Employment, Benefits & Pensions
The employment team of ZEILER supports employers in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law as well as benefits, pensions, industrial relations and data protection issues.
This includes the full range of employment-related legal matters such as: employment litigation & trials, restructurings and mass redundancies, pay disputes and equal treatment issues, employment advisory & housekeeping, pensions & benefits, hiring and performance management & executive contracts, global mobility and immigration, and data protection.
Our Employment team also assists our clients in all Industrial Relations matters.
Our employment team serves a diverse and wide range of sectors and industries, which enables us to tailor our advice to the client’s specific objectives.
We provide employers with value beyond black-and-white legal advice. We are dedicated and trusted legal advisors who work tirelessly to deliver the best commercial outcomes, underpinned by strategic focus.
We have expertise in restructuring of businesses and transfers of undertakings, redundancy processes, white-collar crime, service inventions and trade secrets, post-termination restrictive covenants and the implementation of flexible working arrangements, such as home office or “workation”, as well as equal pay audits, pay gap reporting and compliance with the forthcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive.
EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION & TRIALS
Our team of seasoned advisors regularly represents companies before courts, including the Austrian Supreme Court, employment tribunals and conciliation boards.
Our experienced litigators have successfully defended employers in unfair dismissal claims and discrimination cases, as well as in requests for reinstatement and wage-and-hour cases.
We also represent employers in equal pay litigation and disputes arising from the new pay transparency information rights, including claims based on gender pay gaps and challengeable pay-setting criteria.
Additionally, our specialists have extensive experience advising on and managing employment tribunal litigation on works council elections, transfers of undertakings and their influence on works councils, as well as conciliation board litigation covering social plans and shop agreements.
Our team assists companies in administrative procedures involving disability, discrimination and other considerations in employment termination or reorganisation cases.
EQUAL PAY & PAY TRANSPARENCY COMPLIANCE
The new EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive [EU] 2023/970) introduces far-reaching obligations for employers, including pay transparency at job entry, access rights for employees to pay information, gender pay gap reporting, joint pay assessments, strengthened rules against pay discrimination and significant administrative and litigation risks.
Our team provides comprehensive support in all areas of pay transparency and equal pay compliance, including assessment of employer obligations, design and implementation of pay transparency processes, preparation of gender pay gap analyses and statutory pay reports, review and adjustment of compensation systems, defence in pay discrimination claims, advising on information rights, data protection–compliant handling of pay data. We enable our clients to navigate the new regime efficiently and with minimal disruption to their compensation structures.
EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY & HOUSEKEEPING
Our team of dedicated employment specialists supports employers in all aspects of non-contentious employment law, from beginning to end of an employment relationship.
This starts with background checks of future employees and the structuring of job interviews. It covers the drawing up of contracts, bonus schemes that incentivize your workforce and suitable working time arrangements for diverse staff.
We also advise on the preparation and communication of gender-neutral job advertisements and salary ranges to comply with pay transparency rules.
Our experts support our clients in managing periods of leave (maternity leave, parental part-time, sick leave, etc.) as well as when a staff reduction becomes necessary.
In this context, our team provides our clients with expertise in implementing work-life-balance friendly working time models.
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS
Our team has specialist knowledge on occupational pension issues comprising the effect of employment termination on pensions, the amendment of pension terms, the contents and scope of employer pension obligations as well as pension issues arising from transfer of undertakings.
Various employee benefit packages often include a company car for private use, company housing, medical insurance, profit sharing or retirement benefits. We regularly assist employers in all employment-related aspects of rewards and incentives – from drafting contracts to designing and implementing incentive frameworks.
As part of pay transparency compliance, we also assess the gender-neutrality of benefit structures and variable compensation systems.
HIRING AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS
A pivotal part of recruiting, retaining and motivating employees is ensuring that employment contracts and reward packages incentivize employees to meet business objectives.
One special focus of our expertise is drafting contracts with executives, covering share plans, bonus rewards, confidentiality arrangements, trade secret protection, pensions and post-termination restrictive covenants.
We assist employers in defining objective, gender-neutral salary bands and transparent selection criteria during hiring and promotion processes, as required under the Pay Transparency Directive.
GLOBAL MOBILITY & IMMIGRATION
Today’s workforce is increasingly international. Companies compete globally for talent, and obtaining the relevant immigration approvals can be time-sensitive and stressful.
We help reduce the risk of avoidable problems and provide a hands-on approach to any unexpected issues that may arise.
Our pay transparency advisory also considers how equal pay requirements apply to expatriate employees, secondees and internationally mobile workers.
WHISTLEBLOWING
The “Whistleblower Directive” (Directive [EU] 2019/1937), in force since December 17, 2021, created EU-wide minimum standards on whistleblowing. The Directive requires all companies with at least 50 employees to implement an internal whistleblowing system, ensuring the protection of whistleblowers. The aim of the Whistleblower Directive is to increase detection of relevant EU law violations through increased reporting. The introduction of whistleblowing systems offers companies the opportunity to identify violations at an early stage, to react in a timely and appropriate manner and to avert both material damages and damages to reputation.
We support our clients as a One-Stop-Whistleblowing-Shop, including advice on handling whistleblower reports concerning equal pay violations or breaches of pay transparency obligations.
EMPLOYMENT LAW IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
The construction industry is unique in many ways. So are the employment issues arising in this sector. Our advice to companies in the construction industry on all related issues of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including labor constitution law, takes these particularities into account.
We also advise construction industry clients on gender pay gap risks and how to implement pay transparency obligations in project-based and collectively regulated environments.
Assisting a leading Austrian construction company on the full range of employment and industrial relations issues, including interpretation of government relief schemes, facilitating changes of the workforce, drafting and adjustment of home-office arrangements, reductions in force and restructuring of a transfer of business
Advising an Austrian Gambling Corporation in employment law matters, such as a personnel restructuring process including the negotiations of a social plan, drawing up of a new minimum salary scheme and advice regarding the necessity of a shop agreement. Representing the company in court proceedings against its individual employees (Austrian courts)
Supporting a leading global human proteins manufacturer in every aspect of their employment and industrial relations issues. Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council and individual employees regarding the employee’s classification in the company’s overall salary scheme (Austrian courts). Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council with regard to the potential change of the current working time schedule in the company’s various production lines(special conciliation board at the Austrian courts)
Assisting a world leading chemical company in all operative day-to-day employment, industrial relations and pension issues. Supporting the company in all employment related aspects of a recent M&A deal (TUPE). Advising on timeline for meeting the information and consultation requirements towards the works council and the protection afforded to employees in the course of a transfer of undertakings situation
Ongoing support of an Austrian traffic engineering and advertising technic group regarding various employment matters, including the introduction of new working time regulations, redundancies and representation against former employees in front of Austrian courts
Representation of an international cash handling company in the proceedings against company’s former managing director regarding the lawfulness of his employment termination for cause (Austrian employment courts)
Ongoing support of a leading Austrian company in the electronics engineering and manufacturing services sector regarding various employment matters, including the drafting of employment and shop agreements, employee data protection and terminations of employment relationships
Advising an Austrian manufacturer of vehicle lighting systems and electronic components on employment and industrial relations matters, including working time scheme, shop agreements and employee’s IP rights. Representing the company in court proceedings against employees challenging their employment termination (Austrian courts)
Employment, Benefits & Pensions
The employment team of ZEILER supports employers in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law as well as benefits, pensions, industrial relations and data protection issues.
This includes the full range of employment-related legal matters such as: employment litigation & trials, restructurings and mass redundancies, pay disputes and equal treatment issues, employment advisory & housekeeping, pensions & benefits, hiring and performance management & executive contracts, global mobility and immigration, and data protection.
Our Employment team also assists our clients in all Industrial Relations matters.
Our employment team serves a diverse and wide range of sectors and industries, which enables us to tailor our advice to the client’s specific objectives.
We provide employers with value beyond black-and-white legal advice. We are dedicated and trusted legal advisors who work tirelessly to deliver the best commercial outcomes, underpinned by strategic focus.
We have expertise in restructuring of businesses and transfers of undertakings, redundancy processes, white-collar crime, service inventions and trade secrets, post-termination restrictive covenants and the implementation of flexible working arrangements, such as home office or “workation”, as well as equal pay audits, pay gap reporting and compliance with the forthcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive.
EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION & TRIALS
Our team of seasoned advisors regularly represents companies before courts, including the Austrian Supreme Court, employment tribunals and conciliation boards.
Our experienced litigators have successfully defended employers in unfair dismissal claims and discrimination cases, as well as in requests for reinstatement and wage-and-hour cases.
We also represent employers in equal pay litigation and disputes arising from the new pay transparency information rights, including claims based on gender pay gaps and challengeable pay-setting criteria.
Additionally, our specialists have extensive experience advising on and managing employment tribunal litigation on works council elections, transfers of undertakings and their influence on works councils, as well as conciliation board litigation covering social plans and shop agreements.
Our team assists companies in administrative procedures involving disability, discrimination and other considerations in employment termination or reorganisation cases.
EQUAL PAY & PAY TRANSPARENCY COMPLIANCE
The new EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive [EU] 2023/970) introduces far-reaching obligations for employers, including pay transparency at job entry, access rights for employees to pay information, gender pay gap reporting, joint pay assessments, strengthened rules against pay discrimination and significant administrative and litigation risks.
Our team provides comprehensive support in all areas of pay transparency and equal pay compliance, including assessment of employer obligations, design and implementation of pay transparency processes, preparation of gender pay gap analyses and statutory pay reports, review and adjustment of compensation systems, defence in pay discrimination claims, advising on information rights, data protection–compliant handling of pay data. We enable our clients to navigate the new regime efficiently and with minimal disruption to their compensation structures.
EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY & HOUSEKEEPING
Our team of dedicated employment specialists supports employers in all aspects of non-contentious employment law, from beginning to end of an employment relationship.
This starts with background checks of future employees and the structuring of job interviews. It covers the drawing up of contracts, bonus schemes that incentivize your workforce and suitable working time arrangements for diverse staff.
We also advise on the preparation and communication of gender-neutral job advertisements and salary ranges to comply with pay transparency rules.
Our experts support our clients in managing periods of leave (maternity leave, parental part-time, sick leave, etc.) as well as when a staff reduction becomes necessary.
In this context, our team provides our clients with expertise in implementing work-life-balance friendly working time models.
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS
Our team has specialist knowledge on occupational pension issues comprising the effect of employment termination on pensions, the amendment of pension terms, the contents and scope of employer pension obligations as well as pension issues arising from transfer of undertakings.
Various employee benefit packages often include a company car for private use, company housing, medical insurance, profit sharing or retirement benefits. We regularly assist employers in all employment-related aspects of rewards and incentives – from drafting contracts to designing and implementing incentive frameworks.
As part of pay transparency compliance, we also assess the gender-neutrality of benefit structures and variable compensation systems.
HIRING AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS
A pivotal part of recruiting, retaining and motivating employees is ensuring that employment contracts and reward packages incentivize employees to meet business objectives.
One special focus of our expertise is drafting contracts with executives, covering share plans, bonus rewards, confidentiality arrangements, trade secret protection, pensions and post-termination restrictive covenants.
We assist employers in defining objective, gender-neutral salary bands and transparent selection criteria during hiring and promotion processes, as required under the Pay Transparency Directive.
GLOBAL MOBILITY & IMMIGRATION
Today’s workforce is increasingly international. Companies compete globally for talent, and obtaining the relevant immigration approvals can be time-sensitive and stressful.
We help reduce the risk of avoidable problems and provide a hands-on approach to any unexpected issues that may arise.
Our pay transparency advisory also considers how equal pay requirements apply to expatriate employees, secondees and internationally mobile workers.
WHISTLEBLOWING
The “Whistleblower Directive” (Directive [EU] 2019/1937), in force since December 17, 2021, created EU-wide minimum standards on whistleblowing. The Directive requires all companies with at least 50 employees to implement an internal whistleblowing system, ensuring the protection of whistleblowers. The aim of the Whistleblower Directive is to increase detection of relevant EU law violations through increased reporting. The introduction of whistleblowing systems offers companies the opportunity to identify violations at an early stage, to react in a timely and appropriate manner and to avert both material damages and damages to reputation.
We support our clients as a One-Stop-Whistleblowing-Shop, including advice on handling whistleblower reports concerning equal pay violations or breaches of pay transparency obligations.
EMPLOYMENT LAW IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
The construction industry is unique in many ways. So are the employment issues arising in this sector. Our advice to companies in the construction industry on all related issues of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including labor constitution law, takes these particularities into account.
We also advise construction industry clients on gender pay gap risks and how to implement pay transparency obligations in project-based and collectively regulated environments.
Assisting a leading Austrian construction company on the full range of employment and industrial relations issues, including interpretation of government relief schemes, facilitating changes of the workforce, drafting and adjustment of home-office arrangements, reductions in force and restructuring of a transfer of business
Advising an Austrian Gambling Corporation in employment law matters, such as a personnel restructuring process including the negotiations of a social plan, drawing up of a new minimum salary scheme and advice regarding the necessity of a shop agreement. Representing the company in court proceedings against its individual employees (Austrian courts)
Supporting a leading global human proteins manufacturer in every aspect of their employment and industrial relations issues. Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council and individual employees regarding the employee’s classification in the company’s overall salary scheme (Austrian courts). Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council with regard to the potential change of the current working time schedule in the company’s various production lines(special conciliation board at the Austrian courts)
Assisting a world leading chemical company in all operative day-to-day employment, industrial relations and pension issues. Supporting the company in all employment related aspects of a recent M&A deal (TUPE). Advising on timeline for meeting the information and consultation requirements towards the works council and the protection afforded to employees in the course of a transfer of undertakings situation
Ongoing support of an Austrian traffic engineering and advertising technic group regarding various employment matters, including the introduction of new working time regulations, redundancies and representation against former employees in front of Austrian courts
Representation of an international cash handling company in the proceedings against company’s former managing director regarding the lawfulness of his employment termination for cause (Austrian employment courts)
Ongoing support of a leading Austrian company in the electronics engineering and manufacturing services sector regarding various employment matters, including the drafting of employment and shop agreements, employee data protection and terminations of employment relationships
Advising an Austrian manufacturer of vehicle lighting systems and electronic components on employment and industrial relations matters, including working time scheme, shop agreements and employee’s IP rights. Representing the company in court proceedings against employees challenging their employment termination (Austrian courts)
Employment, Benefits & Pensions
The employment team of ZEILER supports employers in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law as well as benefits, pensions, industrial relations and data protection issues.
This includes the full range of employment-related legal matters such as: employment litigation & trials, restructurings and mass redundancies, pay disputes and equal treatment issues, employment advisory & housekeeping, pensions & benefits, hiring and performance management & executive contracts, global mobility and immigration, and data protection.
Our Employment team also assists our clients in all Industrial Relations matters.
Our employment team serves a diverse and wide range of sectors and industries, which enables us to tailor our advice to the client’s specific objectives.
We provide employers with value beyond black-and-white legal advice. We are dedicated and trusted legal advisors who work tirelessly to deliver the best commercial outcomes, underpinned by strategic focus.
We have expertise in restructuring of businesses and transfers of undertakings, redundancy processes, white-collar crime, service inventions and trade secrets, post-termination restrictive covenants and the implementation of flexible working arrangements, such as home office or “workation”, as well as equal pay audits, pay gap reporting and compliance with the forthcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive.
EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION & TRIALS
Our team of seasoned advisors regularly represents companies before courts, including the Austrian Supreme Court, employment tribunals and conciliation boards.
Our experienced litigators have successfully defended employers in unfair dismissal claims and discrimination cases, as well as in requests for reinstatement and wage-and-hour cases.
We also represent employers in equal pay litigation and disputes arising from the new pay transparency information rights, including claims based on gender pay gaps and challengeable pay-setting criteria.
Additionally, our specialists have extensive experience advising on and managing employment tribunal litigation on works council elections, transfers of undertakings and their influence on works councils, as well as conciliation board litigation covering social plans and shop agreements.
Our team assists companies in administrative procedures involving disability, discrimination and other considerations in employment termination or reorganisation cases.
EQUAL PAY & PAY TRANSPARENCY COMPLIANCE
The new EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive [EU] 2023/970) introduces far-reaching obligations for employers, including pay transparency at job entry, access rights for employees to pay information, gender pay gap reporting, joint pay assessments, strengthened rules against pay discrimination and significant administrative and litigation risks.
Our team provides comprehensive support in all areas of pay transparency and equal pay compliance, including assessment of employer obligations, design and implementation of pay transparency processes, preparation of gender pay gap analyses and statutory pay reports, review and adjustment of compensation systems, defence in pay discrimination claims, advising on information rights, data protection–compliant handling of pay data. We enable our clients to navigate the new regime efficiently and with minimal disruption to their compensation structures.
EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY & HOUSEKEEPING
Our team of dedicated employment specialists supports employers in all aspects of non-contentious employment law, from beginning to end of an employment relationship.
This starts with background checks of future employees and the structuring of job interviews. It covers the drawing up of contracts, bonus schemes that incentivize your workforce and suitable working time arrangements for diverse staff.
We also advise on the preparation and communication of gender-neutral job advertisements and salary ranges to comply with pay transparency rules.
Our experts support our clients in managing periods of leave (maternity leave, parental part-time, sick leave, etc.) as well as when a staff reduction becomes necessary.
In this context, our team provides our clients with expertise in implementing work-life-balance friendly working time models.
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS
Our team has specialist knowledge on occupational pension issues comprising the effect of employment termination on pensions, the amendment of pension terms, the contents and scope of employer pension obligations as well as pension issues arising from transfer of undertakings.
Various employee benefit packages often include a company car for private use, company housing, medical insurance, profit sharing or retirement benefits. We regularly assist employers in all employment-related aspects of rewards and incentives – from drafting contracts to designing and implementing incentive frameworks.
As part of pay transparency compliance, we also assess the gender-neutrality of benefit structures and variable compensation systems.
HIRING AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & EXECUTIVE CONTRACTS
A pivotal part of recruiting, retaining and motivating employees is ensuring that employment contracts and reward packages incentivize employees to meet business objectives.
One special focus of our expertise is drafting contracts with executives, covering share plans, bonus rewards, confidentiality arrangements, trade secret protection, pensions and post-termination restrictive covenants.
We assist employers in defining objective, gender-neutral salary bands and transparent selection criteria during hiring and promotion processes, as required under the Pay Transparency Directive.
GLOBAL MOBILITY & IMMIGRATION
Today’s workforce is increasingly international. Companies compete globally for talent, and obtaining the relevant immigration approvals can be time-sensitive and stressful.
We help reduce the risk of avoidable problems and provide a hands-on approach to any unexpected issues that may arise.
Our pay transparency advisory also considers how equal pay requirements apply to expatriate employees, secondees and internationally mobile workers.
WHISTLEBLOWING
The “Whistleblower Directive” (Directive [EU] 2019/1937), in force since December 17, 2021, created EU-wide minimum standards on whistleblowing. The Directive requires all companies with at least 50 employees to implement an internal whistleblowing system, ensuring the protection of whistleblowers. The aim of the Whistleblower Directive is to increase detection of relevant EU law violations through increased reporting. The introduction of whistleblowing systems offers companies the opportunity to identify violations at an early stage, to react in a timely and appropriate manner and to avert both material damages and damages to reputation.
We support our clients as a One-Stop-Whistleblowing-Shop, including advice on handling whistleblower reports concerning equal pay violations or breaches of pay transparency obligations.
EMPLOYMENT LAW IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
The construction industry is unique in many ways. So are the employment issues arising in this sector. Our advice to companies in the construction industry on all related issues of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including labor constitution law, takes these particularities into account.
We also advise construction industry clients on gender pay gap risks and how to implement pay transparency obligations in project-based and collectively regulated environments.
Assisting a leading Austrian construction company on the full range of employment and industrial relations issues, including interpretation of government relief schemes, facilitating changes of the workforce, drafting and adjustment of home-office arrangements, reductions in force and restructuring of a transfer of business
Advising an Austrian Gambling Corporation in employment law matters, such as a personnel restructuring process including the negotiations of a social plan, drawing up of a new minimum salary scheme and advice regarding the necessity of a shop agreement. Representing the company in court proceedings against its individual employees (Austrian courts)
Supporting a leading global human proteins manufacturer in every aspect of their employment and industrial relations issues. Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council and individual employees regarding the employee’s classification in the company’s overall salary scheme (Austrian courts). Representing the company in court proceedings against its works council with regard to the potential change of the current working time schedule in the company’s various production lines(special conciliation board at the Austrian courts)
Assisting a world leading chemical company in all operative day-to-day employment, industrial relations and pension issues. Supporting the company in all employment related aspects of a recent M&A deal (TUPE). Advising on timeline for meeting the information and consultation requirements towards the works council and the protection afforded to employees in the course of a transfer of undertakings situation
Ongoing support of an Austrian traffic engineering and advertising technic group regarding various employment matters, including the introduction of new working time regulations, redundancies and representation against former employees in front of Austrian courts
Representation of an international cash handling company in the proceedings against company’s former managing director regarding the lawfulness of his employment termination for cause (Austrian employment courts)
Ongoing support of a leading Austrian company in the electronics engineering and manufacturing services sector regarding various employment matters, including the drafting of employment and shop agreements, employee data protection and terminations of employment relationships
Advising an Austrian manufacturer of vehicle lighting systems and electronic components on employment and industrial relations matters, including working time scheme, shop agreements and employee’s IP rights. Representing the company in court proceedings against employees challenging their employment termination (Austrian courts)
Recognition
“Hans Georg Laimer advises on a plethora of employment law issues ranging from government relief schemes and pensions issues to restructurings and M&A-related advice. Additionally, Hans Georg Laimer is also visible in labour law litigation including termination proceedings. “Hans Georg Laimer has very strong commercial awareness and is an excellent partner for our company.”
Recognition
“Hans Georg Laimer advises on a plethora of employment law issues ranging from government relief schemes and pensions issues to restructurings and M&A-related advice. Additionally, Hans Georg Laimer is also visible in labour law litigation including termination proceedings. “Hans Georg Laimer has very strong commercial awareness and is an excellent partner for our company.”