Norton Rose Fulbright advises Synlab on the creation of an innovative “bank of solidarity permits”

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised and assisted Synlab, Europe’s largest clinical laboratory service provider, on complex negotiations with national Italian labor unions (Cgil, Cisl, Uil) for the creation of an innovative, group-wide, “bank of solidarity permits” (banca dei permessi solidali).

The negotiations led to an agreement, signed in Florence on December 14, 2018, which is in line with Synlab’s focus on company welfare. It will allow all employees of Synlab to donate all or part of their paid-leave permits to any colleague at Synlab. Under the scheme, for every hour donated by an employee, Synlab will match the donation with an additional, one-hour permit.

Beneficiaries of the so-called ‘solidarity permits’ may include employees who need extra time off from work because of a serious illness, or because they need to help take care of a sick child or spouse or other family member who may be suffering from a range of diseases and conditions including but not limited to cancer, drug addiction, bulimia, anorexia, and bullying.

The Italian division of Synlab has approximately 1,500 employees. It is a leading provider of integrated diagnostics services in Italy, with 12 poly-diagnostic centers, 16 polyclinics, and over 250 blood test locations across seven different regions in Italy.

The Norton Rose Fulbright team was led by Milan-based senior associate Giorgio Manca, with the supervision of head of Italy, Attilio Pavone.

Andrea Rube, Head of HR & Organization, Synlab Italia, comments:

“This agreement underlines Synlab’s intention to create a supportive culture for its employees. The ‘bank of solidarity permits’ is part of a wider national company collective bargaining agreement that we signed with the National Labor Unions in July 2018.”

Giorgio Manca, Senior associate, Employment and labor, Norton Rose Fulbright (Milan office), comments:

“I have had the pleasure of working for Synlab for several years on a wide range of employment law matters and am proud to have been part of the large team of professionals who were involved in these successful negotiations. Synlab and its HR managers are to be applauded for their continued efforts to support and sustain the welfare of all employees.”

For further information please contact:

Felicia Kohn, Senior Business Development Manager, Norton Rose Fulbright Studio Legale
Tel: + 39 02 8635 941
felicia.kohn@nortonrosefulbright.com

Cristiana Santilli, Business Development Executive, Norton Rose Fulbright Studio Legale
Tel: + 39 02 8635 941
cristiana.santilli@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

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