Our Technology Sector Group comments on upcoming trends and developments to expect in 2025 for the sector. 1. Artificial intelligence (AI) In 2025, AI will remain front and centre, as the hype of the last 18 months gives way to more widespread deployment of AI solutions across organisations – but with that will come increasing legal and compliance challenges ...
As the new administration begins, significant changes to immigration policies are anticipated, though the specifics of these changes—including when they will take effect and how they will impact the current immigration system—remain uncertain. Among these potential changes, we may see an increase in worksite inspections for H-1B and L-1 visa holders as part of enhanced compliance measures. While this increase in enforcement may be concerning, there’s no need to worry ...
Last year, the continued cost-of-living crisis, global conflicts and UK change of government dominated the headlines and added to the challenges faced by UK businesses. So, what does 2025 have in store for employers, in the employment law arena at least? 2025 predictions: what’s on the horizon for employment law Last year, the continued cost-of-living crisis, global conflicts and UK change of government dominated the headlines and added to the challenges faced by UK businesses ...
Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (“EU GPSR”) came into force on 13 December 2024 with the aim of ensuring that all non-food consumer products, whether sold online or offline, on the EU market are safe. The EU GPSR, which replaced the General Product Safety Directive (“GPSD”) in the EU, serves as a “safety net” that catches and regulates the safety of consumer products in the absence of other specific rules ...
The Information Commissioner's Office has recently published ‘AI tools in recruitment audit outcomes report’ in which they issue a series of recommendations to AI developers and users to ensure job seekers are protected during the recruitment process ...
The EU Data Act will start to apply in September 2025. It has become clear that one of the most vexing issues in applying the Data Act to real-life scenarios may in fact be a very basic one: Understanding how the apparatus of roles of the Data Act works in practice, and how it interacts with parallel role definitions of other EU laws. We discuss some of these issues and proposed solutions in this brief article ...
In today's workplace, ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is paramount. One critical aspect of this is the implementation of clear, appropriate and fair drug and alcohol testing. We explain when and why employers should conduct testing. When Can Employers Conduct Drug and Alcohol Testing? According to the “Being monitored at work: workers' rights: Drug testing - GOV.UK” guidelines, employers must have consent from employees to conduct drug and alcohol tests ...
When an employee is subject to a police investigation or is charged or convicted of criminal misconduct outside of work, it can be a challenging area for employers to navigate. We set out our top tips for employers handling such situations. Top tips for employers dealing with criminal misconduct outside of work When an employee is subject to a police investigation or is charged or convicted of criminal misconduct outside of work, it can be a challenging area for employers to navigate ...
Earlier this month, Dinsmore provided a notice to clients that several telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries were set to expire on December 31. However, on December 20, Congress passed the American Relief Act, 2025[1] (the “Act”), a short-term spending bill that keeps the government open through March ...
By: Hector A. Chichoni, Esq. As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office, U.S. employers and companies, in almost every sector, are anticipating a significant increase in changes in immigration law and procedures. This is rightly so, given the historical precedent established during the first Trump administration (2017-2020) ...
Extension of the Act’s scope to number-independent interpersonal communications services (NI-ICS) The new Act broadens the definition of an «electronic communications service» to encompass number-independent interpersonal communication services (NI-ICS). NI-ICS refers to person-to-person communications services that do not connect to numbers within a national or international number plan, nor facilitate communication with such numbers ...
On Jan. 17, 2025, USCIS will publish a revised edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date: 01/17/25) that will implement several significant changes, primarily to the H-1B program. These changes are scheduled to go into effect 30 days after publication. The general view is that some of the changes are positive, including the deference policy, the changes to the cap-gap rule and clarification as to ownership of a company and nonprofit classifications ...
By: Patricia Gannon, Esq. and Marcela Bermudez, Esq. A stopgap measure was signed into law by President Biden averting a federal government shutdown. A federal shutdown is possible if Congress cannot reach an agreement on a spending measure or stopgap by March 14, 2025. We will continue to monitor and advise as this develops. As a reminder, if a stopgap measured is not reached in the future, certain federal immigration functions will be temporarily suspended ...
Legislation signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on December 20, 2024 will significantly expand mandatory reporting duties for professionals and facilities. These changes, and others from Ohio Substitute Senate Bill 109, not only impose new obligations to report, including the reporting of facility investigations, but also attach new penalties for failing to do so, which will impact Ohio physicians and health care facilities, including hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers ...
In this newsletter, we take a look at selected relevant employment law cases from 2024 and examine what employers should learn from them in practice. Through these cases, we discuss, for example, discrimination based on membership in employees' union, harmonization of salaries, and the employer's obligation to offer alternative work ...
On 2 February 2025, many businesses with commercial activities in the European Union must ensure their staff demonstrate a mandatory level of literacy in artificial intelligence (AI). For businesses without adequate provisions, Shoosmiths is here to help. Under Article 4 of the EU AI Act, anyone using an AI system for commercial activities in the EU (intentionally or otherwise) may fall within the scope of the regulation ...
We wish you a warm and joyous holiday season and a happy New Year 2025! This Christmas we have continued our tradition of making a donation to MIELI Mental Health Finland to support their work for young people. Christmas donation to MIELI Mental Health Finland We have a tradition of making a Christmas donation to MIELI, the world’s oldest non-governmental organisation dedicated to mental health ...
The temporary telehealth flexibilities that Medicare patients and providers have become accustomed to since the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire December 31, 2024. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended many pandemic era flexibilities ...
In a decision rendered on September 16, 2024,1 the Administrative Labour Tribunal (the ?ALT?) found that a company (the ?employer?) had violated the Charter of the French language2 (the ?CFL?) by requiring knowledge of languages other than French as part of a hiring process. This is one of the first decisions ruling on the new complaint mechanisms introduced by Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec3 (?Bill 96?), aimed at amending the CFL ...
The outcome of the May 2024 elections marked a significant milestone in our country’s history following President Ramaphosa’s announcement to establish a ‘Government of National Unity’. Nevertheless, as is routine in the aftermath of elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa was quickly faced with numerous complaints and objections lodged by various parties and individuals largely relating to the manner in which the voting process was conducted ...
InAfrican Centre for Biodiversity NPC v Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Others, the Supreme Court of Appeal (“the SCA”) set aside an issued permit to conduct activities in respect of genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”) and remitted the decision to approve the GMO back for reconsideration ...
InMinister of Department of Rural & Land Reform and Others v Thamsanqa Davis Bisset, the Supreme Court of Appeal (“the SCA”) upheld an appeal against a High Court order setting aside a settlement agreement in terms of section 42D of the Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994 (“the Act”) and dismissed the application that served before the High Court ...
The Information Regulator has published a newGuidance Note on Direct Marketing(“Guidance Note”) under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”) outlining its views on the legal requirements for processing personal information for direct marketing. In this article, we touch on key points outlined in the Guidance Note: Does the Regulator give clarity about what communications section 69 applies to? Yes ...
On Friday, 29 November 2024, GN. 5588 was published inGovernment GazetteNo. 51657, in terms of which the Chief Inspector, in terms of the power delegated to the Chief Inspector by the Minister of Employment and Labour in terms of section 42(1) of the OHASA, gave notice: that the National Code of Practice for Training Providers of Lifting Machine Operators published in the Government Notice R539 of Government Gazette No ...
With year-end fast approaching, many employers may find themselves in a difficult position, faced with a surge of resignations. This trend can disrupt business operations, especially during a critical time when companies are wrapping up annual projects, entering peak business season or planning for the new year. Many employers mistakenly believe that they have the right to refuse to accept resignations ...
