Although plan materials are not required to be translated into Spanish, it is recommended, to ensure that employees understand the terms of their awards. Award materials should be addressed to individual employees in order to avoid securities law requirements.
Stock options
Communications
Argentina
Australia
Translation
There are no translation requirements. Any filing with the government must be in English.
Electronic communication
It is permissible to execute award agreements electronically.
Austria
Although plan materials are not required to be translated initially, a German translation might be necessary at a later stage.
Belgium
Translation
In Belgium, there is specific legislation on the use of languages in employment matters, requiring the use of French for the Walloon region, Dutch for the Flemish region, and French for French-speaking workers and Dutch for Dutch-speaking workers in the Brussels region. Nevertheless, this legislation applies only to communication between the employer and the worker and therefore does not apply to communication between any other entity (notably the foreign parent company) that would grant stock options. Any filing with the government may be required in French or Dutch.
Electronic communication
In some circumstances, it may be acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
Brazil
Although plan materials are not required to be translated, translation is required for any government filing, and is recommended to ensure that employees understand the terms of their awards.
Canada
Translation
Unless an employee in Quebec waives their right to receive plan materials in French, such materials must be translated into French.
Electronic communication
It should be feasible for an employee to execute their award agreement electronically.
Chile
The Labor Authority has asserted that plan materials should be translated; however, translation is not legally required. Government filings and any employee consent authorizing the cross-border transfer of personal data must be in Spanish.
China
Any filing with the government must be translated.
Colombia
Translation
It is not mandatory to have the respective documents translated into Spanish if all employees are proficient in English. However, Spanish is strongly advisable as the Colombian authorities could require any employment-related document to be in Spanish or translated into Spanish (by a certified translator) and duly apostilled (if applicable).
Electronic communication
It is not mandatory for an employee to be able to execute their award agreement electronically.
Czech Republic
Although not required, translation of documents is recommended. Any filing with the government is required to be translated.
Denmark
Employers must provide a summary of their employees' rights under the 2004 Danish Stock Option Act in local language. Government filings must be translated.
Ecuador
Translation of the plan documents is recommended for all employees. The company should ensure that employees understand the documents. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Egypt
Although not required, it is recommended that plan documents be translated. Any filings with the government are required to be translated into Arabic.
Finland
Although not required, translation of plan documents is recommended as a contract may be unenforceable if it is concluded in a language that the participant cannot understand.
France
Although not required, translation of plan documents is recommended as a contract may be unenforceable if it is concluded in a language that the participant cannot understand.
Germany
Translation
Although not required, it is recommended that documents regarding option plans be translated. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Electronic communication
It should be valid for an employee to execute the award agreement electronically.
Greece
Translation
Translation is not required, so long as the employees acknowledge that they understand the grant materials. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Electronic communication
It should be valid for an employee to execute the award agreement electronically.
Hong Kong, SAR
If the employee has limited proficiency in English, it is recommended that plan documents be translated into Chinese.
Hungary
Translation
Although it is not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated.
Electronic communication
It is generally acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
India
There are no translation requirements. Any filing with the government must be in English.
Indonesia
In connection with Law No. 24 of 2009 on Flag, Language, National Emblem, and National Anthem as further implemented by Presidential Regulation No. 63 of 2019 on Use of Indonesian Language, it is mandatory that documents regarding stock plans, especially the award agreements, be executed in Indonesian and English if there is Indonesian party to the agreement.
Ireland
Translation
All government filings must be in English.
Electronic communication
It should be valid for an employee to execute the award agreement electronically.
Israel
Translation of plan-related materials may be required to satisfy securities requirements, if applicable. Any government filings are required to be translated. For labor law purposes, translation is required if English is not the language used in general for communications with employees.
Italy
Although not required, it is recommended that all documents regarding option plans be translated. Any government filings are required to be translated.
Japan
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. All government filings are required to be translated.
Malaysia
Translation
With the exception of the written notice required under the PDPA, there is no legal requirement for the plan materials to be translated into Bahasa Malaysia. However, for employees who are literate in a language other than English, it is recommended that the documents to be provided in that language.
Electronic communication
With the exception of the written notice required under the PDPA, there is no legal requirement for the plan materials to be translated into Bahasa Malaysia. However, for employees who are literate in a language other than English, it is recommended that the documents to be provided in that language.
Mexico
Translation
Although it is not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. All government filings are required to be translated.
Electronic communication
It should be valid for an employee to execute the award agreement electronically.
Netherlands
Translation
A translation of the plan is not required. However, the local tax authorities may require a translation if the plan is submitted for a tax ruling. A translation may further be recommended to ensure that employees understand the terms of their awards.
Electronic communication
It is generally acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
New Zealand
Generally, the offering document must be in English.
Nigeria
Employee communications are required to be interpreted in a language they understand. All filings with the government must be translated to English and notarized as duly translated by a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oath.
Norway
Although it is not legally required, it is recommended to translate documents regarding employee stock plans. Any filings with the government are required to be in Norwegian or English.
Philippines
Documents regarding employee stock plans may be in English and there is no legal requirement that such document be translated. Any filing with the government may be, and is usually in English.
Poland
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filing with the government must be translated.
Portugal
Translation
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filing with the government must be translated.
Electronic communication
In most circumstances, it is acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
Russia
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filing with the government must be translated.
Saudi Arabia
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filing with the government must be translated.
Singapore
There are no translation requirements. Any filing with the government must be in English.
Slovak Republic
Translation
The Slovak Act on State Language requires the written legal acts within the labor law or similar legal relationships to be executed in the Slovak language. Such documents may be bilingual.
Electronic communication
In some circumstances, it may be acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed. According to an employee of the Labor Inspectorate in the Slovak Republic, in their practice it is not common for such agreements to be concluded electronically.
South Africa
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any government filings must be translated.
South Korea
Although not legally required, it is recommended that the plan documents be translated. Any government filings are required to be translated.
Spain
Translation
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any government and legal filings are required to be translated.
Electronic communication
In some circumstances, it may be acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
Sweden
The translation of option plan documents is not required, unless requested by an employee. Any government filings are required to be translated.
Switzerland
Although it is not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Taiwan, China
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee option plans be translated, especially for employees who are not fluent in English. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Thailand
Although not legally required, it is recommended that supporting documents regarding employee option plans be translated. Any filings of official forms with the government are required to be in Thai.
Turkey
Since stock option plans may be considered as a part of the employment contracts, translation of such documents into Turkish is required.
Ukraine
Translation
Although not required, it is recommended that documents regarding stock options be translated into Ukrainian or drafted as bilingual documents. Any filings with the government and banks are required to be translated into Ukrainian or drafted as bilingual documents.
Electronic communication
It should be valid for an employee to execute the award agreement electronically subject to certain conditions.
United Kingdom
Translation
Employee communications are not subject to any specific legal requirements.
Electronic communication
In some circumstances, it may be acceptable for award agreements to be electronically executed.
Venezuela
Communications to the employee shall be addressed directly to the particular employee and not to the general workers population. Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding employee plans be translated. Any filings with the government are required to be translated.
Vietnam
Although not legally required, it is recommended that documents regarding stock option plans be translated. Any filings with the SBV and other competent authorities are required to be made in Vietnamese.