{"id":32211,"date":"2026-02-02T04:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T04:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prelive-tdw.visibleone.app\/?post_type=insight-and-news&#038;p=32211"},"modified":"2026-02-25T04:16:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T04:16:34","slug":"tdw-employment-law-2025-end-of-year-review","status":"publish","type":"insight-and-news","link":"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/zh-hant\/insight-and-news\/tdw-employment-law-2025-end-of-year-review\/","title":{"rendered":"TDW Employment Law \u2013 2025 End of Year Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n    \n\n<div style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tanner-de-witt\/images\/insightdetails.jpeg')\"\n    class=\"insight-news-detail-hero\" id=\"insight-news-detail-hero\">\n\n\t\t<div style=\"background-color:\" class=\"insight-news-detail-hero-overlay \"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"z-[0]\">\n                <div class=\"insight-news-breadcrumbs flex items-end practice-areas-featured-breadcrumbs \">\n                    <a class=\"page-link no-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/zh-hant\/\">Home<\/a>                <\/div>\n\n\n                <div class=\"hero-title\">\n                    <h1>\n                        TDW Employment Law \u2013 2025 End of Year Review                    <\/h1>\n                <\/div>\n                \n                    <div style=\"\" class=\"hero-date \">\n\n                        <span class=\"month\">Feb<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"day\">02<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"year\">2026<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n    \n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script >\n    (function () {\n        document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n\n            const breadCrumbsContainer = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\".practice-areas-featured-breadcrumbs\"));\n\n            breadCrumbsContainer.forEach(container => {\n                const breadCrumbLinks = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('.page-link'));\n                const breadCrumbSeperators = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('.separator'));\n\n                if (Array.from(breadCrumbLinks).length === 1) {\n                    const homeNode = breadCrumbLinks[0];\n\n                    if (!homeNode) {\n                        return\n                    }\n\n                    const postTypeNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n                    postTypeNode.textContent = \"Insights and News\";\n                    container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                    container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', postTypeNode)\n                    breadCrumbLinks.push(postTypeNode);\n\n                    if (\"Insights\") {\n                        const categoryNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n\n                        categoryNode.textContent = \"Insights\";\n                        container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                        container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', categoryNode)\n                        breadCrumbLinks.push(categoryNode);\n                    }\n\n\n                    const titleNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n\n                    titleNode.textContent = \"TDW Employment Law \u2013 2025 End of Year Review\";\n                    container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                    container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', titleNode)\n                    breadCrumbLinks.push(titleNode);\n\n\n\n\n                }\n\n                breadCrumbLinks.forEach((link, index) => {\n\n                    link.classList.add('practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-name');\n                    const origin = window.location.origin;\n                    const href = window.location.href;\n\n                    const originSplitter = window.location.href.includes(\"insight-and-news\") ? \"insight-and-news\" : window.location.href.includes('insights-and-news') ? \"insights-and-news\" : \"\"\n\n                    const paths = href.split(originSplitter);\n                    const links = paths[1].split(\"\/\").filter(Boolean)\n\n\n                    const resolvedOrigin = originSplitter ? 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From landmark court decisions on discrimination and sexual harassment to proposed legislative changes and updated regulatory guidance, employers face a complex array of new considerations.\u00a0 This overview helps employers and employees navigate through the practical insights in understanding their rights and obligations.\u00a0 We also take this opportunity to highlight our ongoing commitment to client engagement through top-tiered leadership and events on these vital issues.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Topics<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Article No.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Labour Rights<\/td>\n<td>3, 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Discrimination &amp; Harassment<\/td>\n<td>1, 2, 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Other Developments<\/td>\n<td>4, 5, 7, 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>1) Factors in deciding damages for \u201c<em>injury to feelings<\/em>\u201d in discrimination cases (3 March)<\/p>\n<p>This is a review of the decision in\u00a0<em>Eddie Stobart Limited v Miss Caitlin Graham<\/em>\u00a0[2025] EAT 14.\u00a0 Although not binding on Hong Kong courts, it offers a useful guidance on awarding \u201c<em>injury to feelings<\/em>\u201d based on the severity of discrimination.\u00a0 Employers are also reminded the manner in which they handle discrimination complaints may be indirect evidence to affect the level of award to be made.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/factors-in-deciding-damages-for-injury-to-feelings-in-discrimination-cases\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2) Social media posts highlight workplace sexual harassment (11 March)<\/p>\n<p>Nicknaming and comments of a sexual nature about an employee\u2019s physical appearance sparked the attention of the public and specifically the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission.\u00a0 This article revisits the anti-sexual harassment law in Hong Kong, noting that employers, regardless of their knowledge of the harassment, can also be vicariously liable for any unlawful sexual harassment acts by its employees.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/social-media-posts-highlight-workplace-sexual-harassment\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>3) Legal Update: Proposed reduction on threshold on working hours for \u201ccontinuous contract\u201d (9 May)<\/p>\n<p>The definition of \u201c<em>continuous contract<\/em>\u201d is one of the key issues in employment law as it determines whether employees are given certain statutory benefits and protections.\u00a0 This article outlines the reduction in what constitutes as a \u201c<em>continuous contract<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/legal-update-proposed-reduction-on-threshold-on-working-hours-for-continuous-contract\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>4) Key Employment Issues from the 2025 Policy Address (23 September)<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 policy address by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR referred to some upcoming changes to the local employment law. In this article we highlighted the key employment issues which employers should be aware or keep track of in the policy address.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/key-employment-issues-from-the-2025-policy-address\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>5) Legal Update \u2013 Is stress an injury: when does \u2018psychiatric trauma\u2019 amount to a workplace injury? (8 October)<\/p>\n<p>Through\u00a0<em>Chan Man Sau v\u00a0<\/em><em>\u98a8\u91c7\u4e2d\u5b78<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><em>(<\/em><em>\u6559\u80b2\u8a55\u8b70\u6703\u4e3b\u8fa6<\/em><em>)\u00a0<\/em><em>\u6cd5\u5718\u6821\u8463\u6703<\/em>\u00a0[2025] HKDC 1354, we explore what constitutes as a mental injury to be considered as a workplace injury to claim for employee\u2019s compensation.\u00a0 Employers are reminded of their overall duty of care over their employees\u2019 health and safety, as well as their obligations to report to the Commissioner for Labour in the event of an \u201c<em>accident<\/em>\u201d as required under the Employees\u2019 Compensation Ordinance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/legal-update-is-stress-an-injury-when-does-psychiatric-trauma-amount-to-a-workplace-injury\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>6) \u201cYou\u2019re married to him?!\u201d Is it an issue for employers in making employment decisions? (13 October)<\/p>\n<p>Discrimination against one\u2019s \u201c<em>marital status<\/em>\u201d is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 480).\u00a0 In this article, we review the reasoning behind why being married to a specific person is not considered as discrimination against one\u2019s \u201c<em>marital status<\/em>\u201d through the case of\u00a0<em>Cheuk Kit Man v FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited and Others<\/em>\u00a0[2025] HKCFI 1369 and provide practical tips to employers on how to deal with termination of employment whilst minimising the risk of any unnecessary dispute.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/youre-married-to-him-is-it-an-issue-for-employers-in-making-employment-decisions\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>7) Hiring Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong, Pitfalls and Misconceptions (5 November)<\/p>\n<p>Foreign domestic helpers are commonly hired in Hong Kong households.\u00a0 In this article, we visit the legal parameters, common misconceptions and questions about employing foreign domestic helpers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/hiring-foreign-domestic-helpers-in-hong-kong-pitfalls-and-misconceptions-2\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>8) Working Mothers: Maternity Rights under Hong Kong Law (11 November)<\/p>\n<p>Juggling between work and being a mother is never easy.\u00a0 In this article, we set out maternity rights and other legal protection available for working mothers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/working-mothers-maternity-rights-under-hong-kong-law2\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>9) \u201cThere\u2019s always someone watching\u201d (Ocean\u2019s 11).\u00a0 Updated Privacy Commissioner guidance on CCTV, drone and in-vehicle camera use (10 December)<\/p>\n<p>Modern technology offers convenience to modern day lives but reliance upon it also creates privacy concerns.\u00a0 In this article, we walk through the guidance given by the Privacy Commissions for Personal Data, the data privacy regulator in Hong Kong, on the accepted use of CCTV, drone and in-vehicle camera use (including in the employment context).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/theres-always-someone-watching-oceans-11-updated-privacy-commissioner-guidance-on-cctv-drone-and-in-vehicle-camera-use\/\">Go to this article.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>TDW Past Events<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In-House Community Congress 2025<\/p>\n<p>Our partner, Mr Russell Bennett, delivered an engaging presentation on \u201c<em>Legal Lessons &amp; Loopholes: Ten Key Employment Issues<\/em>\u201d, offering practical insights and strategic guidance to in-house counsel navigating today\u2019s complex employment landscape.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/tanner-de-witt_tannerdewitt-employmentlaw-inhousecommunity-activity-7382316519122415617-S1qO?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAACN_AT0BbXvDPyywLIIGFkOUQTTeW63Uj5s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Please see our LinkedIn post here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The GBA Legal Compass: Navigating Employment Law Across Borders<\/p>\n<p>Our partner, Mr Mark Chiu, conducted a seminar with Helena Kok of MdME and Liu Chang of Shihui Partners to explain the key characteristics in employment between different GBA areas, specifically, Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland, in particular, the assistance of immigration policies to better integrate cooperation between GBA cities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/tanner-de-witt_tannerdewitt-employmentlaw-crossborder-activity-7398648450738876416-SdZf?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAACN_AT0BbXvDPyywLIIGFkOUQTTeW63Uj5s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Please see our LinkedIn post here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>TDW Upcoming Event<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Update on Employment Law: Key Changes and Updates from 2025<\/p>\n<p>We are pleased to co-host an upcoming webinar with In-House Community on key employment law developments in Hong Kong over the past 12 months, from major legislative reforms to the latest case law insights.<\/p>\n<p>The webinar will be held on 5 February 2026 at 2 to 3 pm.\u00a0 For more details and registration, please access this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lnkd.in\/gxZsftu9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">link<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Seminar with Control Risks: When Employees Go Rogue: Legal and Forensic Insights into Data Misuse<\/p>\n<p>We are excited to announce we will also be hosting a seminar with Control Risks on 23 April 2026 on duty of confidentiality, from how to prevent, to detect, and to respond, with practical scenarios to help attendees better understand the law and steps they can take to protect themselves.<\/p>\n<p>We will provide additional information as they become available.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognitions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are proud to share our employment team has continued to earn several recognitions:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our partner, Mr Russell Bennett, has been recognised as one of the In-House Community Commended External Counsel of the Year and is a recognised partner of Labour Employment &amp; Benefits in the latest Lexology rankings for Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our team has been ranked Band 2 in the Chambers and Partners Greater China Region 2026 guide, with our partners, Mr Russell Bennett recognised as a Band 1 Lawyer and Mr Mark Chiu as an Up and Coming Lawyer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our team is also ranked Tier 2 in labour and employment in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 rankings with our partner, Mr Russell Bennett recognised as a Leading Partner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><em><strong>Russell Bennett and Mark Chiu<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For more information on the above or any other enquiries, please contact Russell Bennett or Mark Chiu.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/our-people\/russell-bennett\/\">Russell Bennett<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Partner |\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:RussellBennett@tannerdewitt.com\">Email<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/our-people\/Mark-Chiu\/\">Mark Chiu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Partner |\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:MarkChiu@tannerdewitt.com\">Email<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Disclaimer: This publication is general in nature and is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this publication.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Hong Kong employment law environment remained dynamic in 2025, with important developments affecting workplace policies and liability. 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