Stephenson Harwood Employment Podcast

Navigating inheritance laws in the United Arab Emirates ("UAE") can be complex, especially for expatriates and those unfamiliar with Islamic Sharia law principles.For employers, the subject matter was brought into greater focus with the issuance of UAE Ministerial Decision no. 720/2023 prescribing employers' obligations to distribute end-of-service gratuity entitlement following an employee's death.In our latest podcast, we share the recording of a webinar we co-hosted on 5 December 2023 with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Authority, which oversees one of the largest commercial free trade zone areas in the UAE.In this informative session, Emily Aryeetey and Tasleem Sayani touched on:The importance of expatriates having a Will in the UAE;Sharia law and how it applies to asset distribution the guardianship of minor children; andEmployer responsibilities in managing issues arising following an employee's death.

In our latest employment podcast, partner Richard Freedman, managing associate Natalie Edwards and senior knowledge lawyer Leanne Raven discuss the topic of redundancies.  They discuss how employers can best navigate this difficult topic from both a legal and practical perspective. 

In our latest podcast, employment lawyers Anne Pritam, Emily Aryeetey and Leanne Raven grapple with some of the issues posed by using Generative AI in the workplace. They also take a deeper dive into some of the key implications of AI in the workplace, including:·    how and when AI can permeate the employment lifecycle;·    what employers should be doing now to mitigate the risks associated with its use; and·    how AI might determine the future world of work.

The momentum of the #metoo movement coupled with heavy media scrutiny on harassment in the workplace cases, has led to an increased focus from employers asking what they can do to prevent and deal with sexual harassment in the workplace.In our latest podcast episode we discuss a number of sexual harassment cases, the legislative changes on the horizon and provide our top tips for employers.

At this time of year, we find many HR departments for December year-end companies are actively addressing bonus pay-outs for 2022 and bonus terms for the year 2023. In our latest employment law podcast we discuss some common issues and pitfalls which arise with bonuses. We also provide some tips for dealing with those issues as well as special points of interest that have recently arisen.

In our latest podcast we discuss employer frequently asked questions and tricky areas when instructing occupational health advisors. This is a hot topic for employers, particularly since covid with employees suffering from both physical effects of long covid and the mental health impact caused by the pandemic. We consider a number of areas including:When to instruct occupational health?What should an employer do if an employee refuses to go to occupational health?Tips for drafting occupational health referrals

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week which falls on 9th to 15th October 2022 our latest podcast deals with the sensitive topic of fertility, infertility and pregnancy loss. We look at why this is a workplace issue and what employers can do to support employees going through these experiences. This episode is different to the rest of our employment law series as rather than a deep dive into the legal framework it’s a discussion of where the law stands, or rather trails behind, modern society and the challenges faced by many.  We will discuss this through the prism of the personal experience of one of our partners, Suzanne Johnston. Suzanne is a partner in our top-ranked international private wealth team, she is based in Singapore and has recently won a prestigious award for Wealth Management Rising Star Under 40 at the WealthBriefingAsia Awards 2022.  Suzanne is a prominent advocate in promoting dialogue around issues of fertility and pregnancy loss, particularly in the workplace context, and has kindly agreed to

This year National Inclusion Week falls on 26 September to 2 October. Founded by inclusive employers, it’s a week dedicated to celebrating inclusion and taking action to create inclusive workplaces. To mark National Inclusion Week our latest employment podcast discusses the topic of intersectionality. Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of certain categories such as race, class and gender which can create overlapping systems of discrimination and disadvantage. Laura Anderson (managing associate) and Leanne Raven (senior knowledge lawyer) discuss intersectionality and employment law, and provide practical tips for employers to help create inclusive workplaces.

Recent reports have indicated a significant increase in the number of employment tribunal claims referencing disability discrimination as a result of a neurodiverse condition and we expect this trend to continue. In our latest podcast, we discuss neurodiversity and the workplace, highlighting key areas of concern for employers as well as practical steps employers can take to encourage diverse workplaces and to minimise risks of disability discrimination claims. 

In April each year new limits for are set for compensation in the employment tribunal. With the topic of awards in mind, in our latest podcast Leanne Raven, senior knowledge development lawyer and Michèle Aubertin, employment associate, discuss awards in the employment tribunal through the lens of a recent high profile case.

As we reach the two year anniversary since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations surrounding “hybrid working” remain prevalent among employers and employees. In this podcast, we set out the key issues for employers to consider in relation to hybrid working from a short, medium and long-term perspective.

Happy new year and welcome to our latest employment law podcast.In this podcast we discuss three hot topics we think will be important for 2022.  These are: the menopause and the workplace; changes to the law surrounding sexual harassment; and flexible working.

As part of the UAE's 'Projects of the 50' (a series of developmental and economic projects aimed at preparing the UAE for its next 50 years), the UAE Labour Law has been subjected to the most significant overhaul in its 40-year history.  A new law – Federal Law No. 33 of 2021 – will come into force on 2 February 2022, and will replace the existing labour law, Federal Law No. 8 of 1980. The new law will be supplemented by Executive Regulations, which should provide further detail and clarification on some of the provisions.  Pending the publication of those Executive Regulations, in this podcast, we highlight 50 of the key changes to be aware of, and the practical implications for businesses subject to the new regime

During the pandemic many employees decided to work remotely from abroad, or got stuck abroad during lockdown, and now many want to continue these remote arrangements.  There are a range of issues to consider when employees work remotely from another jurisdiction.  In our latest podcast we discuss the topic and the main employment law issues employers should consider when dealing with any requests to work abroad. 

In this podcast Kate Brearley discusses whether a fundamental breach of an employment contract can be "cured" by the employer.

In this podcast Soazig Préteseille-Taillardat discusses gross misconduct dismissals and tactics where an employee has overclaimed their expenses.

In this podcast Jezamine Fewins looks at whether an employee can terminate an employment contract before the employment commences.

In this podcast Christine Ong discusses the test for breach of confidentiality by an employee.

In this podcast Emily Aryeetey looks at the first reported whistleblowing case to be decided under the new regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Senior associates Richard Freedman and Rhiannon Davies discuss how competition law can influence workforce matters, from negotiated exits to re-tendering, and why employers need to be aware of the powers and penalties that the Competition & Markets Authority can impose if companies fall foul of competition law.