13 January 2026 — Global law firm Hogan Lovells has published its Employment Horizons for 2026, a comprehensive report analyzing the most pressing issues impacting employers worldwide. This year’s report delves into emerging developments such as new rules on AI and data use in the workplace, shifting protections for vulnerable workers, evolving pay transparency requirements, changes to working time and family‑friendly policies, and renewed scrutiny of non‑compete agreements.
As governments and employers face rapidly changing legal landscapes, Employment Horizons provides in-depth insights into the latest regulatory developments, emerging challenges, and global trends in employment law.
Key issues addressed in the report include:
- The impact of economic uncertainty prompted by U.S. tariffs affecting China and Mexico, stricter work-visa criteria in several jurisdictions, and policy reforms such as Italy’s expanded dismissal compensation and Vietnam’s focus on reskilling over terminations.
- Evolving protections for vulnerable workers, including new rights for platform workers in Mexico, expanded statutory protections in Hong Kong, Vietnam’s extension of unemployment insurance under its Employment Law 2025, and diverging classification rules in the United States.
- Shifts in DEI, pay transparency, and discrimination laws, such as U.S. federal directives on DEI, the UK’s proposed Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, and EU implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive.
- Reforms to working time and retirement frameworks, with changes in China, Germany, Singapore, France, Japan, and Spain.
- Expansion of family‑friendly policies, with Spain increasing leave to 19 weeks per parent, Singapore doubling paid paternity leave, the UK introducing new miscarriage and neonatal care entitlements, and Japan requiring employers to offer flexible working options for parents.
- Diverging approaches to AI and data privacy, with the U.S. federal government aiming to loosen restrictions while states such as California tighten their own rules, Italy introducing workplace AI legislation that conflicts with the existing Workers’ Statute, Members of the European Parliament calling for updated requirements on algorithmic management, and Vietnam implementing stricter standards for data collection in employment and recruitment.
- Significant developments in non-competes and restrictive covenants across jurisdictions, driven by the United States abandoning efforts to defend the Federal Trade Commission ban, tighter judicial limits in China, and increased scrutiny and guidance initiatives in the UK and the Netherlands.
- Strengthened whistleblower protections in Japan, the UAE’s ADGM, the UK, and the Untied States.
“We are excited to launch this year’s Employment Horizons, which provides employers with a clear view of the rapidly evolving global landscape,” said Mike DeLarco, Global Head of Labor and Employment Practice at Hogan Lovells. “Political instability and economic pressures have driven significant divergence in employment regulation, and understanding these shifts is essential for effective workforce planning.”
“As organizations operate across more jurisdictions, the need for coherent, cross‑border guidance has never been greater,” added Ed Bowyer, Europe Head of Employment. “Our report brings together our global perspective to help employers navigate differing national approaches and make informed strategic decisions.”
To read the full report, please click here.
