At a glance
- Monitor: AI in employment draws regulatory attention.
- Review: Discrimination and workplace conduct developments continue across jurisdictions.
- Prepare: Working time, wages, and workforce flexibility rules continue to evolve.
- Update: Developments across the Americas address contracts and termination strategies.
- Attend: Upcoming events.
Monitor: AI in employment draws regulatory attention
Regulators continue to evaluate the use of AI in recruitment, performance management, workforce planning, and employee relations. Recent developments – including the EU’s guidance on high-risk AI systems, a revised AI Act enforcement timeline, Italy’s draft AI decrees, US federal and state AI activity, and UK requirements for employers to receive and manage employee data protection complaints – place renewed emphasis on AI inventories, due diligence, bias testing, governance, employee communications, and consultation obligations.
Review: Discrimination and workplace conduct developments continue across jurisdictions
Evolving enforcement expectations across harassment; discrimination; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and workplace conduct may affect policies, investigation processes, and manager training. Key developments include: Maharashtra’s inspection framework for workplace harassment compliance; Italy’s strengthened anti-discrimination framework; Evolving US frameworks on DEI practices; and US federal developments involving disparate-impact liability.
Prepare: Working time, wages, and workforce flexibility rules continue to evolve
Legislative and regulatory activity continues to affect working patterns, minimum pay, and scheduling flexibility. Key developments include: Brazil’s proposed 40-hour workweek and two-day rest entitlement; Germany’s possible shift to weekly working time limits; Belgium’s expanded voluntary overtime regime; Australia’s minimum wage and modern award increases; UK consultation on guaranteed hours for zero- and low-hours workers; Victoria’s proposed work-from-home laws; or Argentina's regulations on payslips, employment registration, and temporary staffing.
Update: Developments across the Americas address contracts and termination strategies
Recent and proposed developments across the Americas address restrictive covenants, severance, terminations, and employee protections. In Canada, Bill C-31 proposes changes to non-compete use by federally regulated employers, while separate developments address equal-treatment wage rules and forced-labour supply chain compliance. Argentina has approved new severance-related regulations, Colombia has issued guidance on terminating employees with reinforced job stability, and Peru has strengthened protections for employees with cancer.
Attend: Upcoming events
Join DLA Piper for the South African Employment Law Update seminar, taking place at the firm’s Johannesburg office on 4 August 2026.
More to explore
Employment law 5 in 5: May 2026
Five developments to read for May in less than five minutes.
