Stephenson Harwood employment podcast

To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week which falls on 9th to 15th October 2022 our latest podcast deals with the sensitive topic of fertility, infertility and pregnancy loss. We look at why this is a workplace issue and what employers can do to support employees going through these experiences.

This episode is different to the rest of our employment law series as rather than a deep dive into the legal framework it’s a discussion of where the law stands, or rather trails behind, modern society and the challenges faced by many. We will discuss this through the prism of the personal experience of one of our partners, Suzanne Johnston.

Suzanne is a partner in our top-ranked international private wealth team, she is based in Singapore and has recently won a prestigious award for Wealth Management Rising Star Under 40 at the WealthBriefingAsia Awards 2022. Suzanne is a prominent advocate in promoting dialogue around issues of fertility and pregnancy loss, particularly in the workplace context, and has kindly agreed to share her story on this podcast.

This year National Inclusion Week falls on 26 September to 2 October. Founded by inclusive employers, it’s a week dedicated to celebrating inclusion and taking action to create inclusive workplaces. To mark National Inclusion Week our latest employment podcast discusses the topic of intersectionality. Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of certain categories such as race, class and gender which can create overlapping systems of discrimination and disadvantage. Laura Anderson (managing associate) and Leanne Raven (senior knowledge lawyer) discuss intersectionality and employment law, and provide practical tips for employers to help create inclusive workplaces.

Recent reports have indicated a significant increase in the number of employment tribunal claims referencing disability discrimination as a result of a neurodiverse condition and we expect this trend to continue. In our latest podcast, we discuss neurodiversity and the workplace, highlighting key areas of concern for employers as well as practical steps employers can take to encourage diverse workplaces and to minimise risks of disability discrimination claims.

In April each year new limits for are set for compensation in the employment tribunal. With the topic of awards in mind, in our latest podcast Leanne Raven, senior knowledge development lawyer and Michèle Aubertin, employment associate, discuss awards in the employment tribunal through the lens of a recent high profile case.

Navigating inheritance laws in the United Arab Emirates ("UAE") can be complex, especially for expatriates and those unfamiliar with Islamic Sharia law principles.

For employers, the subject matter was brought into greater focus with the issuance of UAE Ministerial Decision no. 720/2023 prescribing employers' obligations to distribute end-of-service gratuity entitlement following an employee's death.

In our latest podcast, we share the recording of a webinar we co-hosted on 5 December 2023 with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Authority, which oversees one of the largest commercial free trade zone areas in the UAE.

In this informative session, Emily Aryeetey and Tasleem Sayani touched on:

• The importance of expatriates having a Will in the UAE;
• Sharia law and how it applies to asset distribution the guardianship of minor children; and
• Employer responsibilities in managing issues arising following an employee's death.