A worker cannot automatically lose the right to annual leave because s/he did not apply for it. The employer must have informed the employee about the opportunity to take leave adequately and in a timely way, and must be able to prove this has been done. |
Pending cases |
Case C-274/18, Gender discrimination, Fixed-term workMinoo Schuch-Ghannadan – v – Medizinische Universität Wien, reference lodged by the Arbeits- und Sozialgericht Wien (Austria) on 23 April 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Rulings |
ECJ 6 November 2018, case C-619/16 (Kreuziger), Paid leaveSebastian W. Kreuziger – v – Land Berlin, German case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Keywords | Paid leave |
Abstract |
Pending cases |
Case C-588/18, Working timeFederación de Trabajadores Independientes de Comercio (FETICO), Federación Estatal de Servicios, Movilidad y Consumo de la Unión General de Trabajadores (FESMC-UGT), Federación de Servicios de Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) – v – Grupo de Empresas DIA, S.A., Twins Alimentación, S.A., reference lodged by the Audiencia Nacional (Spain) on 20 September 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Pending cases |
Case C-161/18, Equal treatment, PensionVioleta Villar Láiz – v – Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS), Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS), reference lodged by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Castilla y León (Spain) on 27 February 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Landmark Rulings |
ECJ 6 November 2018, case C-684/16 (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft), Paid leaveMax-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. – v – Tetsuji Shimizu, German case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Keywords | Paid leave |
Abstract |
A worker does not automatically lose the right to annual leave because s/he did not apply for it. The employer must have informed the employee about the opportunity to take the leave adequately and in a timely way, and must be able to prove it. Based on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, this applies between individuals as well. |
Rulings |
ECJ 21 November 2018, case C-245/17 (Viejobueno Ibáñez and De la Vara González), Fixed-term work, Paid leavePedro Viejobueno Ibáñez, Emilia de la Vara González – v – Consejería de Educación de Castilla-La Mancha, Spanish case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Keywords | Fixed-term work, Paid leave |
Abstract |
The sole fact that fixed-term employment relationships terminate, whereas permanent relationships do not, does not constitute discrimination. Nevertheless, fixed-term teachers should receive an allowance in lieu of untaken leave. |
Pending cases |
Case C-254/18, Working timeSyndicat des cadres de la sécurité intérieure – v – Premier ministre, Ministre d’État, Ministre de l’Intérieur, Ministre de l’Action et des Comptes public, reference lodged by the Conseil d’État (France) on 12 April 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Landmark Rulings |
ECJ 6 November 2018, joined cases C-569/16 (Bauer) and C-570/16 (Willmeroth), Paid leaveStadt Wuppertal – v – Maria Elisabeth Bauer and Volker Willmeroth – v – Martina Broßonn, German case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Keywords | Paid leave |
Abstract |
Heirs of a deceased worker are entitled to an allowance in lieu of untaken paid annual leave. Based on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, this applies between individuals as well. |
Pending cases |
Case C-55/18, Working timeFederación de Servicios de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) – v – Deutsche Bank SAE, reference lodged by the Audiencia Nacional (Spain) on 29 January 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Rulings |
ECJ 4 October 2018, case C-12/17 (Dicu), Maternity and parental leave, Paid leaveTribunalul Botoşani, Ministerul Justiţiei – v – Maria Dicu, Romanian case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Keywords | Maternity and parental leave, Paid leave |
Abstract |
A period of parental leave does not count within the reference period for the purpose of determining an employee’s right to annual leave under Directive 2003/88/EC. |
Pending cases |
Case C-472/18, Part-time workER – v – Agencia Estatal de la Administración Tributaria, reference lodged by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Galicia (Spain) on 19 July 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Pending cases |
Case C-103/18, Fixed-term workDomingo Sánchez Ruiz – v – Comunidad de Madrid (Servicio Madrileño de Salud), reference lodged by the Juzgado de lo Contencioso-Administrativo No 8 de Madrid (Spain) on 13 February 2018 |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 4 2018 |
Rulings |
ECJ 20 September 2018, case C-466/17 (Motter), Fixed-term work, other forms of discriminationChiara Motter – v – Provincia autonoma di Trento, Italian case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 3 2018 |
Keywords | Fixed-term work, Other forms of discrimination |
Abstract |
A system, as exists in Italy, that only-partially counts service under fixed-term contracts for the purpose of classifying staff in grades, is compatible with the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work, as there was an objective justification. |
Rulings |
ECJ 19 September 2018, case C-41/17 (González Castro), Gender discrimination, working timeIsabel González Castro – v – Mutua Umivale, ProsegurEspaña SL, Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS), Spanish case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 3 2018 |
Keywords | Gender discrimination, Working time |
Abstract |
Even if a breastfeeding worker only works for part of her shift at night, the rules on the health and safety of pregnant and breastfeeding workers and those having recently given birth set out in Directive 92/85 apply, meaning that an assessment of her individual situation is necessary. If the worker brings a claim before the court, once she has provided a prima facie case of discrimination, the burden of proof switches to the employer. In other words, reversal of the burden of proof is also applicable to Article 7 (night work) of Directive 92/85/EEC. |
Rulings |
ECJ 19 September 2018, case C-312/17 (Bedi), Collective agreements, disability discriminationSurjit Singh Bedi – v – Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Prozessstandschaft für das Vereinigte Königreich von Großbritannien und Nordirland, German case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 3 2018 |
Keywords | Gender discrimination, Working time |
Abstract |
Bridging assistance paid to a worker who loses his or her job by reason of redundancy, but ceasing once the worker becomes eligible to receive retirement benefits, is discriminatory under Directive 2000/78 if this moment comes earlier for disabled than non-disabled workers. |
Rulings |
ECJ 14 March 2018, case C-482/16 (Stollwitzer), Age discriminationGeorg Stollwitzer – v – ÖBB Personenverkehr AG, Austrian Case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 2 2018 |
Keywords | Age discrimination |
Abstract |
A salary scale the ECJ had found discriminatory and said should be changed, was not discriminatory after the change. |
ECJ Court Watch |
ECJ 21 February 2018, case C-518/15 (Matzak), Working timeVille de Nivelles – v – Rudy Matzak, French case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 1 2018 |
Keywords | Working time |
Abstract |
The stand-by time of a volunteer firefighter at home who is obliged to respond to calls from his employer within eight minutes, must be regarded as ‘working time’. |
ECJ Court Watch |
ECJ 20 December 2017, case C-102/16 (Vaditrans), Working timeVaditrans BVBA – v – Belgische Staat, Belgian case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 1 2018 |
Keywords | Working time and leave, Working time |
Abstract |
Regulation 561/2006 prohibits lorry drivers from taking their regular weekly rest periods in a vehicle. |
ECJ Court Watch |
ECJ 28 February 2018, case C-46/17 (John), Fixed-term workHubertus John – v – Freie Hansestadt Bremen, German case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 1 2018 |
Keywords | Fixed-term work |
Abstract |
The Framework Agreement on fixed-term work and the Equal Treatment (Framework) Directive do not forbid a provision that allows parties to postpone the operation of a retirement age clause in employment periods for fixed time, even if this means that they can be extended infinitely. |
ECJ Court Watch |
ECJ 20 December 2017, case C-434/15 (Uber Spain), Employment statusAsociación Profesional Élite Taxi – v – Uber Systems Spain SL, Spanish case |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 1 2018 |
Keywords | Employment status |
Abstract |
The overall degree of control which the Uber platform exercises over the workforce does not suggest that it acts merely as an intermediary. The services Uber provides fall within the field of transport within the meaning of EU law and not under the freedom to provide services. It is therefore for the Member States to regulate the conditions under which such services are to be provided in conformity with the general rules of the TFEU. |