On the sixth day of Christmas, HR was asked “What's Sarah’s home address? I want to send her a Christmas present, and I don't want to guess!” And HR replied… ...
Initially published by Thomson Reuters [23 November 2022], Shoosmiths partner Sam Tyfield comments on the implications of the recent call for regulation by cryptocurrency firms. Cryptocurrency firms and lobbyists have reacted to the collapse and bankruptcy of FTX by calling for regulation. When unpacked, however, their pleas to be regulated reveal an industry wanting regulation on its own terms while unwilling to face home truths about its faults and efficacy ...
On the fifth day of Christmas, HR announced with fear... We’re stopping the Christmas bonus for everyone this year! Employers and individuals alike are feeling the impact of increased costs this winter, and it may well be that some employers will seek to save costs by not paying a bonus to employees this Christmas. But is it lawful to simply decide not to pay a Christmas bonus one year? The answer lies in the employment contract ...
On the fourth day of Christmas, HR were asked, when do you say “no more” to the Christmas decorations? And HR said to me...a giant light up turkey is just too much for the Christmas tree! It is a common misconception that Christmas decorations should be banned for breaching health and safety rules ...
There’s a common quip in Washington that federal employees leaving their jobs to work in the private sector are “going to the Dark Side.” However, what is not so funny for federal contractors and former executive branch employees is when the application process for — or the performance of work at — the new job runs afoul of ethics laws and regulations. For example, Oracle America Inc ...
In a circular dated the 15th of November 2022, the Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) confirmed that electronic signatures which are done with a ‘qualified electronic signature’ shall be accepted by the MFSA ...
“In view of the associated risks, it has been decided that, with immediate effect, entities regulated by the Reserve Bank shall not deal in VCs or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling VCs ...
Recent announcements suggest the government has moved away from amending UK employment law via an all-encompassing Employment Bill. Instead, it is supporting changes proposed by backbench MPs through various Private Members’ Bills (PMBs). The Queen’s Speech in December 2019 announced the government’s intention to bring about various employment law reforms, in particular those recommended in the Taylor Review and subsequent consultations, via an Employment Bill ...
On the third day of Christmas, HR was asked “How do you deal with the morning after the Christmas party?” And HR replied…carefully! There will no doubt be a few sore heads following a work organised Christmas Party and it will be that bit more tempting for employees to switch off the early morning alarm and go back to sleep! But what should employers do if an employee turns up late for work or doesn’t turn up at all? If the employment contract allows for it, an emplo
On the second day of Christmas, HR was asked “How do you keep control at the Christmas party?” And HR replied...by setting clear boundaries! Christmas parties are designed to be fun, but a few festive drinks can quickly get out of hand if not managed correctly. A sobering thought is that employers can be vicariously liable for the action of employees during work events such as Christmas parties. So, what steps should employers take? Risk assessments are a pre-party essential ...
Dear valued clients, colleagues and friends, The Firm successfully defended the prominent e-commerce platform operator, Shopee Mobile Malaysia Sdn Bhd, in a suit filed by A & M Beauty Wellness Sdn Bhd after a full trial on matters pertaining to trademark infringement, unlawful interference of trade and obligation to disclose users’ data. Click here to read more ...
At the forefront of digital revolutionisation Malaysia has launched the DE Rantau programme aimed specifically towards the digital nomad. The programme was launched on 1 October 2022 and all applications received will be screened by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (“MDEC”). Click here to read more. Should you have any enquiries, please contact Suganthi Singam at [email protected] or Chui Siew Xuan at [email protected] ...
Our partner, Wong Kian Jun, from the Employment and Administrative Law Practice Group reviews the Election Offences Act of 1954 and its implications today and discusses factors that should be considered and actions employers can take to ensure compliance in this Employment Law Alliance Employment Matters Vlog. Click here to watch the vlog ...
Our Partner, Raymond Low, of the Employment and Administrative Law Practice Group, moderated an Employment Law Alliance podcast titled “Mental Health in the Thai Workplace”. In this podcast, Raymond and guest speaker Sophon Pathumratworakun from Price Sanond discussed current mental health issues in Thailand. Click here to listen to the podcast ...
November 29, 2022 By: Michael Flynn On October 31, 2022, Buchalter posted a Client Alert regarding the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) intent to lift its long-standing moratorium on adding more Small Business Lending Companies (SBLCs) that can make 7(a) program ...
The agreement on a new EU-U.S. data privacy framework between EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and U.S. President Joe Biden had already been announced on 25 March 2022 (for background, please refer to our previous article The EU-US Privacy Shield: Third Time’s a Charm? – Mamo TCV) ...
The Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (the “PDPA Committee”) published a draft regulation issued under the Personal Data Protection Act (2019) (the “PDPA”) relating to the cross-border transfer of personal data outside of Thailand (the “Draft Regulation”) on its website in September 2022 ...
Given the ubiquitous nature of end-user license agreements, terms of service, and similar agreements for websites and other software,[1] it is unsurprising that a company has filed a Petition for Certiorari with the Supreme Court this term (in Genius v. Google) asking the Court to consider the extent to which the Copyright Act preempts private contracts involving a promise not to copy digital content ...
In Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v. Entertainment Software Association1 (the ?SOCAN Decision?), the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on the obligation to pay a royalty for making a work available to the public on a server, where it can later be streamed or downloaded ...
Contactless payments offer a convenient and, where proper safeguards are introduced, significantly safer payment method. With projections that Contactless Payments will reach a global value of USD164 ...
On the first day of Christmas, HR was asked, “Who should we invite to the Christmas party?”. And HR replied...everyone! When it comes to Christmas parties, although it is rare for employees who are absent, for example on sick leave or maternity or other family leave, to be deliberately excluded from the invite list, it is often the case that they are overlooked, particularly if they have been absent for some time ...
On 17 November 2022, the State Administration Council (“SAC”) enacted the Law Amending the 2022 Union Tax Law (“2022 UTL Amendment”). This law provides tax exemptions for Battery Electric Vehicles (“BEVs”) and increases the corporate income tax rate of companies engaged in the oil and gas exploration and production sector in Myanmar. We highlight below the major changes under this law: 1 ...
2022 saw the removal of all COVID-19 related restrictions. As we enter our first winter restriction free, we are likely to see a significant spike in COVID-19 cases in addition to other cold or flu viruses. So, what should employers do to manage this? It is imperative that employers consider what they can do to effectively manage COVID-19 within the workplace this winter and how best to protect their employees from associated risks ...
