Work/Life: international employment news update

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Issue 79

Welcome to the latest edition of our international employment news update.

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UK high street giants underpaid staff by almost £5 million

Many household name companies in the UK, including WH Smith, M&S, Argos and Lloyds Pharmacy are among some 202 companies found to have underpaid staff between 2017-2019. Following an investigation by the UK tax authority, the Department for Business and Trade has named and shamed companies which short-changed around 63,000 workers almost £5m in total, after a breach of national minimum wage law. The companies face up to £7m in penalties and must reimburse workers for what they are owed.

School worker dismissed for Christian beliefs wins appeal

Kristie Higgs was dismissed in 2019 for gross misconduct after sharing Facebook posts criticising plans to teach primary school children about LGBT+ relationships, a decision which was upheld by an employment tribunal in the UK. Mrs Higgs appealed the decision, citing that she had been discriminated against for her Christian beliefs and for expressing them in her own time. The case is now with the Employment Appeal Tribunal for reconsideration and the decision will be important for cases considering the manifestation or expression of religious beliefs in the workplace.

Michigan is the latest state to ban hair discrimination in workplaces

The Crown Act outlaws discrimination based on hairstyles including on the basis of hair texture and protective hairstyles within employment, housing, education and public places. Michigan is the 23rd US state to pass a version of the Act, following a 2019 study by Dove which highlighted that 1 in 5 Black women working in office or sales environments altered their natural hair. This comes after ECHR guidance in 2022 that school uniform policies banning certain hairstyles without exception are likely to be unlawful, there are calls for this to be extended to workplaces across Europe.

UK strike laws threaten British workers' rights, says UN agency

The UK government has been told by the UN's labour standards body to change its new highly controversial strike laws, to ensure conformity with international rules on freedom of association. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is in the final stage of parliament and proposes to make attendance at work compulsory throughout industrial action in sectors such as health service, fire and rescue, education and transport. The draft bill, which would increase the minimum notice period for industrial action and threshold of member support, has attracted criticism from unions for being draconian. The UK is not legally required to change its plans.

Companies commit to hiring refugees across Europe

Hilton Hotels, Amazon and Microsoft are among those promising to hire refugees in Europe over the next three years in an attempt to help people fleeing persecution secure employment. Ranstad, the world's largest staffing company, has announced plans to train 10,000 refugees and place 40,000 more in jobs in the Netherlands. There is currently a record high of 110 million people globally who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries, with many struggling to find work despite the widespread shortage of skilled workers across Europe, the high level of education among refugees and their legal right to work.

Sole car manufacturer in the Netherlands to cut jobs by half

Family owned car manufacturer VDL Nedcar has reached an agreement with unions on a redundancy plan for staff following announcements that the workforce is to be cut by almost half in November 2023, when the company's contract with BMW ends. The new agreement includes a proposal to increase severance pay for redundant workers and to provide official help to find external employment. The factory is the only car manufacturing facility in the Netherlands and the cuts come amid a turbulent automotive environment.

German parliament reforms immigration laws for skilled workers

The new immigration law aims to encourage and simplify the process of skilled workers migrating to Germany for work. The legislation introduces an "opportunity card" to allow foreign workers with a vocational qualification or university degree and who don't yet have a job lined up to enter Germany for a year to look for employment. In order to better integrate refugees, asylum seekers awaiting approval who have appropriate qualifications will be allowed to join the labour market.