Europe Ruled

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Europe rules workers must be paid for travel time

September 10

 

LONDON

Here's some good news for workers who are constantly on the road.

Europe's top court ruled Thursday that employees who have to travel to different sites for their work must be considered 'on the job' from when they leave their homes to when they return.

So if a plumber has to travel for two hours to get to his first job in the morning, that driving time should count as part of his working day, according to the court. Same thing goes for his long ride home.

The Court of Justice explained that "excluding those journeys ... would be contrary to the objective of protecting the safety and health of workers."

Unfortunately for white collar workers, the ruling doesn't apply to typical commuters who travel routinely to the same office.

Related: World's worst cities for rush hour traffic

The judgment, which applies to all 28 nations in the European Union, was reached after a review of employment practices at security firm Tyco (TYC) in Spain.

According to court documents, Tyco workers who installed and checked security systems in different locations would sometimes drive up to three hours to get to their first appointment. The company had said working hours didn't begin until employees reached their locations.

Tyco declined to comment on the ruling when contacted by CNNMoney.

Related: These roads will charge cars as they drive

Sarah Henchoz, a partner at Allen & Overy who specializes in employment law, said the ruling would have a big impact on companies with a mobile workforce.

She warned that some firms may try to get around the ruling -- and the additional cost -- by providing fixed office spaces and requiring workers to check in before they begin their day on the road, thus reducing the amount of paid travel time.

One group that is likely to benefit are workers who provide healthcare and social services to people in their homes.

Unison, a labor union which represents about 30,000 home care workers in the U.K., welcomed the ruling. But making sure employers comply could be tricky.

"It will be quite a challenge to ensure this is followed through on," said Unison spokesperson Matthew Egan.

By Alanna Petroff September 10, 2015 12:00PM ED

International Business in a Nutshell

As Easy Explanation to International Business

International Business is a term used to describe all commercial transactions (investments, sales, private and governmental transactions, transportation and logistics) that take place between two or more nations or two or more business that operate in different countries.

Typically in International Business, corporations or private companies will undertake deals or conduct transactions for profit, while governments undertake such business objectives for political purposes.

International Business is a broad term, which refers to all business activities that involve cross border transactions of services, goods, and resources between two or more nations.

The transaction of economic resources in International Business include the transfer of capital, skills, assets, people etc. for the international production of tangible goods and services. Typically these transactions are conducted for construction, finance, banking, or insurance purposes.

Companies that engage in International business are referred to international corporations or multinational enterprises. These companies engage in a worldwide approach to market and produce goods in multiple nations. Examples of such companies include McDonalds, Yum Foods, Toyota, the Ford Motor Company, and Samsung.

International Business Law Explained

International Business law is the scope and practice of law in the global business market. International Business law includes a direct focus on economics and the law in relation to international commercial transactions, licensing procedures, tariffs and taxes, and other intricacies which are used to regulate international transactions between government entities or multinational enterprises.

International law varies between jurisdictions; the premise elaborates basic business law concepts by expanding them to an international field.

International law is typically related to trade or commerce that takes place between two nations or two companies that operate in separate countries. The laws of different jurisdictions will come into play in each transaction; an analysis of such laws for each jurisdiction must be observed and understood by the engaging parties prior to the affirmation of the business deal.

The foundation of international business law is rooted in trade agreements and the laws which regulate such transactions. Two or more countries, who join together for a specific trade agreement, must meet the specific regulations instituted by each practicing nation’s interpretation of international business law.

In addition to trade agreements, international business law will administer, regulate and subsequently deliver licenses. These licenses are needed to either conduct business in a foreign nation or are required to partake in a transaction for a specific good or service. Additionally, licensing requirements will also encompass various intellectual property or tangible property that is being exchanged between two parties.

For instance, a company operating in one country may develop a specific form of intellectual property; this company may then produce their product in another country, or may license other companies the right to produce the product. As each transaction or agreement is negotiated, the licensing rights and the exchange of property are the fundamental aspects of international business law and the primary focus of the commercial transaction.

Tariffs, taxes, and other mechanisms which surround a business transaction will vary by jurisdiction. Typically, there are basic provisions for a country that may be modified by trade agreements among different nations; these issues must be considered when a party negotiates each transaction.

 

Reference: http://business.laws.com/international-business 

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