HR Signal: The EU Whistleblowing Directive

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Trade union membership reporting: late filing, lost benefits

If a trade union fails to submit information about its membership count by the specified deadlines of 10th July and 10th January of the following year, it will lose its rights as a company trade union. This has significant consequences, including the loss of special employment protection for members of the union’s executive board under Article 32(1) of the Trade Union Act. To regain these lost rights, the union must provide the employer with the required membership information. – Katarzyna Stępień comments for Rzeczpospolita.

Full article in Polish avialible: here. 

Cybersecurity Training: A Critical but Overlooked Measure

 Polish companies are increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks, and human error often serves as a significant vulnerability. Despite this growing threat, many employers continue to rely on outdated workplace regulations that prioritize the protection of tangible assets and restrict the access of third parties to the workplace, while neglecting the crucial importance of data and IT security.

To mitigate this risk, it is essential to incorporate appropriate provisions into workplace regulations and implement comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training for employees to help them recognize and prevent cyber threats. – Sławomir Sławomir Paruch comments for Rzeczpospolita.

Full article in Polish avialible: here.

People at work

Following the 2023 parliamentary elections, one of the most significant and publicly visible government policy shifts has been signaled by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. The ministry, headed by Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk from the New Left party, is debating pro-labor reforms that may deliver shockwaves to the market. One calls for shortening the workweek to 4 days and cutting the standard shift time. Some of these ideas are in line with the EU’s views on labor and employment, and set the tone for increasing the protection of workers recently expressed in such EU legislative measures as the Work-Life Balance Directive, the Whistleblower Directive, the Platform Directive, to name a few. – Marcin Sanetra comments for AmCham.Pl QUARTERLY.

Article: here.

Digital employee documentation – a step into a paperless organisation

The digitalisation of HR processes in organisations has become one of the key responses to technological transformation challenges. Modern technologies such as digital HR data management, predictive analytics and advanced HR algorithms have revolutionised approaches to HR management. Despite this, for many Polish companies the transition to paperless systems is still a challenge. – Bartosz Wszeborowski, and Julia Łuszczewska comment for Contact Online magazine.

Article: here. 

Implementing a whistleblower appeal procedure: the whys and hows

While the current legislation does not include an appeal process for whistleblowers, it does allow them to make external notifications and public disclosures. To ensure cases are heard thoroughly and any doubts are addressed, legal entities might consider implementing an internal appeal procedure. Engaging an external, specialised arbitrator could be beneficial in addressing any potential irregularities that may arise during the follow-up process. – Karolina Kanclerz and Mateusz Krajewski comment for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Full article in Polish avialible here.

Switching to an employment contract during pregnancy: not necessarily law abuse

Not all allegations made by the Social Insurance Institution about the fraudulent nature of a pregnant employee entering into an employment contract to obtain insurance coverage are valid. Pursuing insurance protection for a pregnant woman without setting excessively high pay is reasonable and justifiable behaviour from both a personal and social perspective. – Karolina Kanclerz and Michalina Lewandowska-Alama comment for kobieta.rp.pl.

Full article in Polish avialible here.

Wrongful allegations by whistleblowers can be unfair competition

This could happen when a whistleblower, acting on behalf of another business, deliberately reports a wrongdoing that never took place. In such cases, the whistleblower may not only lose their protection but also be liable for any loss or harm caused. Entrepreneurs who submit false reports to gain a competitive edge may not fully grasp the potential consequences. Such reporting can lead to legal liability not only under whistleblower protection laws but also other legislation, such as the Combating Unfair Competition Act. – Bartosz Tomanek and Mateusz Krajewski comment for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Full article in Polish avialible: here.

ZUS shifts focus: it’s not just about residence papers for migrant contributions

The deciding factor for migrant contributions is whether the non-national worker was actually in Poland while carrying out their contract (umowa zlecenie) with a Polish business. Poland has entered into a limited number of bilateral social security agreements, including with Ukraine, Belarus, and the USA. Consequently, if a Ukrainian citizen is employed in Poland, social security contributions related to that employment must be paid in Poland. Moreover, if a Ukrainian works in Poland for a Ukrainian company, the employer should pay the contributions for that worker to the Polish social security system. – Karolina Schiffter comments for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Full article in Polish avialible: here.

Training staff will help to manage internal reports

The first days of the whistleblower protection regulations have already shown the need to improve communication with employees. Meetings on the issue are advisable for all stakeholder groups: potential whistleblowers, those receiving reports and the management of the legal entity. – Karolina Kanclerz and Mateusz Krajewski comment for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Full article in Polish avialible: here.

Seminar: How will we manage? A seminar looking at future trends and best practice in HR management

We invite you to participate in half-day seminar: How will we manage? A seminar looking at future trends and best practice in HR management.

This half-day event, ending with a networking mixer, is aimed at senior managers and HR practitioners. The aim is to share best practice, pose intriguing questions and take a long, hard look into the future, in which demographic factors will cause tomorrow’s potential talent pool to be significantly constrained compared to how it’s looked in the recent past. How will employers fill the skills gaps? Seeking employees from a more diverse range of candidates than at present is the answer, but this requires preparation. So, looking ahead… how will we manage?

During the event, Bartosz Tomanek will take part in discussion panel How do we judge potential employees? Subjective impressions or objective assessment?

Panel discussion moderated by: Michael Dembinski.

Panellists:
Bartosz Tomanek, partner, PCS Paruch Chruściel Schiffter Stępień Kanclerz | Littler,
Agnieszka Kulikowska, senior partner, Page Executive,
Bożena Roczniak, founder & CEO Ostendi HR.

Date: 25 October 2024, 14:00 – 19:30, on-site, Gdynia.

Participation in the meeting is free of charge for BPCC members and invited guests. Registration is obligatory: here.

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