The ten largest health and safety violations and fines of 2024
2024 was sadly a year in which too many workers lost their lives or were seriously injured as a result of workplace health and safety breaches. Companies were fined substantial amounts into the millions of pounds for failing to uphold basic safety standards, resulting in life-altering injuries and fatalities. These incidents highlight the critical importance […]
The biggest data protection, GDPR and AI stories of 2024
Over the last year, regulatory bodies across the globe have continued to intensify scrutiny over AI technologies and data privacy. Italy’s Garante has once again imposed a significant €15 million fine on OpenAI, citing issues with ChatGPT’s data collection practices. This fine is part of an ongoing wave of regulatory actions, including the European Data […]
The biggest bribery and corruption of public officials stories of 2024
The last year has been a bumper one for the fight against government bribery, from landmark legal victories to policy breakthroughs. Complex bribery schemes were uncovered and important officials prosecuted for their role in corruption. Gifts to officials and political corruption remains a rampant feature of bribery cases, with a significant risk for any business […]
The ROI of DEI: navigating the blowback on diversity, equality and inclusion in business
With companies around the world—from Nissan to Walmart—rolling back on diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives, it’s a tricky time to be a DEI professional. Justified or not, DEI has become a political football kicked around at the highest levels of government around the world, and this trend shows no sign of slowing down. In 2020, […]
The historic ruling that reset corporate governance: what the abolition of the ‘Shareholder Rule’ means for companies
Since the 1800s, the ‘Shareholder Rule‘ in English law has prevented companies from asserting legal professional privilege against their own shareholders, except in specific cases involving hostile litigation. However, in a landmark judgment, the High Court in Aabar Holdings SARL v Glencore PLC & ors [2024] EWHC 3046 (Comm) has ruled that the shareholder rule […]
Unlawful access to personal data: a stark warning for employees and organisations
For years, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been clear about the importance of protecting personal data, holding organisations and individuals to account for breaches under data protection law. However, a recent case has highlighted the potentially severe consequences for those who unlawfully access personal data – including the very real prospect of imprisonment. In […]
Is your supply chain compliance screwed? Why the UK’s ‘adequate consideration’ ruling will be a total nightmare in 2025
A recent ruling by the UK’s Court of Appeal is set to make supply chain compliance even more challenging, with significant implications for all companies and their supply chains. The case in question, R (on the application of World Uyghur Congress) v National Crime Agency (NCA), involved a landmark decision with far-reaching consequences for due […]
GDPR breaches are about to get much more expensive for business thanks to a German court case
Join our GDPR webinar The German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof – BGH) has clarified an important aspect of financial compensation for GDPR breaches under Article 82 of GDPR. The claim involved a 2021 data breach when third parties harvested data from over 500 million Facebook users. The court (BGH) ruled that damages can be […]
What are the top compliance trends for 2025?
2025 will bring significant compliance challenges for businesses across the world. The inauguration of the second Trump administration will bring immediate shifts in policy around sanctions. Companies must stay vigilant, especially regarding sanctions on countries like Russia and Iran, as violations could lead to hefty fines. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs will come under […]
Creating menopause-friendly workplaces: insights from VinciWorks’ Menopause Forum
On 11 December, 2024, VinciWorks hosted an enlightening forum featuring over a hundred HR professionals, addressing an often-overlooked but critical diversity and inclusion topic: menopause in the workplace. Spearheaded by Sara Henna Dahan, VinciWorks’ learning and content manager, and compliance expert Naomi Grossman, the event aimed to foster an open discussion on creating menopause-friendly workplaces. […]
