European Union: Health & Safety

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup captivates fans worldwide, employers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face a unique workplace challenge: employees arriving exhausted after late-night matches. This analysis examines whether falling asleep at work due to World Cup-related fatigue constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal, exploring the legal frameworks and thresholds for gross misconduct in each jurisdiction. The article also addresses critical data protection risks that arise when fatigued employ

L'INAIL e l'ABI hanno firmato un protocollo d'intesa per facilitare l'accesso delle imprese a finanziamenti pubblici destinati a investimenti in salute e sicurezza sul lavoro. L'accordo mira a promuovere la prevenzione dei rischi, la tutela della salute dei dipendenti e l'innovazione tecnologica attraverso una collaborazione rafforzata tra banche e imprese.

On 8 July 2026, INAIL and the Italian Banking Association signed a protocol to facilitate investment in workplace health and safety. The agreement aims to help businesses access public funding for risk prevention, employee health protection, and technological innovation through enhanced collaboration with participating banks.

Italy's Data Protection Authority has issued a warning regarding an AI-powered plug-in system designed to analyze work-related stress through sentiment analysis of employee messages. The ruling addresses whether employers can access information about employees' emotional well-being and psychological stress, even when the stated purpose is preventive healthcare. This decision establishes important boundaries for workplace monitoring technologies that collect sensitive psychological data about workers.

Le nuove disposizioni dell'Accordo Stato-Regioni n. 59/2025 ridefiniscono profondamente il sistema della formazione obbligatoria in materia di salute e sicurezza sul lavoro. Con l'entrata in vigore piena il 19 maggio 2026, vengono introdotti requisiti più stringenti per crediti formativi, aggiornamenti periodici e modalità di erogazione dei corsi, estendendo gli obblighi a datori di lavoro, dirigenti e preposti con percorsi differenziati per ruolo e responsabilità.

Recent labor law reforms in Belgium aim to modernize and increase flexibility in the legal framework, impacting the entire employment relationship cycle. This article series provides a thematic analysis of key changes, focusing specifically on new measures designed to promote the reintegration of employees with long-term incapacity and the practical considerations employers must address.

These shifts are increasing both transparency and risk, with closer monitoring of visitor activity, evolving 'permanent establishment' rules...

Cross-border remote work has evolved from an exceptional arrangement to an operational reality. While commercially attractive, it introduces a range of legal exposures that are frequently underestimated. Once an employee performs their duties from another jurisdiction even temporarily the legal landscape can shift in ways that affect employment rights, social security, tax, health and safety obligations, and corporate risk.

The escalation in the Middle East also affects day‑to‑day HR management for employers with operations in Germany. Flight restrictions, supply shortages, and rapidly rising fuel prices raise the question...