The Restructuring Navigator: A new tool for European Works Council members facing a restructure

Restructures must be one of the most challenging situations an EWC member will encounter, so it’s great to learn about a new tool designed to help workers understand and successfully navigate these scenarios.

The Restructuring Navigator is an interactive guide mapping out 12 pathways for the different types of transnational restructures, from mergers and acquisitions to relocation and closures.

It can help you:

Build cross-border cooperation and solidarity among worker representatives across different countries.

Understand legal frameworks and workers’ rights during restructuring, empowering you to advocate effectively.

Develop strategies for negotiation and influencing decision-making.

Spotlight on Bespoke Subtitling Services

If you’re producing video content for your business – whether a promotional film, an employee training video or a product demonstration – it’s a good idea to include subtitles, because so many people watch with the sound muted.

And if you’re showing that video to an international audience, you’ll want to ensure those captions are translated.

Most of the major platforms – such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok – now offer automatically generated captions, translated in the viewer’s language. But be beware – these have some serious limitations:

❌Auto-generated captions can include awkward or incorrect translations, and often miss cultural references and nuances such as intent and emotion

❌ Users need to manually activate them, so they may be missed

❌ You can’t choose where captions are positioned

❌ They can look messy – lacking punctuation and out of synch with what’s appearing on screen

The alternative is to add your own captions, either using the editing tools provided by platforms such as YouTube or by using a third-party editing tool such as Kapwing. Some of these tools also offer auto-translations, though this doesn’t solve the problem of mistranslations or lack of punctuation.

The best option for brands which want to look professional and ensure they’re getting their message across accurately is to have their videos professionally translated – and this is where we can help.

My team of interpreters can provide you with bespoke translated subtitles in more than 130 languages that will:

✔️ Get your message clearly and accurately

✔️ Use accurate technical terminology

✔️ Include translations for sound effects, diagrams and illustrations

✔️ Be localised to include culturally appropriate phrases and expressions.

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Why now’s the time to visit Venice

If you’ve always wanted to visit Venice, but have been put off by the crowds, now is your chance. November is a great time to visit Venice. It’s far quieter than the summer months and you won’t have to deal with oppressive heat.

You’ll need a coat – the average temperature is around 13C – but there’s a 50% chance of clear blue skies. And you may be surprised to hear that November is significantly drier than September, on average.

The catch is that November and December are the season of the ‘Acqua Alta’ – or ‘high water’. This naturally occurring phenomenon – created when the Adriatic Sea tide rises – has been part of life in Venice for centuries.

Unless the tide is exceptionally high, it’s still possible to navigate the city fairly easily, just as the locals do. Pack your rain boots and use the elevated wooden walkways to get around. The high tide only lasts for a few hours before subsiding away.

Sadly, climate change is causing more frequent extreme high tides. It’s a topic of great concern to Venetians, as I discovered when I had the honour of interpreting for Luigi Brugnaro, the Mayor of Venice, at the Economist’s Sustainability Summit in London. It was very moving to hear him discuss the struggle to mitigate the impact of climate change on water levels in this beautiful city.

While it’s important to be aware of the risks of extreme high tides (download the Hi Tide app for the latest flood information), witnessing a ‘normal’ acqua alta is a uniquely memorable experience.

There is something very special about seeing the city’s ancient buildings, such as the Basilica San Marco, reflected in the shimmering seawater. After visiting the Basilica, pop into Harry’s Bar on Calle Vallaresso for a bellini in the bar that first invented them – as mentioned in my last newsletter!