Navigating Global Labor Laws During An Unpredictable Time
Labor laws affect all employees and industries. They are a non-negotiable silent partner in your company, and while at times they can feel restrictive, they also provide security to both the business and employee. Regulations establish structure and underline expectations for all parties, including unions.
As a Labor Law Analyst for a company that helps companies with their global expansion, I live and breathe labor laws. Researching and analyzing the latest laws and reforms for 150+ countries is challenging, but it affords me unique insights into how they are evolving globally to fit “the new normal”.
Oftentimes, labor laws are steady and can be anticipated. Yet, this global health crisis is a struggle for Human Resource teams seeking solutions to ensure operations are kept smooth, without jeopardizing employee safety or nixing any expansion plans.
Most companies and their employees are in unchartered territory. For example, remote working has shifted from an arrangement for some to become the new normal for all. Everyone wants to know what the future will look like. Will the old reality return or is remote work the present and future?
As economies across the world begin to reopen, one thing is certain. Change is on the way.
Re-imagining the Workplace
Health and safety will remain the top priority for some time, but what is unknown is how will this take shape.
Employers are now more aware than ever of their responsibilities for safeguarding employee health. With new guidelines, working from home has become a much more familiar concept, and what had started as a tactical measure has now become a lifeline for businesses of all sizes.
While remote working has been a lifeline for many businesses, it has also created the challenge of regulating a largely virtual workplace.
For instance, take sick leave. In a remote work environment, an employee may choose to continue working at some point during the day if they feel better instead of requesting sick leave and being absent for the entire day.
Many US states are amending harassment laws to include conduct that may occur between employees in a virtual setting. This presents a sensitive balancing act between privacy issues and employers’ responsibilities to provide and maintain a safe workplace.
Best practice for employers considering remote work a part of their future is devising a new set of policies and procedures to govern those interactions.
Obstacles for Business are Overcome
The corporate landscape is quickly shifting. Much of what was once familiar is now old news, and it is incumbent upon every business to stay informed and prepare for the changes barrelling our way.
As a Labour Law Analyst with Elements Global Services, that is my job. I track the changes to laws and regulations and then analyze them. This allows the companies that partner with us to stay ahead of any legal and compliance developments by having the latest intelligence.
For the foreseeable future, companies should remain agile in approach and alert for developments in business and labor regulations as they happen.
It is important to remember that while there will always be obstacles to business, companies must always find a way. This is demonstrated by the many that are currently expanding into new markets across the world, reaching new populations and enjoying growth even through these difficult times, just as Elements Global Services has.
