David and Goliath: workers’ data rights vs a vast market of surveillance An employer today can learn about interactions among employees or with customers via sensors and a vast variety of softwares. Is the tone of voice friendly enough with customers? How much time is spent on emailing or away from the assigned desk? Scores,…
What scope is there for social partner dialogue? The current economic situation remains affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; whether it is directly related to the virus’ variants or the effects of emerging from lockdown.[1] Given these circumstances, the European Commission’s recent activity is positive, even if we may criticise the details. One of the larger…
The emergence and implementation of the Framework Agreement Twenty years ago, on the 16th of July 2002, the European social partners concluded the first autonomous Framework Agreement. The topic of this Framework Agreement, telework, could not be more relevant today. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the principles laid down in this agreement guided…
Brexit has prompted many companies to change strategy and relocate resources and headquarters to European Member States in order to continue operating within the EU perimeter and to maintain access to the common market and all the of the benefits of EU membership. Ernst & Young’s report of 2 March 2021 showed that around 40…
On 25 May, the European Commission presented its proposed package of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs), the first since Next Generation EU (NGEU) was adopted. Analysis of the CSRs provides interesting information on the impact of the European recovery strategy on the relationship between the fiscal and macroeconomic policies of the Union and the employment and social…
The Great Resignation has been a frequent discussion point in the United States. The following graph from Pew Research outlines the top reasons US workers have left a job in 2021. Broadly we may categorise these as working conditions issues. Aside from pay which is a common consideration, some of the reasons pertain to the…
Protection for Whistleblowers is not a new concept in Ireland, but recent developments both in terms of the legislation and a case decided by the Supreme Court mean that this is topical once again. On the case law front, the Supreme Court late last year issued a very interesting, and what at least appears an…
With the digital transition, the precise definition of the future of work (its social and human dimensions) requires urgent attention. Recent policymaking developments tell us a little more about whether the institutions of the European Union are ready to engage in this crucial endeavour. A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH On 9 December 2021, the European Commission…
In April 2021, the European Commission published its first draft of the proposal for a Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (hence: the AI Act). One aim of the proposal is to guarantee ‘consistency with existing Union legislation applicable to sectors where high-risk Artificial Intelligence (hence: AI) systems are already used or likely to be used in…
In two previous blog posts (one here on this blog and an earlier one on EU Law Analysis) I pre-emptively commented on the possible legal construction of professional qualification recognition post-Brexit. Now that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has been published, it is appropriate to describe and critically reflect upon the actual legal construction…
