Promoting D&I in the Workplace BritCham Women in Business committee member Kajal Aswani shares her views on diversity and inclusion and how we as a community can do more to promote diverse workplaces. Kajal is an Indian lawyer born and raised in Hong Kong and is a Partner at independent dispute resolution law firm Gall.
Understanding the New Electronic Medical/Sick Leave Certificates
Background Starting from 6 March 2023, all medical certificates (more commonly known as sick leave certificates or sick notes) issued by the Hospital Authority (“HA”) will have a digital signature instead of a traditional manual signature and be issued electronically. Currently, these e-sick leave certificate will only be issued by the HA and not by
Standby does not Equate to a Rest Day
Rest days All employees under a continuous contract are entitled to a rest day where they can abstain from working for a period of at least 24 hours in every period of seven days. This is in addition to statutory holidays. In the corporate setting, Saturdays and Sundays are often designated as the rest days
Gall Recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific’s 2023 Directory
Legal 500 has published its Asia Pacific 2023 guide and Gall is ranked as a Leading Firm for Litigation (Band 4), Labour & Employment (Band 4), Restructuring & Insolvency (Band 5) and Private Client & Family (Band 3). Litigation Summary and Testimonials ‘Small but very strong’ conflict-free specialist litigation boutique Gall‘s ‘well organised and effective team of
Consequences for Failing to Pay Terminal Payments Within the Statutory Time
When an employee’s employment is terminated, certain payments become due and failure to make such terminal payments can have serious consequences. It is therefore essential that employers are aware of their statutory obligations upon termination. What are employees entitled to upon termination? When calculating terminal payments, employers must consider the individual circumstances of each
Employee vs. Independent Contractor – What’s in a Name?
Table of Contents Reshaping the Job Market The EO’s Stance Blurred Lines Distinguishing the Difference Between an Employee and an Independent Contractor The Foodpanda Situation Protection from Potential Claims – Doing the Right Thing Reshaping the Job Market The rise of the gig economy, the impact of COVID restrictions and the ensuing debate over flexible
Webinar: Navigating Post-Covid Work and Employment Challenges
As Hong Kong regains some normalcy and learns to live with COVID, more companies are calling employees back to the offices to work full-time. However, employees’ expectations, priorities and values have changed, and an increasing number of the workforce want more support, increased flexibility, remote working and focus on wellness. As an employer, how can
Disability Discrimination in the Workplace
Disability discrimination is a complex yet crucial area of law which all employers will come across at some point. A stigma exists in Asian cultures around disability which, coupled with a lack of awareness from mainstream corporate culture, means that disability is often seen as ‘the forgotten cause’ of DEI priorities.
Rights and Wrongs in Wrongful Dismissal
This article outlines an employer’s statutory and legal grounds for dismissal in Hong Kong, as well as various statutory protections that are available to employees at risk of termination.
Stop, Start, Change of Heart – Pulling out of an Employment Contract Between Acceptance and Commencement
The path between accepting a new job and commencing the new role should be simple. And in most cases it is. But there are significant implications if either party (individual or employer) changes its mind and decides not to proceed with the employment at some point between acceptance of the offer and the legal commencement of the employment. A recent Court of Appeal decision sheds important light on this often overlooked area.
