On the back of months of social unrest and global pandemic disruption, it is not just HR and employees who have been thrown into turmoil. The ‘perfect storm’ has also given rise to a plethora of unique employment law issues.
Employment law is closely governed by statute and over 100 years of common law, with almost all breaches being criminal offences fraught with personal and emotional elements. Historically employment law has often been relegated to a sub-division of firm’s corporate or dispute resolution practices. Hugill & Ip, a local employment firm, however, think that as a result of many factors unique to employment law, clients are best served via a dedicated practice, and, somewhat unusually in Hong Kong, the firm has made employment as key practice area.
Adam Hugill, Partner, commented: “While there is a perception that Hong Kong’s employment laws are slow to change, in the past 12 months the social unrest immediately followed by COVID-19 has given rise to unique employment law issues that have thrust HR to the very centre of client’s businesses. Human Resources teams and their advisors have been tested in a way that was, for many, previously unknown, often requiring speedy, novel and inventive solutions”.
Originally published on HR Magazine APAC News – 2020 Spring/Summer issue
