Europe: Employment and HR

Yenilenebilir enerji santralleri, elektrik üretim tesisleri, petrol rafinerileri, maden sahaları, doğal gaz altyapıları ve iletim hatları gibi yüksek risk barındıran faaliyet alanlarını kapsayan enerji sektörü, iş sağlığı ve güvenliğinin en önemli olduğu alanlardan biridir. Bu doğrultuda enerji sektöründe iş sağlığı ve güvenliği, yalnızca çalışanların yaşam ve sağlık hakkının korunması açısından değil, aynı zamanda işverenlerin hukuki ve cezai sorumluluklarının yönetilmesi bakımından da kritik öneme sahiptir.

Employers operating in the energy sector in Turkey are subject not only to general occupational health and safety legislation but also to sector-specific technical regulations and administrative obligations. In particular, the precautions to be taken in activities involving high voltage, explosive atmospheres, confined space work, work at heights, and chemical risks are not merely an administrative requirement but form the basis of legal liability.

Germany's healthcare reform introduces a new framework for partial incapacity for work, allowing employees to work reduced hours while recovering from illness. The legislation, effective January 2028, establishes specific requirements for physician certification, employer consent, and the partial performance of work at 25%, 50%, or 75% capacity. Employers must now prepare their processes and organizational structures to handle this significant change in workplace health management.

The Employment Tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland have issued new Presidential Guidance on interim relief applications, responding to a dramatic surge in cases attributed to AI usage and excessive documentation. This guidance establishes stricter procedural requirements and time limits for these urgent applications, which can prevent dismissals from taking effect in whistleblowing and trade union cases.

German employment law requires employees to cooperate with internal investigations through fact-finding interviews, but this duty operates within strict boundaries of fairness, proportionality, and whistleblower protection. Organizations must balance their need to secure facts quickly with procedural safeguards including corporate counsel warnings, neutral questioning, representation rights, and compliance with the Whistleblower Protection Act's confidentiality and anti-retaliation requirements.

Jersey is set to introduce statutory whistleblower protection through draft legislation that establishes a comprehensive framework for raising concerns about wrongdoing. The proposed law defines who can make protected disclosures, outlines reporting procedures, imposes investigation obligations on recipients, and provides robust protections against retaliation including automatic unfair dismissal provisions.

Explore key employment law updates shaping the business landscape across the APAC region, including labour reforms, AI regulation, expanded employee protections, and significant court decisions that are transforming workplace practices throughout Asia-Pacific.

Ireland's Labour Court has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing an 11% decrease in case referrals alongside increasingly complex workplace disputes spanning employment rights appeals, industrial relations matters, and collective bargaining agreements. The report highlights significant legal developments including High Court appeals on European Works Councils and collective redundancies, while demonstrating the Court's expanding role in setting employment standards through Employment Regulation Orders

The Court of Appeal has issued a significant ruling on training cost repayment clauses in employment contracts, finding that overly broad provisions can be struck down as unreasonable restraints of trade. Employers who require employees to repay training costs upon departure must ensure their clauses are proportionate, fair, and genuinely protect legitimate business interests rather than simply discourage staff mobility. This judgment serves as a critical reminder to review existing contractual provisions,

This regional report examines recent labour law changes across the Americas, highlighting key developments in workforce planning, employment status classification, and regulatory reforms. From Argentina's new hiring incentives to working time reductions in Brazil and Mexico, discover how these legislative shifts are reshaping employment practices and compliance requirements throughout the region.

The Court of Appeal has issued a significant ruling on training cost repayment clauses in employment contracts, finding that overly broad provisions can be struck down as unreasonable restraints of trade. Employers who require employees to repay training costs upon departure must ensure their clauses are proportionate, fair, and genuinely protect legitimate business interests rather than simply discourage staff mobility. This judgment serves as a critical reminder to review existing contractual provisions,

Germany's healthcare reform introduces a new framework for partial incapacity for work, allowing employees to work reduced hours while recovering from illness. The legislation, effective January 2028, establishes specific requirements for physician certification, employer consent, and the partial performance of work at 25%, 50%, or 75% capacity. Employers must now prepare their processes and organizational structures to handle this significant change in workplace health management.