The “POLA” plan (Piano organizzativo del lavoro agile) recently announced by Italy’s Minister of Public Administration will soon be rolled out to the country’s civil service. It has an ambitious objective: to ensure that 50% of all work that can be done flexibly is, whether it’s via teleworking or other flexible work arrangements. The target will rise to 60% for 2021, and it will be up to individual managers to decide which roles are included.

The most recent collective agreement between the Canadian government and the country’s largest public service union includes more than just a pay increase: it also introduces up to 10 days of domestic violence leave per year. Civil servants who find themselves in a domestic violence situation will now be able to take paid time off to make arrangements for their safety.

Researchers at Paris-Dauphine University conducted a study on workplace distress in hospital settings in four countries (Denmark, France, Germany and the UK). Their analysis of different preventive and corrective strategies being used led them to develop a best practices guide for managers (in French) to help reduce psychosocial risks in the workplace and present concrete solutions for improvement.