On November 7, 2023 Ohio voters approved the Issue 2 ballot initiative, which will make substantial revisions to Ohio’s cannabis laws[1] and make Ohio the 24th state[2] to legalize recreational marijuana. Issue 2 was introduced by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol which, according to the group, sought to legalize and regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, testing and sale of marijuana and marijuana products to adults and also legalize home grow for adults ...
Navigating the intricate landscape of Thailand labour laws can be a challenging endeavor for both domestic and foreign enterprises. The regulations, while designed to foster fairness and harmony in the workplace, can be vast and complex. Hence, it becomes imperative for businesses and individuals to find a trustworthy partner or expert who can guide them confidently through these legal intricacies ...
Our latest article in the HR Improve series is focused on workplace investigations, and the steps which employers can take to conduct an effective investigation process. Fairness One of the key steps to ensuring that a fair process is followed during a grievance or disciplinary procedure, is carrying out a reasonable investigation to establish all of the relevant facts of the case and whether further action is required ...
This week marks National Fertility Awareness Week in the UK. This annual event, organised by Fertility Network UK, a national charity dedicated to supporting individuals on their fertility journeys, aims to change perceptions and raise awareness for those undergoing fertility treatment. The theme for this year is "Forward4Fertility," emphasising progress and inclusivity in the journey towards parenthood. The staggering fact that over 3 ...
In this article we highlight the most significant employment law cases since July 2023 and the lessons that employers should take from them. Making reasonable adjustments during recruitment The case of AECOM Ltd v Mallon is a useful reminder of the duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for job applicants who are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 ...
Under the employment law that was previously in force in the UAE, employers were not permitted to terminate an employee’s employment (even with notice) absent a “legitimate reason” and if “the reason for such termination has no connection with work”. In other words, the concept of termination “at will” was not recognised as an enforceable right in the context of an employer-employee relationship ...
Following the route set out in the ongoing constitutional process and taking into consideration the draft prepared by the Expert Commission and the amendments presented during the respective discussion in the Joint Commission, the Constitutional Council approved yesterday, the Preliminary Draft of the New Constitution ...
Module 5 will assess the robustness and effectiveness of procurement processes, the adequacy of items obtained (including their specification, quality, and volume) and the effectiveness of their distribution. It will also consider the UK-wide procurement of lateral flow and PCR tests. The provisional scope for this module lists three key areas of investigation ...
On October 24, the Head of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gurbir Grewal, addressed the New York City Bar Association. Grewal's speech covered a range of topics, highlighting the landscape of regulatory enforcement and compliance by the SEC with three themes: education; engagement; and execution ...
By: Adam Smith, Chris Mason, Jennifer M. Misetich, Kathryn Fox and Thomas M. O’Connell Executive Summary The National Labor Relations Board adopts a joint-employer rule that expressly incorporates reserved and indirect control over essential terms and conditions of employment, as factors to be analyzed when determining if two or more entities are joint employers ...
The SEC issued enforcement orders against three companies for including terms in their employment and separation agreements that violated Rule 21F-17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1942, commonly known as the whistleblower protection rule. The rule prohibits any action that impedes an individual from communicating directly with SEC staff about a possible securities law violation ...
On October 26, 2023 the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued a final rule on when an entity may be considered a joint employer of a group of employees. The rule was first proposed on September 7, 2022 ...
Article 54 of the Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law 20 of 2023 on the regulations of labour relations, as amended) dealing with employment disputes has been amended to give greater powers to the Ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation (the Ministry). The amended provision shall come into effect from 1 January 2024 ...
Earlier in the year, we reported on the government’s announcement of increases to visa and nationality fees. These increases to application fees came into force on 4 October 2023, other than the substantial increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which was expected to come ‘later in the autumn’ ...
For those considering such a move, there are various options open to them to make their relocation a reality: Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means Certificate of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means Certificate of Direct Investment Residency Certificate (Substantial Business Presence) Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means A person can apply for a Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means ...
On September 29, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) published new proposed enforcement guidance ("the Proposed Guidance”) on harassment in the workplace. This is the first proposed EEOC guidance on workplace harassment since the turn of the century ...
It’s the final countdown, with only one year to go before EU member states must transpose the EU’s new Network and Information Security 2 Directive (“NIS 2”) into national law. Key Dates EU Member States have until 17 October 2024 to transpose NIS 2 into national law and those national laws will apply to organisations as early as 18 October 2024. Enforcement is likely to start from 17 January 2025, in line with parallel legislation affecting financial services ...
October 18, 2023 By: Leah Lively California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed SB 525 into law, which amends the California Labor Code to set industry minimum wage requirements for nearly all healthcare workers, whether they are hourly or salaried employees, or independent contractors. The law also provides these workers with an independent private right of action to enforce these minimum wage requirements ...
PSNI v Agnew & Others: landmark Holiday Pay judgment from the UK Supreme Court. On 4 October 2023, the Supreme Court released its long-awaited judgment in the case of PSNI & Others -v- Agnew & Others, on the issue of holiday pay. We explain the outcome of the case and what it means for employers ...
We have previously commented on the impact environmental concerns are having on those working in the traditional energy sectors. In particular, the focus on renewable energy has left many oil and gas workers nervous about their job security and ability to find alternative work if they are made redundant. Thankfully, it appears those concerns might be unfounded ...
The European Commission published a draft proposal for a revised Product Liability Directive (the “PLD Proposal”) on 28 September 2022, which aims to bring the European Union’s product liability regime ‘up to speed’ with the digital age, circular economy business models and global value chains. This blog focuses on the main changes the PLD Proposal brings and its impact on life science companies ...
For a long time, socialising at work was synonymous with drinking alcohol, but in recent times we have seen this trend start to shift. This is positive news for employers who risk social events centred around alcohol inadvertently isolating those to choose not to drink. With minimal alternatives available in the past, some employees have felt a certain pressure to drink at events to ‘keep up’ with colleagues ...
The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill has received Royal Assent and will come into force, along with implementing regulations, in September 2024. This follows our previous article in which we considered the Bill and its wider implications. The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act (the Act) aims to address “one-sided flexibility” between employers and workers who undertake atypical work ...
