8:00 – 8:45: Registration and coffee

8:45 – 9:00: Chairs’ welcome

Kathleen Healy, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (UK)
Marianne Granhøj, Partner, Kromann Reumert (Denmark)

9:00 – 10:30: Session one: Virtual workspace: the final frontier?

As the working world continues to move from the physical workplace to the digital realm, what are the practical advantages and disadvantages of the metaverse? How can employers performance-manage employees as avatars? What are the implications of working in the virtual world for privacy, discrimination, harassment, and health and safety law? And with the increased role played by algorithms in decision-making processes, how will new technology impact employers and employees in the real world? 

10:30 – 11:00: Coffee break

11:00 – 12:30: Session two: The rise of ESG and corporate ethics

As stakeholders push companies to demonstrate their commitment and compliance to health and safety, #MeToo, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and more, boardrooms and executive management are increasingly focused on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agendas. Where should companies focus their efforts? What are the labour-related risks of not having strong ESG policies and robust codes of conduct for behavioural-related matters? From a talent recruitment and retention perspective, how important is it to have a devoted ESG focus, and what are the specific measures needed to align with the overall strategies of the business?

12:30 – 2:00: Networking Lunch             

2:00 – 3:30: Session three: International trends on workplace investigations

With the embedding of whistleblowing laws and policies in many jurisdictions around the world, employers are spending increasing amounts of time undertaking investigations into a myriad of employee behaviours. Whether it be allegations relating to racial abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, or corruption, internal investigations are on the rise. What are the key cross-border investigation trends? How can employers adapt investigations to the remote-working world? How can employers build an effective speak-up culture? What are the cultural challenges that may impact internal whistleblowing? And amid a rise in public scrutiny, how can – and should – employers use legal privilege to protect against disclosure of workplace investigations?

3:30 – 4:00: Coffee break

4:00 – 5:30: Session four: Employee benefits for the 21st century

In the wake of the covid pandemic, employees’ priorities have shifted away from purely financial motivations. But if cash is no longer king, how can employers best incentivise workers in this new era? What does the Great Resignation mean for compensation packages? Can ESG-linked remuneration play its part? How should employers counter employee poaching? What does a progressive benefits package look like? Will post-termination restrictions be accepted by the next generation of employees and what will be the challenges to their enforcement?

5:30 – 5:45: Chairs’ closing remarks

Kathleen Healy, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (UK)
Marianne Granhøj, Partner, Kromann Reumert (Denmark)

5:30 onwards: Networking drinks reception