Gender equality, inclusion and diversity, as well as leave and care policies, are the opening themes of this edition.
An ILO report provides a global overview of leave and care policies in 185 countries around the world, while Deloitte analysed the effect of Covid-19 on employee mental health, showing that investing to support workforce well-being has a positive return for employers.
Sexual harassment has been discussed by the Danish government and social partners, who have signed a tripartite agreement to prevent the onset of these dynamics in the workplace.
We report some relevant case law decisions: in Spain, the Supreme Court has confirmed the legitimacy, under certain conditions, of the installation of video cameras to record employees intent on damaging company equipment, while in Norway the issue of notice of dismissal by email and proof of receipt by the employee has been addressed.
In Australia, once again, the question of whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee comes up for discussion, and the judges again recognise the primacy of the contract signed between the parties in this evaluation. On this issue, in Texas, the Federal Court reinstates the Independent Contractor Rule.
In Ireland, the Government published a report on the use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes, highlighting its potential unethical implications.
Finally, we refer to some relevant initiatives in the private sector for promoting employees’ flexibility and well-being aiming to retain talent. The UK Natwest Group confirmed its partnership with the University of Edinburgh Centre for Business, Climate Change and Sustainability to offer training programme to employees on climate changes.
Bitpanda is the first Austrian company to offer unlimited annual paid leave policies, two fully paid “Recharge Breaks” per year as well as others measures to let employees finding a balance between their personal lives and their work.