Workforce WorldView

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Carine Elliott and Sabina Krajíčková from our Business Immigration team as they discuss the hidden pitfalls that Czech employers face when hiring foreign workers. From overlooked notification duties to issues of staffing agency licensing, the discussion highlights how immigration in the Czech Republic is a strategic HR priority.

Listen to full episode here.

With over 1,000 Home Office staff redeployed to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) enforcement teams, and an 81% rise in the number of civil penalties issued in early 2025, employers, as well as those who are sponsors, face heightened scrutiny. Osheenn Giam and May Cheung from our Business Immigration team explore this sharp increase in UKVI compliance audits and enforcement actions, outlining what sponsors need to prepare for, along with common pitfalls – and how to stay compliant.

Listen to full episode here.

Belgium is streamlining its business immigration law while tightening eligibility for Belgian work visas. We join Rob Hermans and Marga Caproni as they explore recent Belgian immigration law changes at the federal and regional levels.

Listen to the full episode here.

UK immigration news is a hot topic for employers, especially as the new UK immigration rules take effect, making it more costly and complex to sponsor workers from overseas. We join May Cheung and Annabel Mace as they talk through the recent reforms and their implications for sponsoring employers. While the discussion was recorded prior to the new UK immigration rules, it outlines steps to take following the UK visa updates, as well as future changes proposed in the recent UK immigration white paper.

Listen to the full episode here.

Most organisations will need to conduct investigations into allegations of harassment at work at some point. While these workplace investigations are inherently complex and require a careful, sensitive approach, sexual harassment allegations against employees, particularly senior employees, can introduce additional complexity. Chris Kelly and Hannah Laming discuss the challenges you are likely to face when addressing such allegations.

Listen to the full episode here.

When an employer considers sending employees to Germany for work, we often advise on whether they need a German work visa. Understanding the intricate requirements surrounding German work visas can help you to comply with German immigration law.

In the latest episode of our Workforce WorldView podcast, Laura Sparschuh and Dagmar Nolden delve into employer obligations when sending employees to Germany, focusing on whether German work visas are necessary for both short-term and longer-term assignments for citizens from the US, the UK, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand.

Listen to the full episode here.

This is a question we have heard more and more in recent years, as the cost of sponsorship has risen – and the number of sponsorship-eligible jobs has increased. Our latest Workforce Worldview podcast sees Carine Elliott discussing the issue with Annabel Mace – who is both an immigration and employment lawyer, so ideally placed to pick apart the details.

Listen to the full episode here.

With much in the press concerning hybrid working – and the significant shift in just how much of it employers are willing to allow – Sean Field-Walton and Sarah Wilkinson from our UK Labour & Employment team discuss this sometimes thorny issue, and what you need to be thinking about as you navigate your way through it.

Listen to the full episode here.

For those with remote jobs who could work just about anywhere – and would like to do so from Spain – the Digital Nomad Visa may be very attractive. So, in this episode of Workforce Worldview, Marta Extremera and Juan Nasarre from our Madrid employment and immigration team discuss the procedures and requirements needed for a successful application, as well as outlining the benefits.

Listen to episode 20 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Osheenn Giam and May Cheung as they discuss the costs associated with sponsorship for sponsoring entities. They outline what costs are due for sponsoring an employee, what costs can be recouped from the sponsored worker and how the Home Office’s newest guidance could affect these costs.

Listen to episode 19 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Carine Elliot and May Cheung they discuss the guidance on what kind of changes to the employment of sponsored employees and sponsorship licence holders need to be reported to the Home Office. They go over which changes need to be reported, the deadlines for reports and details about the processes for documenting these changes in a prompt and orderly fashion.

Listen to episode 18 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Osheenn Giam and Annabel Mace as they discuss the new guidance for sponsoring entities when it comes to recordkeeping. They focus on which documents need to be preserved from the recruitment process of a sponsored employee. This includes which records need to be kept from recruitment, how the new guidance compares to the previous labour market test and what situations change the kinds of documents needed, among other questions visa holders and sponsored worker employers may have.

Listen to episode 17 here.

Like anyone based in the UK, sponsored workers may have cause to spend time abroad – whether for work or for personal reasons. But are there any limits on that? The answer is not quite as simple as Yes or No. Listen to this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, as Magali Ferreyra Alvarez and Osheenn Giam from our business immigration team work through what you need to know.

Listen to episode 16 here.

In this episode, we join Carine Elliott and Magali Ferreyra Alvarez as they discuss the rise of visa cancellation letters in the UK, and what employees and sponsored employers need to know about the skilled worker visa cancellation process. This includes what can cause a UK skilled worker visa to be cancelled, how long the visa holder has to renew or leave the country and how cancellation letters are sent among other questions visa holders and sponsored worker employers may have.

Listen to episode 15 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join May Cheung and Annabel Mace as they discuss what you need to know about recent changes to the guidance on right to work checks. They run through what's changed, how employers can comply with new requirements and give their thoughts on how the changes have been implemented.

Listen to episode 14 here.

Based on the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, US employers are required to verify that their newly hired employees are authorized to work in the US. But how can employers fulfill the employment verification requirements? In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join, Greg Wald and Sam Mudrick as they discuss the Form I-9 employment verification process, what documents you need for I-9 employment verification, the consequences and penalties for noncompliance, as well as new developments, including the remote examination alternative.

Listen to episode 13 here.

Sponsor licence holders are required to update the Home Office on changes relating to sponsored foreign employees, but what about when there are changes to the sponsor organisation itself? All changes in ownership must be reported, but a change in the immediate parent companies of sponsor licence holders may require a new sponsor licence. In this episode, Annabel Mace and Osheenn Giam discuss what actions are required of sponsors to ensure their sponsored workers are not negatively affected by corporate transactions and restructures.

Listen to episode 12 here.

When sponsoring a worker from overseas, it is of course necessary to state where they will be working. But if that location changes, what do sponsor licence holders need to do? Osheenn Giam and Magali Ferreyra Alvarez from our Business Immigration team work through the sometimes-tricky topic of work location reports, outlining the details that require close attention.

Listen to episode 11 here.

In this episode of our Workforce Worldview podcast, we join Samuel Mudrick and Gregory Wald as they discuss what you need to know about US business visas. They run through the do’s and don’ts, outlining what type of visa you need for your trip, how to get one, what it allows you to do, and – crucially – what it doesn’t.

Listen to episode 10 here.

Some sponsored workers in the UK are permitted to work for other employers on a supplementary basis, without having to obtain a new visa. This can be helpful when hiring for hard-to-fill vacancies in the UK, but are there any restrictions that employers should be mindful of? In this episode, May Cheung and Magali Ferreyra discuss when employers are permitted to hire workers on this basis and what they should be aware of before and during the employment.

Listen to episode 9 here.

Some international students are permitted to work in the UK, subject to limitations depending on their course and sponsoring institution. Most employers are aware they need to check a student visa holder’s term and vacation dates, but is there more to it than that? In this episode, Annabel Mace and Magali Ferreyra discuss the limitations and pitfalls that employers should be aware of when hiring international students.

Listen to episode 8 here.

In this episode, we explore the issues employers should consider when there is a need to move a sponsored worker into a different role (often as a result of career progression or a redundancy exercise). Listen to May Cheung and Osheenn Giam as they discuss the requirements relating to changes of employment and the impact of getting it wrong.

Listen to episode 7 here.

Since 2021, many UK work and student visas have been issued electronically instead of as physical biometric residence permits (BRPs). The Home Office is planning to replace all BRPs currently in circulation with electronic visas from 1 January 2025 to coincide with BRP expiry dates at the end of 2024. In this episode, Osheenn Giam and Magali Ferreyra discuss the pros and cons of the electronic visas and the challenges they have seen so far.

Listen to episode 6 here.

All UK employers are required to carry out pre-employment right to work checks, as discussed in episode 3. Most checks for those with UK visas are now carried out online, which should make the process smoother. Listen to May Cheung and Osheenn Giam discuss some of the issues that crop up when employers use the Home Office’s online right to work checking service.

Listen to episode 5 here.

A hot topic for UK employers using the Skilled Worker visa route is how to obtain Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocations quickly, so that the visa applications can be submitted ahead of the increase in salary thresholds coming into force from 4 April 2024. In this episode, Annabel Mace and Osheenn Giam discuss practical issues relating to CoS allocation requests and how to expedite them.

Listen to episode 4 here.

The civil penalty for illegal working in the UK has increased from £20,000 to £60,000 per employee, with the higher amount applying to breaches occurring on or after 13 February 2024. In this episode, Annabel Mace and May Cheung discuss why penalties are issued, how they might be defended or reduced and the broader impact for UK employers.

Listen to episode 3 here.

The Home Office has been phasing in ETA for visitors to the UK since November 2023. This currently only applies to a few nationalities but will eventually apply to anyone who does not usually require a visa to visit the UK, for example, US and EU nationals.

In this episode, May Cheung and Magali Ferreyra discuss the impact of ETAs for businesses and their employees.

Listen to episode 2 here.

Our UK Business Immigration team are kicking off our Workforce WorldView podcast series with a discussion on the changes to UK visa rules expected to apply from spring 2024, including a significant increase to the salary threshold for skilled worker visas and a revamp of the shortage occupations list.

With the finer details still to be confirmed, Annabel Mace and May Cheung provide insight and clarity on the impact for UK employers.

Listen to episode 1 here.