The coronavirus has a major impact on our economy and possibly also on your company. In the context of this pandemic, several companies are facing particularly difficult circumstances which can result in the difficult decision to dismiss certain employees. Here are some do's and don'ts that might be useful for your company in case of possible future redundancies. Alternatives to avoid (collective) dismissal? It is important not to launch the collective dismissal procedure too hastily. In practice, we often see that...

Read more

Responsible for expanding diversity and inclusion efforts | Ralph Jardine has been appointed as the Head of Inclusion and Culture, HSBC USA. This newly created position is focused on expanding the bank’s diversity and inclusion efforts. He reports directly to Michael Roberts, President and CEO, HSBC USA, and Maureen Gillan-Myer, US Head of Human Resources. “The events that have unfolded this year – from the killing of George Floyd to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement – have emphasized...

Read more

2020 has so far challenged many worldwide companies  as well as the Swiss and German Small and medium-sized enterprise (“SME”) sector. It is not just COVID 19, but also issues like digitalization, climate change, sustainability and international competition which feature in so many management considerations. When investigating the business strategies of numerous SME companies in Switzerland and Germany, we observe important strengths which should help to weather these obstacles. These companies have taken decisive action to address the COVID...

Read more

The first collaboration brings a premium charting interface to RavenPack’s US election media monitor which showcases in-depth analysis of projections, sentiment, the influence of key topics surrounding the election, and financial market data. NEW YORK, NY - September 22, 2020 - RavenPack, a leading big data analytics provider, has partnered with Cosaic, a leader in the field of interactive visualization tools, to create an entirely new way to visualize unstructured data. The partnership confirms RavenPack’s mission to give meaning to...

Read more

Mönchengladbach, Germany (September 23, 2020) - This year marks the 20th anniversary of Tradewind Finance, whose financial services have supported small and medium-sized businesses globally for two decades. It has been an honor for the company to work with their clients across industries as their trusted financial partner. In addition to a solid foundation of years in operation, the milestone signifies the company’s growth – in offices, business relationships, and capabilities. Tradewind has most recently opened a branch in Brazil, adding...

Read more

Who Needs to Know Employers who are reopening (or have already reopened) by bringing employees back to their workplaces. Why It Matters Bringing a workforce back to the workplace, whether from teleworking, furlough or layoff status, is an exercise with many moving parts. Employers need to follow a reasoned strategy to address COVID-19-related risks and other considerations associated with recalling some or all of a workforce to develop a sensible back-to-work protocol. Troutman Pepper is issuing a series of client advisories, Navigating Adapted Operations, to...

Read more

Key Notes: On October 15, 2020, WOSBs or EDWOSBs may no longer self-certify for a set-aside or sole source contract. WOSB and EDWOSB certifications can be obtained from the SBA, other federal agencies, or a certifying entity approved by SBA. The final rule also makes economic disadvantage criteria consistent between the EDWOSB Program and 8(a) BD Program. Background Since 2015, women-owned small businesses (“WOSBs”) and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (“EDWOSBs”) have been allowed to self-certify their status to compete for...

Read more