Employers who have potentially mis-categorised staff as self-employed may face significantly larger historic holiday pay claims following the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling in Smith v Pimlico Plumbers (subject to any further appeal).  This will be particularly relevant to gig economy employers with a stable and long-serving workforce. The Court held that a worker can … Read more

Two years of upheaval have brought about new ways of working and new challenges for employers. Our Greater China employment team reflects on important themes that have emerged and which will continue to shape the year ahead for employers in China. Ranging from managing employee mental health and remote working to protecting teams and trade … Read more

On 16 December Parliament approved emergency legislation temporarily changing the statutory sick pay rules with effect from today, 17 December, in order to free up GP time for the vaccine booster programme. For any period of sickness starting on or after 10 December and up to the end of 26 January 2022, employees will not … Read more

Our September update covers the following: upcoming changes in Singapore, including workplace discrimination and the requirement to notify the Ministry of Manpower of any retrenchments (a change from the previous requirement to notify after 5 employees had been made redundant in a six month period) – see here changes to the PRC social security regime for … Read more

Discovery Health’s Head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence, Doctor Noluthando Nematswerani, said “Long COVID affects every aspect of life, it affects one’s mental health and one’s ability to focus and work, and could have economic consequences too. This is why it’s so important that we acknowledge the prevalence and growing awareness around Long COVID.” … Read more

The changes that have been thrust upon employers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the speed with which employers have adapted to them, have undeniably transformed the world of work. Technology has been at the core of much of this. It seems hard to fathom now, but 18 months ago many of us … Read more

Our July update includes: an update from Hong Kong and the recent case of Law Ting Pong Secondary School v Chen Wai Wah [2021] CA 873. The case follows the UK position in Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi [2016] AC 1172, and considers whether notice clauses in contracts of employment (including those … Read more

Sexual harassment in the workplace The Government has just published a  response to its 2019 consultation on possible measures to address sexual harassment in the workplace.  This confirms that it will: introduce a positive duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment in the workplace,  the scope of which would be clarified … Read more