“New York, New York” – Workcation at the CBIZ office
04.11.2025
Liliana Ochoa, Marketing Coordinator from ECOVIS Mexico, spent a month in the CBIZ office in New York City, from 11 August to 11 September.
What motivated you to do a workcation?
Having the opportunity to expand my knowledge and improve my relationship and network with other colleagues.
What were your main goals during your time in the Host Office?
Learn as much as possible and explore the opportunity to develop future collaborations that could be beneficial for both companies.
Did you feel productive during your workcations, did you get much work done?
Of course! My normal activities were covered 100%, and I also had to go to the office every day during their working hours.
How did you balance work with enjoying time exploring a foreign city?
The office was very close to where I lived, so that was very convenient because the weather was incredible and after work I had sunlight and plenty of time to go to different places. I also used the weekends to make lots of plans.
Did you have any networking opportunities during your workcation?
Of course, built really good relationships with many colleagues in the office, and I am looking forward to collaborating with them very soon.
What were the highlights of your workcation experience?
Meeting people from another city who speak a different language and also getting to know what kind of company they are, their work methodology, and spending extended time in a country with a culture different from mine.
Did you experience any challenges or difficulties?
Probably the exchange rate. The US dollar is considerably stronger than the Mexican peso, and accommodation prices are also higher than in Mexico. As for work, I didn’t encounter any challenges or difficulties.
Do you have any tips for individuals considering a workcation for the first time?
Yes, I would probably recommend not doing the program in the summer, as many colleagues are out of the office on vacation, and that can be a drawback for getting to know and interacting with people from the host office.
“From Down Under to the Acropolis” – Workcation at ECOVIS Hellas
04.11.2025
Evie Galanopoulou, Bookkeeper at ECOVIS Clark Jacobs in Sydney, spent a day with ECOVIS Hellas Greece in Athens at the end of September.
What motivated you to do a workcation?
I wanted to make the most of some planned travel by connecting with colleagues in another Ecovis office. It felt like a great chance to blend professional growth with personal exploration.
What were your main goals during your time in the Host Office?
My goals were to maintain momentum on current projects, build relationships with the Athens team, and gain a better understanding of how different offices within the network operate.
How did you balance work with enjoying time exploring a foreign city?
I structured my day carefully. Spent my morning and early afternoon at the office and organised my evening for sightseeing and enjoying the local culture. Athens makes it easy, with so much to explore just a short walk from the office!
Did you have any networking opportunities during your workcation?
Definitely. Meeting the Athens team in person added a whole new dynamic to our collaboration. Casual conversations over coffee turned into great knowledge-sharing moments.
What were the highlights of your workcation experience?
The hospitality from the Athens team stood out. Being welcomed so warmly really made a difference. Also, walking out of the office to views of the Lycabettus hill (where I lived for a year) never got old—it’s hard not to feel inspired in a city with such rich history and energy.
Do you have any tips for individuals considering a workcation for the first time?
Be clear with your schedule, stay connected with your team, and make space to enjoy your surroundings. It’s a great way to work, travel, and connect on a global scale.
Employer of record services in Germany: Legal and tax rules for personnel deployment
10.10.2025
If companies want to hire skilled workers abroad, they can use the employer of record (EOR) model. This allows them to employ skilled workers abroad without having to be registered as an employer in the respective country. Furthermore, the EOR assumes all administrative and legal obligations related to the employment. The Ecovis experts explain how the EOR model works in practice.
The EOR model qualifies as leasing of employees according to German law. In this process an employee is assigned by an employer of record to a client (company) whereby the client has the right to issue instructions. In Germany, leasing of employees is subject to strict regulations under the Employee Leasing Act (in German: AÜG). Among other things, this stipulates statutory permission, a ban on chain hiring, and compliance with certain working conditions.
Whether the AÜG is applied to EOR models depends on the domestic reference. If the leased employee works in Germany or if the EOR is based in Germany, the AÜG applies.
In which cases is the applicability of the AÜG disputed?
There is a controversial discussion about the applicability of the AÜG in cases where the client is based nationally (in Germany) and the EOR is based abroad, while the employee exclusively works abroad. The prevailing opinion negates that sufficient domestic reference is given if solely the client is based in Germany.
What does the Rome I Regulation govern?
The question of applicable law in cross-border employment relationships is governed by the Rome I Regulation (Art. 3, 8 Rom I-VO). As a rule, the working contract is subject to the law of the country in which the employee performs their work or, in exceptional cases, where the EOR has its registered office.
Which advantages does the EOR model offer for companies?
Flexibility: Companies can easily hire professionals abroad without having to register as a foreign employer or establish a subsidiary.
Cost efficiency: The administrative effort for the company is reduced significantly, as the EOR takes on all legal and tax obligations.
Risk minimisation: Companies forego the effort of having to comprehend and apply foreign labour laws and tax regulations.
Risk management: Which aspects should be considered when using an EOR?
Contract design: It is crucial to have detailed and unambiguous contracts between the company, the EOR and, if applicable, with an intermediary. The contracts should define the modalities of leasing of employees and the responsibilities for compliance with foreign laws as well as the cost distribution.
Compliance: Companies must ensure that the EOR is compliant with all local labour laws and tax regulations. It is advisable to check compliance regularly.
Liability risks: Companies should ensure contractually that they are not liable for any violations of foreign labour laws or a lack of permits for leasing of employees.
We advise you on all legal and tax issues relating to the EOR model and temporary employment in Germany Marcus Büscher, Lawyer, Partner, ECOVIS Deutschland, Düsseldorf, Germany
The trend in case law and the plans of the German Federal Government
In recent cases, the German Federal Labour Court (in German: BAG) has confirmed the strict interpretation of the AÜG. For example, it was clarified that in the absence of a permit for leasing of employees, an employment relationship between the client and the employee can be simulated (§ 10 Abs. 1 AÜG). This emphasises the necessity of abiding by legal regulations.
The German Federal Government is planning to facilitate the immigration of professionals, which could further increase the appeal of the EOR model. At the same time, the requirements for leasing of employees may potentially be tightened, which further highlights the importance of careful contract design.
Careful contract design and proactive risk management
The EOR model offers companies a flexible and efficient opportunity to employ professionals abroad. However, this form of employment also includes legal risks, especially regarding the application of the AÜG and compliance with local regulations.
Careful contract design and proactive risk management are therefore essential in order to fully benefit from the advantages of the model and to avoid legal pitfalls.
For further information please contact:
Marcus Büscher, Lawyer, Partner, ECOVIS Deutschland, Düsseldorf, Germany
Email: Marcus.Buescher@ecovis.com
State pre-emption right in the Hungarian M&A market
10.10.2025
The Hungarian state legislature has recently passed a number of laws seeking to give special protection to certain parts of their national economy. For example, with regard to real estate, a so-called “self-identity” law has been introduced, giving municipalities the possibility to make it more difficult or prohibit newcomers from acquiring real estate on the grounds of their interests in the municipality.
With regard to company acquisitions, Government Decree No 561/2022 (XII/23), recently amended on 24 June 2025, has placed the right to exercise the right of first refusal or even to prohibit the transaction at the ministerial level, rather than at the municipal level. The reason given by the legislator for the regulation is the public interest, but this is not specified in detail.
The term of strategic company
These options are available for companies that are classified by law as strategic companies and that are intended to be acquired by a foreign investor. In each case, the definition of a strategic company must be based on the actual activity of the company concerned and whether it falls within one of the strategic business lines.
Interestingly, one of the strategic sectors highlighted by the legislation contains specific provisions for the activity of “Electricity generation from renewable sources”, which mainly concerns companies operating solar power plants.
The foreign investors concerned
The provision divides foreign investors into two main categories. It distinguishes between (i) nationals and legal entities from the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation and (ii) from outside these territories.
Value of the investment
In some cases, the legislation excludes from the transactions to be examined transactions that are smaller than an investment in terms of the amount of the investment, and for these transactions the applicable limit is e tat HUF 350 million in terms of the total value of the investment.
The examined types of the transactions
It is not only in the context of the sale of shares and business quotes when it is necessary to examine whether a notification to the Ministry is required. Several transactions, including the increase of capital in the company, the transformation, merger or division of a strategic company, the issue of bonds convertible into, subscribable to or exchangeable for shares in a strategic company, and the creation of a beneficial interest in shares or units of a strategic company, are among the transactions to be examined.
The lenghts of the procedure
The Ministry has a basic procedural time limit of 45 days and a 15-day additional period, which may be extended by up to 30 working days on three occasions, of which the affected party will be notified in writing before the expiry of the time limit. This will definitely slow down the acquisition process and make the success of the M&A transaction uncertain for this period, while it may also generate a loss of interest for the buyer.
Practising of the state pre-emption right
On the basis of their examination, the competent Minister, acting on behalf of the Hungarian State, may prohibit the transaction and the Hungarian State, through the Hungarian National Asset Management Limited Company or another designated body, may exercise its pre-emption rights in respect of the company concerned, subject to the conditions set out in the transaction.
Penalty for the missed examination
Failure by the company to complete the necessary procedure could be an obstacle to its acquisition of ownership before the Companies Registry and could result in a significant fine for the companies concerned.
Mandatory legal representation
Legal representation is mandatory in the proceedings before the Ministry, and it is therefore essential to engage a lawyer. If you wish to buy a company in Hungary, please contact our colleague, the author of the article, Dr. György Zalavári, who is the head of the Ecovis Zalavári Legal Hungary office
