Preparing for 2026: Key takeaways from the HR Legal Academy & Reward Event

For everyone involved in reward and HR legal matters, the coming year will be particularly exciting. Significant legislative changes and new regulations, partly stemming from the Easter and Summer Agreements, make it essential to stay fully informed.

This year, at our annual Reward Event and HR Legal Academy on Thursday, 13 November 2025, we introduced interactive breakouts to explore key topics in greater depth, including mobility budgets, pay transparency, GDPR, shift work, and the revised copyright regime.

Explore our key takeaways:

1) Reward

2) HR legal

We unpacked the Belgian landscape: what’s the current state, what’s coming next? With the help of fact-checkers, we debunked persistent myths. The key takeaway, illustrated with a real-life case: know your data and start your readiness assessment today.

For the time being, there is no legislation that imposes an obligation as of 01/01/2026. However, it is advisable to start your preparations on time, as there are quite a few points of attention. Think of the composition of the TCO, the possible exclusion of certain profiles, and the combination with an existing mobility offering.

We discussed several strategic decisions that are crucial for a successful implementation of a flexible reward policy. Our accounting expert explained why understanding the financial and accounting impact of a cafeteria plan is essential.

There is a growing tendency not to reimburse certain car-related expenses when no company car is granted.

By 2026, companies may need to rethink their approach to charging stations and home charging reimbursements, perhaps even integrating part of the charging costs into the cafeteria plan. An intelligent charging policy will be crucial, with cost control, tracking, and clear communication as key components.

The intention is to extend the regime to the IT sector again as of 1 January 2026, but no law has been passed yet as it is linked to other budgetary discussions. However, there seems to be consensus on the substance. A key element will be the distinction between public announcement and reproduction: will it be limited to software available to the public, or will internal software also qualify?

Tax audits are ongoing and increasingly strict. Be prepared! The circular letter has made the bis-variant mandatory for almost all companies, so start your calculations early.

A wave of employment law initiatives has been launched, including those relating to working hours, incapacity to work, dismissal, and much more.

How do you implement a compliant HR policy, making the smartest (and most correct) use of AI in data?

Be prepared and don't wait for a social inspection! Avoid an official report and let our Social Law Team guide you!

The need for a strategically well-prepared dismissal file is growing, as multiple protection indemnities can now be combined. Impulsive dismissals often lead to additional costs. Our experts are just a phone call away for a quick consultation.

Our interactive sessions on topics such as AI and pay transparency linked the legal aspects to practical HR reality.