Expert Analysis

• Preventing Harassment At Office Holiday Parties And Beyond

  

  In response to the Worker Protection Act's new duty for employers to proactively prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, Nick Hurley and Amelia McRae at Charles Russell outline six steps companies should take — including some suggestions to ensure a safe and enjoyable Christmas party.

• Labour Budget Pension Changes May Strain Employers

  

  While the Labour government’s new budget included only a few pension changes, its increases to employer national insurance contributions and inheritance tax reforms may pose monetary and operational challenges for employers, says Beth Brown at Arc Pensions Law.

• FCA Survey Results Reveal Rise In Nonfinancial Misconduct

  

  After a Financial Conduct Authority survey recently reported a significant rise in nonfinancial misconduct, there are a number of preventive steps firms should take to create a healthy workplace environment and mitigate the risk of increased regulatory scrutiny, say lawyers at WilmerHale.

• Employer Tips For Avoiding Unlawful Age Discrimination

  

  A recent study shows that despite legal protections, age discrimination remains a significant, often overlooked challenge in the U.K. labor market, meaning employers should make age a key focus of their diversity and inclusion initiatives in order to minimize risks of liability and reputational damage, says Daniel Stander at Vedder Price.

• What New Int'l Treaty Means For Global AI Regulation

  

  Lawyers at Bird & Bird consider how global artificial intelligence regulation will be affected by the first international AI treaty recently signed by the U.S., EU and U.K., as well as its implications for business and several issues that stakeholders should be aware of.

• 2 Highlights From Labour's Notable Employment Rights Bill

  

  The Labour government’s recently unveiled Employment Rights Bill marks the start of a generational shift in U.K. employment law, and its updates to unfair dismissal rights and restrictions on fire-and-rehire tactics are of particular note, say lawyers at Covington.

• Complying With Growing EU Supply Chain Mandates

  

  A significant volume of recent European Union legislative developments demonstrate a focus on supply chain transparency, so organizations must remain vigilant about potential human rights and environmental abuses in their supply chain and make a plan to mitigate compliance risks, say lawyers at Weil.

• HMRC Transfer Pricing Guide A Vital Resource For Businesses

  

  HM Revenue & Customs' recent guidelines on common transfer pricing compliance risks should be required reading for affected businesses in indicating HMRC's expected benchmark for documents and policies, say Tomoko Ikawa and Kapisha Vyas at Simmons & Simmons.

• What Updated Guide Means For Jersey's Private Funds

  

  The Jersey Financial Services Commission's recent updates to the Jersey Private Fund Guide clarify existing provisions and introduce new requirements for fund managers, service providers and investors, demonstrating a clear commitment to maintaining Jersey's reputation as an attractive jurisdiction for investment, say lawyers at Walkers Global.

• Employer Lessons In Preventing Unlawful Positive Action

  

  A recent Employment Tribunal decision that three white police officers had been subjected to unlawful race discrimination when a minority detective sergeant was promoted demonstrates that organizations should undertake a balancing approach when implementing positive action in the workplace, says Chris Hadrill at Redmans Solicitors.

• A Close Look At Labour Party's Worker Reform Plans

  

  The U.K. Labour government has proposed significant employee rights reforms that suggest a careful approach to balancing business operations alongside increasing worker rights, though certain industries may struggle to adjust to changes to zero-hour contracts, and an extended claims window could strain employment tribunals' workload, say Nick Hurley and Isaac Bate at Charles Russell.

• UK Judgment Could Change Anti-Money Laundering Regimes

  

  After the Court of Appeal of England and Wales' determination that criminal property remains criminal property in the hands of its purchaser even if purchased at market value, many businesses could face a new or heightened risk of prosecution for criminality in their supply chains and related money laundering offenses, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

• What To Expect From Labour's Pension Schemes Bill

  

  The Labour government’s recently announced Pension Schemes Bill, outlining key policy areas affecting the retirement savings sector, represents a positive step forward for both defined contribution scheme members and defined benefit superfunds, but there are some missing features, says Sonya Fraser at Arc Pensions.

• What UK Workers' Rights May Look Like Under Labour

  

  It is clear from the recent King's Speech that the new Labour government has set itself an ambitious pro-worker agenda, with the intent of overhauling employment laws and upgrading workers' rights, say lawyers at Cleary.

• Irish Businesses Should Act Now To Prepare For EU AI Act

  

  Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the Irish job market, and proactive engagement with the forthcoming European Union AI Act, a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for Irish businesses, will be essential for Irish businesses to responsibly harness AI’s advantages and to maintain legal compliance, say lawyers at Pinsent Masons.