Year: 2024

Unlocking employee engagement by embracing disconnecting

High-performing organizations feature engaged workforces that are motivated by the connection employees feel towards their work, teams, leadership, and organization as a whole. And the digital technologies that are a central part of modern life can strengthen that connection while giving employees greater flexibility in when and where they perform their work. For this greater connectivity to promote positive engagement, employees also need to know that they can safely disconnect and recharge, which is only possible when organizations communicate reasonable expectations around working outside of normal working hours, including monitoring and responding to communications (emails, chats, posts, etc.).

France

France Introduces Profit Sharing Mandate for Smaller Employers

On 29 November 2023, the French government passed the Profit-Sharing Act requiring companies with 11 to 49 employees to implement a profit-sharing scheme effective from 1 January 2025. This program is set to run as a five-year trial and will then be reassessed by the government to determine if the profit-sharing obligation for these smaller employers will become permanent and in what format.

Australia

Australia Introduces the Right to Disconnect After Working Hours

On 12 February 2024, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023, which introduces, among other changes, a right for all employees to disconnect outside of working hours.

The right to disconnect will enter into effect 6 months after the legislation receives royal assent (expected soon) for businesses with at least 15 employees and 18 months after royal assent for businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

Global Benefits Strategy for Multinational Employers Survey

We invite you to participate in the inaugural Global Benefits Strategy for Multinational Employers Survey. By participating in the survey here, you will receive survey data, summaries of analysis, and cuts of data relevant to you and your business – all at no cost! Results will be sent to you in early summer 2024.

Ukraine introduces limitations to employment rights during martial law period

The Ukrainian parliament recently adopted a new law introducing certain limitations to employment rights as a response to the presidential Decree No. 64/2022, which declared martial law in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

“On Organizing of Employment Relations During Martial Law” (the “Law”) entered into effect on 15 March 2022 and is expected to apply until 13 May 2024, as extended by the Ukrainian President.

Puerto Rico

Registration is Live for the 2024 Global Benefits Forum in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Our 2024 Americas event will be held April 15-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Now in its ninth year, the Global Benefits Forum helps HR and benefits professionals from around the world enhance their international benefits expertise while engaging with peers and market-leading experts through three events held in the Americas, London and Asia.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg to Introduce Rules When Two Public Holidays Fall on the Same Day

The Luxembourg Parliament recently approved a new Bill clarifying employee holiday entitlements when two paid public holidays fall on the same day, as is the case with the upcoming public holidays: Ascension Day and Europe Day, which both fall on 9 May 2024.

Bill 8266 is expected to enter into effect sometime before May 2024 (exact date to be determined).

United Kingdom

United Kingdom Implements Unpaid Carer’s Leave

The UK government has published draft regulations to implement the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 (the “Act”) providing employees with one week of unpaid carer’s leave per year to arrange or provide care for a dependent.
While the Act entered into force on 4 December 2023, the Draft Regulations implementing unpaid carer’s leave are expected to be effective from 6 April 2024.

Mexico

Mexico Proposes Increase to Paid Paternity Leave

The Mexican Parliament recently introduced an amendment bill to increase employer-paid paternity leave from five working days to 20 working days.
If the bill is approved by the Mexican Senate, this increase will be effective early 2024 (the exact date will depend on the legislative process).