Employment Law Bitesize Series (Travers Smith)

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes, we will be speaking to Maria de Lancastre Valente, Partner at SRS Advogados.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Portugal, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Portuguese employment law.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes, we will be speaking to Maria de Lancastre Valente, Partner at SRS Advogados.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Portugal, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Portuguese employment law.

The UK government is moving towards an increasingly digital visa system. In this episode, Senior Associate Moji Oyediran and Associate Katie Good from our Employment and Business Immigration team discuss how this is being achieved, such as the rollout of e-visas and the phased introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme. Our speakers also touch upon the new EU Visa Waiver program, which will require non-EU nationals (including UK nationals) to apply online or via a mobile app prior to visiting the EU.

In episode four, Senior Counsel Sarah Baker and Trainee Solicitor Hattie Rawlings from our Employment team interview Jackie Buttery, Head of Benefits and Rewards at Travers Smith, to understand how we are incorporating ESG into our employee benefits strategy. Our speakers explore legal obligations employers have towards their employees' mental health, discuss the potential of green initiatives within the employee benefits space, and unravel the tie between ESG and employee wellbeing. Furthermore, they shed light on the ways companies can bolster their support for employees via benefit packages and underscore the role communication plays in successfully implementing ESG strategies.

Welcome to the fifth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Karen Fulton at Bowmans.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in South Africa, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of South African employment law.

In part 2 of this update, we look forward as we round up key developments in employment law and immigration on the horizon for 2024 and beyond.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

The UK Government has announced far-reaching changes to the UK's immigration system as part of a five-point plan to reduce net migration. The changes follow the release of the migration figures at the end of November 2023, which showed net migration levels at an all-time high.

Welcome to the third in our series of short podcasts from the Employment law team. Our podcasts are designed to give a basic overview of different areas of employment law, either as a refresher or by way of learning for those newer to HR.

In this episode Anna West and Hannah Bates-Martens look at different redundancy scenarios and how you go about pooling and selecting employees for redundancy:

• What are the different redundancy scenarios that can arise?
• In which scenario would you need to pool employees?
• What does "bumping" mean in a redundancy situation?
• How do selection criteria and scoring work for the employees in the pool?
• What happens after the initial selection?

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this further, please get in touch with us.

Welcome to the third in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law. 

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Foulques de Rostolan at Gide Loyrette Nouel.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in France, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of French employment law.

In episode three, Senior Associate Naomi Pollock and Associate Harry Wade from our Employment team discuss the new duty on employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, which will take effect in October 2024. The pair explain the steps that employers will need to take (in relation to implementing policies and training managers, for example) and also look at some of the challenges for employers when investigating sexual harassment allegations.

In episode two, Senior Associate James Wells and Associate Tom Hunt from our Employment team explore the increased expectation for employers to act ethically in investigating compliance concerns. Senior Associate James Hulmes from our Dispute Resolutions team also joins to discuss ethical considerations for employer investigations, emerging ESG-related trends, and balancing transparency with legal privilege in investigation processes.

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Atul Gupta at Trilegal.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in India, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Indian employment law.

Find more episodes in our International Employment podcast series.

In this episode, Senior Counsel Sarah Baker and Associate Harriet Willis from our Employment team discuss diversity, equality and inclusion with a focus on the implications and differences of positive action and positive discrimination according to UK law. While positive action can be used to increase diversity in the workplace, an understanding of the nuance between positive action and positive discrimination is imperative to avoid the risk of discrimination claims from groups not benefiting from it.

Listen to hear our recommendations on how to mitigate the risks in implementing positive action measures and how to benefit while remaining compliant.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

In the third episode of our four-episode election series, Partner Ailie Murray and Knowledge Counsel Adam Rice from our Employment team discuss what the Labour and Conservative parties are proposing affecting collective matters and fire and rehire.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Welcome to the fourth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Åsa Gotthardsson at Vinge.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Sweden, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of Swedish employment law.

During 2023 the UK has seen greater political stability, in contrast to the turmoil of 2022. And whilst the UK has so far avoided recession, the economic climate for business remains challenging.

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Maria de Lancastre Valente, Partner at SRS Advogados.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Portugal, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Portuguese employment law.

Find more episodes in our International Employment podcast series.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers

Welcome to the second in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law. 

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Ireland, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of Irish employment law.

Welcome to the second in our new series of short podcasts from the Employment team.

Episode 2 discusses three cases in relation to dismissals for some other substantial reason, or SOSR dismissals as they are sometimes called. These cases will focus on:

• reputational harm to a business; and
• a breakdown in working relationships

In the these three episodes, Senior Associate Marianne Parkinson and Associate Olivia Rhys-Evans from our Employment team are joined by Senior Associate Joshua Kimpton and Senior Solicitor Bonnie Simmonds from MinterEllisonRuddWatts' established employment team in Auckland. Our speakers discuss the process of hiring, ending employment, and other notable considerations when employing staff in New Zealand.

2022 has seen Covid-19 finally retreating from centre stage. The UK has a new monarch for the first time in 70 years and has had three different prime ministers (in as many months!). As this year draws to a close the country faces major economic challenge and uncertainty into 2023 and beyond.

In these three episodes we are joined by Deacons Partners Cynthia Chung and Elsie Chan and Deacons Associate Stephanie Yip.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Hong Kong, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects and considerations of Hong Kong employment law.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Travers Smith and A&L Goodbody discuss the issues surrounding ending employment in Ireland. This series looks at employment law issues from a UK and international perspective.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

In our first episode, Employment Associates Chris Wilkinson and Laetitia Ajimal discuss speak up culture and handling complaints. The conversation centres around the concept of 'Speaking Up', its importance, how whistleblowing differs from a grievance, and the protection afforded to whistleblowers under UK law. The need for businesses to regularly review their policies and methods of responding to complaints is also covered.

In these three episodes we are joined by Deacons Partners Cynthia Chung and Elsie Chan and Deacons Associate Stephanie Yip.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Hong Kong, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects and considerations of Hong Kong employment law.

Welcome to the third in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law. 

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Foulques de Rostolan at Gide Loyrette Nouel.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in France, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of French employment law.

In the fourth episode of our four-episode election series, Partner Ailie Murray and Knowledge Counsel Adam Rice from our Employment team discuss the manifestos of the Liberal Democrats, Green and Reform parties, and how these parties' pledges might impact the landscape of employment law.

In these three episodes we are joined by Deacons Partners Cynthia Chung and Elsie Chan and Deacons Associate Stephanie Yip.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in Hong Kong, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects and considerations of Hong Kong employment law.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers.

Welcome to the first in our series of short podcasts from the Employment team. Our podcasts are designed to give a basic overview of different areas of employment law, either as a refresher or by way of learning for those newer to HR.

Episode 1 is part of a series on redundancies and focusses on collective redundancies:

• When are collective redundancy obligations triggered?
• Who does the employer need to consult?
• How should you go about electing employee representatives?
• What information do you need to send to the representatives?
• What information do you need to send the insolvency service?

Process flow chart

Featuring Travers Smith Knowledge Counsel Adam Rice, and Anna West.

In these three episodes we are joined by Kramer Levin Partner Robert Holtzman.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in the US (particularly New York), including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of US employment law.

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Atul Gupta at Trilegal.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in India, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Indian employment law.

Find more episodes in our International Employment podcast series.

Welcome to the third in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law. 

The second episode of our three-part New Zealand employment law series is now live. Senior Associate Marianne Parkinson and Associate Olivia Rhys-Evans from our Employment team speak with Senior Associate Joshua Kimpton and Senior Solicitor Bonnie Simmonds from MinterEllisonRuddWatts in Auckland as part of our international employment law podcast series, where we talk with friends from overseas firms to explore and compare key issues when employing staff in their jurisdiction.

In this episode, our speakers discuss key protections against dismissal that employees in New Zealand enjoy and what employers need to be aware of, including:

• Justified and procedurally fair dismissals per the Employment Relations Act 2000.
• The employee's right to bring a personal grievance regardless of tenure or role.
• Garden leave and pay in lieu of notice.
• Special protections for vulnerable workers in business sales.
• The role of employee representatives and unions.
• Practical steps for resolving termination disputes.

Welcome to the fifth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Karen Fulton at Bowmans.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in South Africa, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of South African employment law.

Welcome to the fourth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Åsa Gotthardsson at Vinge.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Sweden, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of Swedish employment law.

Welcome to the third in our new series of short podcasts from the Employment team.

This three-part series looks at key employment law cases in 2020. Episodes 1 and 2 covered dismissals and their processes in relation to misconduct, redundancy and other substantial reasons.

Episode 3 discusses recent cases on gender reassignment and religion/belief discrimination, and practical tips for HR on handling these issues.

In this episode, Associates Hanna Bates-Martens and Holly Robson in our Employment team discuss ESG in the context of remuneration and benefits with Partner Mahesh Varia from our Tax team and head of the Incentives and Remuneration group. Our speakers explore the ways in which businesses are increasingly using ESG metrics in their compensation structures to encourage desired behaviours and help achieve their ESG objectives.

In the first episode of our four-episode election series, Head of Department Tim Gilbert and Knowledge Counsel Anna West from our Employment team discuss what the Labour and Conservative parties are proposing on the topics of employment status and worker contracts, and unfair dismissal.

Welcome to the third in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law. 

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Foulques de Rostolan at Gide Loyrette Nouel.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in France, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of French employment law.

In this episode, Associates Chris Wilkinson and Sophie Macpherson from our Employment team shift the focus to flexible working and family friendly policies. The hosts consider upcoming changes to the right to request flexible working in the UK, as well as a number of other family friendly developments in the pipeline, including the implementation of carer's leave, neonatal leave, changes to paternity leave and enhanced redundancy protection. These changes predominantly come into effect from April 2024.

In the second episode of our four-episode election series, Head of Department Tim Gilbert and Knowledge Counsel Anna West from our Employment team discuss what the Labour and Conservative parties are proposing in relation to pay and sickness, equality issues, family-friendly matters, and flexible working.

Welcome to our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Atul Gupta at Trilegal.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in India, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of Indian employment law.

Find more episodes in our International Employment podcast series.

In this episode, Senior Associate Matthew Davis and Associate Olivia Rhys-Evans from our Employment team delve into the meanings and implications of diversity and inclusion in the context of organisational composition. The pair discuss mandatory D&I reporting (such as gender pay gap information) with companies increasingly adopting these figures in their annual reports, as well as reporting and regulatory requirements companies must oblige with at all levels. This is especially pertinent due to the new regulatory framework proposed by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for DNI in the financial sector which will be published this year.

Welcome to the second in our series of short podcasts from the Employment team. Our podcasts are designed to give a basic overview of different areas of employment law, either as a refresher or by way of learning for those newer to HR.

Episode 2 is part of a series on redundancies and focuses on how to complete the collective consultation process:

• How long does consultation last for?
• What do you need to cover in your consultation?
• What happens if you can't reach agreement?
• What happens if you don't consult properly?
• Collective consultation vs individual consultation.
• Collective consultation in special circumstances.

In this episode Travers Smith Employment lawyers Zoe Darmer and Elliot Roberts speak.

In this episode, Knowledge Counsel Adam Rice and Trainee Solicitor Daisy Robinson from our Employment team explore the topic of how employers should approach their treatment of workers from an ESG and ethics perspective, covering three key areas:

• correct worker classification,
• treatment of zero-hours and casual workers,
• fire-and-rehire and the proposed code of practice to regulate this.

In this episode, Senior Associate Moji Oyediran and Associate Katie Good from our Employment & Business Immigration team discuss the immigration sponsorship and right to work compliance regime for employers, exploring the recent spike in licence cancellations and revocations due to identified compliance breaches. The pair also break down the process for how these compliance audits are conducted, the potential ramifications of non-compliance or compliance breaches, and how employers can avoid finding themselves in this situation.

Within this series of bite-sized episodes, our Employment Team explore people-related issues relevant to both HR professionals and in-house legal teams, and what ESG really means in the context of your people agenda.

In this episode Adam Rice, Knowledge Counsel, and Clare Skinner, Associate, from the Travers Smith Employment law team, take a look at how you carry out the consultation process:

• How long should consultation last?
• What do you need to consult the employee about?
• What about employees on sickness or family leave?
• What are your obligations when looking for alternative roles?
• When can the employee turn down an alternative role?
• What payments are employees entitled to on redundancy?
• Should you offer a right of appeal?

The third and final episode of our three-part employment law bitesize podcast series covering New Zealand is now available on our website. In this series, we talk with friends from overseas firms to explore and compare key issues when employing staff in their jurisdiction.

In this final episode, Senior Associate Marianne Parkinson and Associate Olivia Rhys-Evans from our Employment team speak with Senior Associate Joshua Kimpton and Senior Solicitor Bonnie Simmonds from MinterEllisonRuddWatts in Auckland to share other notable employment topics and trends for New Zealand employers, such as:

• The increase in employee grievances.
• Post-termination restrictions.
• The duty of good faith and its unique requirements around employee consultation.
• Other trends and updates such as health and safety reforms, proposed changes to the complex Holidays Act 2003, the introduction of gateway tests for determining worker status, and more.

Welcome to the fourth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Åsa Gotthardsson at Vinge.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Sweden, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of Swedish employment law.

In our first three episodes we will be speaking to Head of Employment, Thomas Winzer and Employment Counsel, Tobias Abend at Gleiss Lutz.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Germany, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of German employment law.

In this series we will be speaking to Head of Employment, Duncan Inverarity at A&L Goodbody.

We will be discussing key employment law issues and things to think about when employing staff in Ireland, considering the start of employment, the end of employment and other key aspects of Irish employment law.

In these three episodes we are joined by Kramer Levin Partner Robert Holtzman.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in the US (particularly New York), including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of US employment law.

Key employment and business immigration developments for employers. July 2023

This three-part series will be looking at the most significant employment cases from this year, and what employers can take away from them.

Episode 1 focuses on handling dismissal processes, including cases on:

• misconduct dismissals: what's the role of the investigator?
• disciplinary hearings: ensuring the chair has all the facts; and
• redundancy: is there a right of appeal?

In part 1 of this update, we look back at cases from 2023 and discuss the key takeaway points for employers.

In these three episodes we are joined by Kramer Levin Partner Robert Holtzman.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in the US (particularly New York), including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of US employment law.

In this final episode, Knowledge Counsel Anna West and Associate River Clarke from our Employment team talk with Director Sarah-Jane Denton from our Operational Risk & Environment team. They discuss potential developments in the modern slavery regime, as well as the ongoing expansion of sustainability and ESG reporting, and the increasing focus on supply chain diligence.

Employment law bitesize series

Starting with the UK, 2024 saw a change of Government in the UK for the first time since 2010. The new Labour Government had pledged it would "deliver the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation". As promised, the Employment Rights Bill heralds major changes to employment laws including in relation to unfair dismissal, zero hours workers, fire and rehire, and collective redundancy consultation, with further changes to come.

We have produced a summary of the Bill and what it means for employers . Although most of the changes will not take effect until 2026, there are various steps employers should take to prepare during 2025 (see Coming up in 2025 below)

Welcome to the fifth in our series of podcasts focusing on international employment law.

In these three episodes we will be speaking to Employment Partner, Karen Fulton at Bowmans.

We will be discussing some of the key considerations when it comes to employing staff in South Africa, including the hiring process, the end of employment and other key aspects of South African employment law.