Potential tax law changes have been on taxpayers’ minds for some time now. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of talk and not much action. That changed on Saturday, as the House Committee on the Budget voted to pass the $3.5 trillion spending bill out of committee and onto the floor. Almost two weeks ago, thirteen committees approved legislation to be included in a reconciliation package. As a reminder, reconciliation is a congressional tool that makes legislation easier to pass in the...

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As it is known, starting from October 15 until December 31, 2021 (the deadline set for the end of the state of emergency), the obligation to possess – and to show on request – the “green pass” 1 has been extended to all workers, including those of the private sector, in order to allow their access to workplaces. With regard to this matter, Law Decree no. 127/2021 - published in the Official Gazzette - states that this obligation indistinctly applies...

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In a legislative proposal more than a decade in waiting, the European Commission on Thursday unveiled plans to introduce a single charger for all for smartphones, tablets, and other devices in two years. The proposal, which comes as part of a legislative revision of the Radio Equipment Directive, foresees the introduction of USB-C as the new EU plug standard for all smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers and handheld videogame consoles, according to the European Commission. The new rules would enter into...

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Ransomware attacks have been increasing, forcing many businesses to choose between paying a ransom and losing access to their confidential and proprietary data or information networks and systems. On September 21, the Department of the Treasury issued an updated advisory that highlights potential sanctions risks for companies that directly make or otherwise facilitate ransomware payments and offers “proactive steps” companies can take to mitigate such risks. The advisory updates guidance offered in October 2020, which highlighted that anti-money laundering and economic...

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On September 20, 2021 the international press began to report that the U.S. government plans to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors flying internationally into the United States beginning in November 2021. However, to date, the official U.S. government policy has not been released. What were the previous entry restrictions? Since March 2020, travellers who have been in the European Schengen countries or the United Kingdom (as well as some other countries specified, including India, China and South Africa) within...

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On Monday, September 20, 2021, the White House announced that the Biden administration plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States. Beginning in early November 2021, the United States will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India. Instead, the United States will require all international travelers to prove that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as...

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View Report as a PDF Here Our Spotlight report reviews past and current performance of newer office buildings in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the world, but perhaps no topic has gotten as much attention in real estate as that of the office sector. The future of work, the workplace and implications for office real estate remain as complex and uncertain as they were last year. What is certain, however, is that the physical office will continue to have...

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Big data has taken root in today’s workplace. From employee engagement to time-to-fill, more and more businesses are tracking metrics and developing data-driven strategies. This unprecedented access to data has provided hiring managers the world over with the ability to look under the hood of the recruitment process. Here are just a few of the key takeaways from hiring trends in recent years, to help you hire smarter. Unemployment at a low: As of this writing, the unemployment rate is staying...

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On September 10, the U.K. government launched a consultation “Data: A New Direction” (Consultation), which proposes significant changes to the U.K.’s data protection framework. The U.K. government has signalled its intention, following Brexit, to revisit the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) — which is nearly identical to the EU GDPR. It aims to craft a bespoke “pro-growth and pro-innovation regime whilst maintaining…world-leading data protection standards.” The Consultation sets out in detail, for the first time, the reforms which...

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