The Federation of International Employers (FedEE)
Some Events and Achievements since our Foundation in 1988:
- 1988 (Foundation Year): The first employers’ organisation to use online, real time communication – via Prestel, a predecessor of the Internet.
- Since 1988: The only organisation in the labour relations/labour law information and advisory field to survive since the 1980s. All other bodies that existed at that time have disappeared.
- 1989: Link up with European Commission online database to deliver news and legislative information to members.
- 1990: A pioneer in the encouragement of corporate childcare with employer study trips to Paris and Denmark/Sweden and numerous training and support measures.
- 1991: Sponsorship by LEGO for our National Childcare Directory Project.
- 1992: End of ongoing financial support from the European Commission. We become independent and self-funding.
- 1993: The first organisation to lay down the practical steps necessary for introducing European Works Councils.
- 1995: Luxembourg conference sponsored by the European Commission to share practical experience of working with Works Councils.
- 1997: Change of name from the EU Employers’ Network to the Federation of European Employers.
- 1998: Retirement of Marks & Spencer as FedEE Chair and Appointment of P&O to Chair FedEE.
- 1999: Secretary-General undertook study for the UK Information Commissioner’s Office and developed a draft code of practice on privacy at work.
- 1999: FedEE predicted a terrorist air strike against a tall building – years before 9/11.
- 2001: The first organisation to undertake Masterclasses in the field of employment law.
- 2002: Launch of annual “Pay in Europe” Reports followed by introduction of the FedEE Job Evaluation and Pricing System (JEAPS) in 2006.
- 2005: First Conference in Amsterdam.
- 2006: We foresaw the 2007/8 meltdown.
- 2006: Retirement P&O as FedEE Chair and appointment of Ford Motor Company to Chair FedEE.
- 2006-16: Numerous confidential support exercises for HR seeking to let go their company’s CEO on behalf of their Board.
- 2011: Establishment of Bristol Office (UK).
- 2012: Making of “Without Prejudice” our full length film about racial prejudice – featuring several RSC and West End prize-winning actors.
- 2014: Refoundation as The Federation of European Employers to become the Federation of International Employers.
- March 2016: FedEE calculated the margin of the Brexit vote outcome to the nearest 1%.
- April 2016: Establishment of our Administrative Office in Nicosia, Cyprus.
- 2017: Launch of FedEE Law – the Federation’s Legal Counsel to support Corporate Members.
- 2018: Celebration of 30th Anniversary since original foundation.
- 2018: The first organisation in the World to offer an advanced qualification in multijurisdictional employment law.
- June 2019: We warned FedEE Members at a London Seminar about a coming pandemic.
- 2019: FedEE Law undertook a study (in 21 days) that facilitated the Merger of two major defence Companies L3 and Harris – the biggest of its kind at the time.
- 2020: FedEE undertook a detailed study of continental dismissal law.
- 2020: Establishing RO in Sapporo, Japan (delayed by pandemic).
- 2020: Advised extensively on the GSMA restructuring and necessary downsizing.
- February/March 2020: The first organisation to provide detailed lockdown and government subsidy measures on a global basis during the start of the pandemic.
- September/October 2021: Introduction of tailored news alert service.
- FedEE is the only employers’ organisation in the World that began before 1990 and still have its original founder in charge.