele Pellegatta of Daverio & Florio (Italy), the podcast discusses recent developments and ongoing practical issues related to working time. Topics include:

Comparing working time regimes across various jurisdictions

The global trend towards a four-day work week

Increasing demand for flexibility and modern working time regimes in some regions versus stringent regulations in others

Compensation for time spent "on call" or travel time

Join us for an in-depth exploration of these critical issues and gain a better understanding of how working time is evolving globally.

Since the health crisis of 2020, the world has witnessed teleworking becoming popular among employers. However, even after health restrictions have been lifted, we are seeing that teleworking is here to stay and it has become a permanent option for employees. What is more, it plays an important role in attracting and retaining talent. This new reality represents challenges from a legal point of view which will be addressed in this podcast, specifically from the German and Spanish perspective.

Chaired by Erica Paratore (Augusta Abogados - Spain) and with contributions from Omar Molina (Augusta Abogados - Spain), and Gizem Erdogan (Seitz - Germany) the panel explain what is meant by "digital nomad," the types that exist, the requirements for obtaining a work visa, how long they can be authorized, and the reasons why many workers choose this type of service provision. All of the above discussed in relation to the legislation in Spain and Germany.

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Due to an increasingly digitalized work environment and economic globalization, a thought exercise on maintaining a healthy work-life balance has been pressing for some time.

As so often during crises, the corona crisis has served as a catalyst for certain concepts that play a role in the work-life balance.

In this podcast, Inge Derde from Bellaw in Belgium, Anna Cozzi from Daverio&Florio in Italy, Naomi Latham from CM Murray in the United Kingdom,

and Bernadette Daly from CC Solicitors from Ireland, discuss the evolutions of certain legal concepts associated with work-life balance from a legal standpoint and what lies ahead.

Panel chair Jef Michielsen from Bellaw in Belgium and the panellists address, amongst other subjects:

The results of trials in Ireland and the United Kingdom concerning the 4-day working week

The practical concerns of the already established 4-day working week in Belgium

The gradual emergence of the right to disconnect in Italy and Belgium

The Code of Practice on Right to Disconnect in Ireland

Remote work in Belgium and Italy

The right to request flexible working in the UK and Ireland.

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We are delighted to share Innangard’s podcast on the use and enforceability of post-termination restrictions (“PTRs”) in the employment relationship.

In this episode, Ulf Goeke of Seitz in Germany, Regan O’Driscoll of CC Solicitors in Ireland, Jef Michielsen of Bellaw in Belgium, Merrill April and Naomi Latham of CM Murray LLP, discuss the following:

Whether employers tend to pay employees to keep them out of the market for the duration of their PTRs and if so, does such a duty arise from case law or statute?

The UK’s Government consultation on potentially reforming the use of non-competes and how this position differs elsewhere in the world.

Are directors and partners/LLP members treated differently when it comes to enforcing PTRs, and is it common for their PTRs to be lengthier or more restrictive in comparison to employees?

How employers approach PTRs more generally, particularly in respect of inserting PTRs into contracts of employment, enforcing them once the employment relationship ends and whether the courts approach differs in any way.

Whether there are specific elements of a PTR, such as its geographical scope, which employers commonly include and/or are challenged by employees.

Similarly, whether the use of anti-team move provisions are commonly used in respective jurisdictions.

If you would like to find out more about the matters discussed in this podcast, please contact any one of the panellists or visit the Innangard website, LinkedIn or Twitter account for more information and contact details.

In this new podcast, members of leading international employment law alliance Innangard address the new challenges employers are faced with, now that teleworking is becoming a new post-pandemic normal.

This panel of employment law experts is hosted and chaired by Mathilde Houet-Weil from Weil & Associés in France and features contributions from Paul Cahill from CC Solicitors in Ireland, Juan José Hita Fernandez from Augusta Abogados in Spain, Carl Fredrik Hedenström from Morris Law in Sweden and Dr Ulf Goeke from Seitz Partner in Germany.

This podcast offers a comparative overview of the rules governing teleworking in these various jurisdictions with a particular focus on :

Whether teleworking can be imposed by either the employer or the employee now that it is no longer mandatory ;

What if the employee teleworks from outside of his home and potentially abroad, including without prior authorization from the employer;

How can employers make sure that they fulfill their duty of care in case of teleworking, taking into account the risk of occupational accident, burn out or mental issues;

How can GDPR compliance be achieved and data security risks be addressed;

What is the role played by works councils and unions in this area.

Finally, our experts share tips and best practices to help international employers mitigate the risks and achieve a win-win situation that benefits all parties : improved work life balance and reduced commuting time for employees on the one hand and higher productivity and lower operating costs for companies on the other hand

In this podcast special, the UK and Ireland members of leading international employment law alliance Innangard, together with guest attorney Jessica Riggin of California’s Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP, explore and offer insight into the legal position for employees and employers with regard to the menopause.

Chaired by Merrill April, CM Murray (UK), and featuring contributions from Regan O’Driscoll, CC Solicitors (Ireland) as well as from Jessica Riggin, Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP (USA), this podcast discusses the recent coming to prominence of a topic long ignored and/or taboo, concentrating on the following issues:

- the current legal position in UK, Ireland and California and whether it is clear on the rights and obligations of employees and employers

- whether a specific type of “menopause discrimination” is needed and/or likely to come into being

- what advice we would give senior executives currently experiencing challenging/debilitating symptoms

In this 38-minute podcast special, members of leading international employment law alliance Innangard explore and offer insight into the key COVID-19 concerns for employers and employees across multiple jurisdictions, specifically on the obligation to vaccinate their employees against the coronavirus.

Chaired by Van Hall Advocaten Lawyer Annemarie Wieringa (The Netherlands) and with contributions from Ulf Goeke, Seitz (Germany), Emma Bartlett, CM Murray (UK), Inge Derde, Bellaw (Belgium), Mathilde Houet-Weil, Weil & Associés (France), Joydeep Hor, People + Culture Strategies (Australia), Laia Carra Rodés, Augusta Abogados (Spain) and Regan O’Driscoll, CC Solicitors (Ireland), this podcast discusses the following issues:

- Is there a legal ground to obligate people to be vaccinated?

in general or for specific professions?

- Do employers want to impose the obligation to vaccinate on their employees?

- Are there any legal grounds for employers to oblige their employees to be vaccinated?

- What could be possible consequences for an employee who refuses to be vaccinated?

- Have the courts in any of the jurisdictions already ruled on this topic?

We are delighted to bring you this recording of an expert discussion between members of leading international employment law alliance Innangard Executives, exploring and offering insight into key issues concerning workers and employers in the current climate in the UK, Spain and Sweden.

The platform economy continues to raise new employment law queries, which legislation and case law are now catching up with. This discussion takes a close look at some of the more common issues being faced by platform companies and their workers and examines the protections and remedies potentially available to both.

The discussion is hosted by Merrill April (UK), with contributions from María José Sánchez (Spain) and Carl-Fredrik Hedenström (Sweden).

The key questions addressed by the panel include:

1. What will be the impact of the evolving legislation permitting workers, particularly platform workers, to access information regarding a company’s algorithms or artificial intelligence systems? Are employment courts, legal advisers and trade unions equipped to deal with the legal issues this may present?

2. With new legislation regarding this right to access data due to come into effect in Spain, how will companies balance their need to maintain confidentiality over their trade secrets and their need to ensure Personal Data regulations are complied with, against the requirements imposed on them under this regulation?

3. Has recent case law, such as claims brought by Uber drivers, exposed the dangers for companies in relying upon artificial intelligence in decision-making in recruitment and termination and if so, how?

4. For the purposes of social security and taxation, where is the line drawn between what is considered work and what is considered a hobby for individuals who provide services on platforms such as Airbnb?

5. How can fairness be ensured between platform companies with similar operating models where one has staff who are considered to be workers and the other does not? Are traditional companies and digital companies operating in a fair competitive environment?

Innangard Executives is the specialist Senior Executive and Founder advisory arm of international employment law alliance Innangard.

Innangard is a non-exclusive alliance whose members are leading independent law firms located across Europe and Asia-Pacific, with specialist employment law experience and reputation in advising Employers. Each firm is individually recognised in their own country and jurisdiction for their expertise in labour and employment law issues.

For more information about Innangard Executives and to contact any member firm, go to: https://innangard.global/.

Follow Innangard Executives on Twitter: @InnangardExecs.

We are delighted to bring you this recording of an expert discussion between members of leading international employment law alliance Innangard, exploring and offering insight into key issues concerning workers and employers in the current climate in the UK, Spain and Sweden.

The platform economy continues to raise new employment law queries, which legislation and caselaw are now catching up with. This discussion takes a close look at some of the more common issues being faced by platform companies and their workers and examines the protections and remedies potentially available to both.

The discussion is hosted by Merrill April (UK), with contributions from María José Sánchez (Spain) and Carl-Fredrik Hedenström (Sweden).

The key questions addressed by the panel include:

1. How has the status of platform workers developed in the UK, Spain and Sweden?

2. Has the development been linked to the different employment statuses recognised by each jurisdiction?

3. How did the courts reach their decision in the Uber case in the UK and what have been the impacts of the decision?

4. What has been the reaction from riders, platform companies and unions to new legislation covering digital platform workers in Spain?

5. What has been most influential in developing the rights of platform workers – caselaw, legislation or collective agreements?

6. Has the widespread use of collective agreements in Sweden resulted in differing treatment for platform workers?

Listen out for Part 2 of the recording where the speakers continue their discussion on the topics of AI and algorithmic management, taxation and social security as they relate to platform workers.

Carl-Fredrik Hedenström, Partner in Morris Law Sweden, chairs this fascinating panel discussion on the impact of the coronavirus vaccine on the workplace. The panel includes the following distinguished speakers:

Cathy Qu, Vice President/Senior Partner, River Delta Law Firm, China

Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco, Virologist, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Italy

Lorna Gibb, Nokia Global Head of HR Legal and Employee Relations, UK

Dr Katharina Hauck, Reader in Health Economics and Deputy Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics (J-IDEA), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

Key issues addressed by the panel include:

How the vaccination programme will affect the return to the workplace for employees;

The employment law implications flowing from the Coronavirus vaccine and the possibility of mandatory vaccination policies.