Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1490815
Global QMR Q4 2022 | 12 Eastern Europe Western Europe Strategic Update on EMEA • Poland has enacted formal regulations for remote workers. The law on remote work is expected to come into force on March 1, 2023. The legislation stipulates that Polish employers will now be responsible for the costs of remote work. This means that employers will reimburse employees in a lump sum for the cost of electricity, internet access, and any other costs directly related to the performance of remote work. The new remote work legislation will require Polish employers to prepare a remote work policy that includes the following information: ⎻ The groups of employees that have the option to work remotely ⎻ Expense reimbursement rules ⎻ Communication rules between the employer and the remote worker ⎻ Principles of monitoring work performance ⎻ Information on health and safety stipulations or inspection ⎻ Rules for both employer and employee data protection and confidentiality ⎻ Rules on installing and maintaining work tools (such as software). • On January 1, 2023, the Czech Republic's minimum wage increased from CZK 16,200 to CZK 17,300. This also increased the minimum assessment base for health insurance, which is equal to the minimum wage. The reduction limits for sickness insurance, which affect the maximum amount of sickness benefits have increased by 3.6%. • The United Kingdom's Government recently published its response on "Making Flexible Working the Default", giving its support to the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill. Amongst other things, the Government supports: giving workers the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, removing the present 26- week qualifying period; requiring employers to consult with their employees before rejecting their flexible working request; allowing employees to make two flexible working requests per year; and requiring employers to respond within two months. • With job vacancies at an all-time high, Germany is looking at high- skilled labor from abroad to fill that gap through plans to reform its immigration system and citizenship laws. Germany will introduce a "transparent, unbureaucratic" points-based immigration system (as has long been standard practice in Canada). It will also become easier for foreigners to take up studies or vocational training. • Sweden's updated labor law requires employers to provide "objective reasons" rather than the previous "objective grounds" for a termination for personal reasons. The change aims to make the circumstances for such terminations more predictable. It also seeks to clarify that when making such terminations, employers should focus on the performance issues or misconduct at hand, rather than the employee's interests in staying employed or how the employee might perform in the future.