Irish HR and Employment Law Developments

Disability remains the most cited reason for discrimination claims under the Employment Equality Act, according to the WRC’s most recent Annual Report. For employers and HR professionals, failing to manage accommodations or disability-related absences isn’t just tricky—it’s risky and expensive. Join Sinead Morgan, Legal Director at DAC Beachcroft, for a practical 45-minute session where she breaks down recent WRC and Labour Court decisions and shares the key lessons HR teams wish they’d learn...

Research by Matrix Recruitment shows 88% of workers say bullying and harassment remains a serious problem in Irish workplaces. Handling allegations of bullying and harassment is one of the most testing parts of the HR role, particularly when emotions are high and everyone is watching what you do next. Mishandling complaints can escalate issues, harm morale, and even trigger a tribunal. Dr Gerry McMahon – an acknowledged national expert in people management who has over 35 years’ experience as...

Winter is coming and so are the coughs, colds and caring emergencies. As HR professionals know all too well, this is the season when requests for time off multiply: “My child’s sick again”, “Mum’s had a fall”, “I need time for a doctor’s appointment”. But which type of leave actually applies? Force majeure? Compassionate? Parental? Carer’s? It can feel like an alphabet soup of entitlements and one wrong move can leave an employer exposed. Join Aoife Gallagher-Watson, Director, Employment Law,...

Ireland’s new auto-enrolment scheme is going live and for HR teams, that means real changes to contracts, payroll, and how you communicate with staff. Yet, as RTÉ recently reported, 1 in 4 organisations still haven’t begun preparing. So, ask yourself: is your organisation ready? Or just hoping it all falls into place? Whether you're well underway or just getting started, this short, focused webinar will help you: • Understand your obligations and what’s changing • Sp...

President Donald Trump issued executive orders rolling back DEI efforts across the US, which contributed to job cuts in the public sector and prompted some companies to reconsider their diversity policies. Major corporations - including Meta, McDonald's, and Bank of America - have adjusted their DEI strategies, scaling back public diversity targets and shifting towards ‘merit-based’ hiring practices. If research found diverse teams are 70% more likely to capture new markets, why is opposition...

Bullying and harassment remain pressing issues in Ireland, with nearly 1 in 3 workers experiencing them firsthand according to Matrix Recruitment’s recent study: Workplace Equality Report. Despite complaints being raised to HR or senior leaders, only 20% felt they were resolved promptly and discreetly. This begs the question, are the current Codes of Practice enough? Laura McKee, Knowledge Partner, Legal Island is joined by Bernadette Daly, Partner, CC Solicitors and Dr Gerry McMahon, (MD at ...

Ever wondered why your top talent is heading for the exit? The answer might be closer than you think. Our webinar uncovers the pitfalls of 'accidental managers'—those well-meaning but undertrained leaders who are costing your organisation its best people. Fortune magazine reported 66% of managers are defined as ‘accidental managers’ and in this webinar, Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite and Julie Holmes, Knowledge Partner at Legal Island, uncover why undertrained managers are driving nearly a th...

As HR professionals, ensuring an inclusive and supportive workplace is a fundamental responsibility. A recent Irish survey conducted by Red C on behalf of Bank of Ireland revealed that almost 1 in 10 adults in Ireland identify as neurodivergent, yet only half of neurodivergent employees have disclosed their condition to their employer. Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how the human brain works and processes information, leading to diverse behavioural traits and interactions i...

As HR professionals, safeguarding the well-being of our employees is a paramount responsibility. Unfortunately, domestic abuse is an issue that affects many; in 2023, more than 54,000 domestic abuse complaints were made to An Garda Síochána, marking an 8% rise compared to the previous year. Domestic abuse and its repercussions often extend into the workplace, impacting productivity, morale, and overall health. It is essential HR makes a positive impact by fostering a supportive workplace cult...

Duncan Inverarity of A&L Goodbody LLP and Legal Island’s Victoria Smith give you a sneak preview of the issues you need to be aware of to future-proof your organisation. Duncan provides his expert insights on what legal issues employers will need to deal with in 2024/25. We give you the inside scoop on the Annual Review and reveal some of the topics and experts who’ll be joining us! But most importantly you’ll gain insights into what’s on the employment law horizon for Irish businesses.

Industry experts Ryan Calvert and Rebekah Mulligan from MCS, alongside Julie Holmes from Legal Island, explore the latest recruitment trends – and the path to building diverse, inclusive teams. While diversity is pivotal, it's just the beginning of the journey towards true inclusivity. Learn how to kickstart this journey by establishing a robust talent pipeline, then go further by fostering a positive workplace culture that embraces everyone. We'll equip you with strategies tailored for organ...

1 in 5 workers in Ireland had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace according to a 2019 survey conducted by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Many conveyed that they did not report these incidents due to fears of retaliation or job loss. Similarly, the Workplace Relations Commission acknowledges there is an underreporting of incidents, with many employees citing that they distrust the reporting processes and fear of worsening their work situation as the main reasons fo...

In this insightful free webinar, delivered by the new CEO of included, Michelle Sequira, we’ll be examining the pressing DEI challenges of 2024 and sharing the latest advice and guidance on actionable strategies to overcome them. "Beyond Barriers: Top DEI Challenges in 2024 and How to Solve Them," is designed for business leaders, HR professionals, and DEI advocates who are committed to creating more inclusive environments. Michelle will be tackling these core issues : Em...

Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite, and Julie Holmes from Legal Island, delve into the latest HR trends and developments specifically tailored for the Irish landscape. Are you ready to enhance your skills and tackle workplace investigations with confidence? In this webinar you'll gain insights into managing investigations in line with best practice. Discover how to streamline your approach and ensure fairness and compliance every step of the way. Learn first-hand from seasoned ...

Emer Murphy and Andrew Desmond from A&L Goodbody LLP and Julie Holmes from Legal Island, discuss practical advice to ensure GDPR compliance in your workplace. From data protection intricacies to implementing effective safeguards, our expert-led webinar will empower you with the knowledge needed to protect sensitive data. In this webinar, Emer, Andrew and Julie will discuss: How advances in technology can create positive and negative issues for businessesKey lessons and recommended actions...

Have you ever swiped on your social media to read a post that makes you squirm or cringe? What if it is connected to someone in your workplace? What if the post then goes viral? You're not alone. In today's digital era, HR professionals and business leaders are often confronted with such challenging scenarios. Social media's impact is undeniable, both personally and professionally. But what happens when an employee's misguided post about their workplace or colleagues become a crisis?&...

Digital transformation expert Kieran Gilmurray shares the ten steps you need to take to implement AI successfully in your HR department and beyond. From setting clear business objectives to expanding AI into every relevant HR area and business role, and much more in between.

Julie Holmes from Legal Island and Ryan Calvert, Head of Human Resources, Sales and Marketing Recruitment from MCS, provide an annual recruitment wrap-up, where Ryan delved into the latest recruitment trends in roles, pay and sector differentiators. Essential viewing to stay up-to-date with recruitment insights to gain a competitive edge in the talent market. By understanding the latest trends and best practices, employers can tailor their recruitment processes to streamline them, resulting i...

In this month's webinar Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite, and Julie Holmes of Legal Island, discuss the crucial topic of employee wellbeing during the festive season including: Addressing challenging weather scenarios when they impact your workforceSupporting employees with sensitive issues like domestic violenceGet ready to expertly manage your company's Christmas celebrations, ensuring a memorable and trouble-free experience for all.

We explore the journey of the Adjudication Service of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) since its establishment to now. Undoubtedly, the WRC has in the last 3 years gone through its most challenging period and is entering a new era in its adjudicative model. In this podcast, we directly from an Adjudication Officer on best practice for respondents who are coming before the WRC’s Adjudication Service. How do respondents handle the changing landscape of the WRC’s Adjudication Service? Laura ...

Do you think a WRC discrimination claim won’t happen to your organisation? If it does, are you prepared? According to the 2023 Workplace Equality Survey, by Matrix Recruitment, a staggering one in five have said they have both witnessed and been a victim of discrimination in the workplace. Nearly 500 employment equality complaints were received by the WRC in the first half of 2023, with disability, gender and race making up the bulk of complaints. And did you know that the majority of claims ...

In this month's webinar with the HR Suite, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite provides insights on workplace investigations". When issues such as harassment, discrimination, misconduct, or conflicts arise, HR professionals must conduct thorough and unbiased investigations to address these matters appropriately. Investigators must employ critical thinking, ethical considerations, and effective communication skills to ensure fairness and accuracy throughout the investigative jour...

Do you believe that a workplace culture rooted in dignity and respect is the cornerstone of organisational success? In today's rapidly evolving world, nurturing an environment that fosters dignity and respect has never been more crucial. It not only empowers employees but also drives productivity, engagement, and innovation. Julie Holmes, Knowledge Partner at Legal Island, and Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite explore the transformative power of fostering a positive and inclus...

Absence Management and the Introduction of SSP with The HR Suite Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to build high performing businesses by connecting them with the most talented candidates in the market. If you are interested in finding out how MCS can help you, head to www.mcsgroup.jobs.

Join Rolanda Markey and HR & Employment Law expert Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite as they discuss your employment law queries. In this podcast Caroline will discuss the current topical challenges being encountered in complying with the Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly,...

In this month's webinar Caroline Reidy, of the HR Suite will discuss some key learning points for employers arising from recent case law decisions. Caroline will focus on matters relating to equality, unfair dismissal, dignity and respect and fair processes. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to build high performing businesses by connecting them with...

In the second instalment of a series of webinars discussing comparative laws on the island of Ireland and GB, Lewis Silkin and Legal Island will discuss equality laws in GB, NI and ROI including: An analysis of the types of discrimination claims across GB, NI and ROI – what are the trends or similarities?The gulf between equality laws in GB and NI has widened since the introduction of the GB Equality Act. What are the key need to knows about the inconsistencies? What are the key differen...

Grab your lunch and join Rolanda Markey, Learning and Development Team at Legal Island and Ryan Calvert, Manager of HR Recruitment for UK and Ireland, as they discuss the key trends emerging in HR recruitment. Ryan serves up some digestible golden nuggets of information and guidance that will leave you feeling satisfied and refreshed! MCS Help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to build high-performing businesses by connecting them wit...

The Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 was introduced by the Government in January and will set out a legal framework whereby an employer can either approve or reject a request to work remotely from an employee. It also lays out 13 reasons why employers can refuse to approve a request for remote working. In this webinar, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite discusses the preparations an employer should make to prepare for a request for remote working and considers what ...

In this month's webinar with the HR Suite, Caroline Reidy will address the key considerations that you need to be aware of in preparation for a hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission. This session will include the preparation of the submission, defending the case and understanding the format. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to build high performing busin...

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) recently published two new codes of practice – the Code of Practice on Equal Pay and the Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work In this webinar, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite considers what these codes mean for employers and what actions they should take to ensure compliance with the codes. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match t...

Legal Island's Comparative Employment Law Table has been updated and expanded to include recent Republic of Ireland developments (of which there are many). Ciara Fulton of Lewis Silkin joins Legal Island's Rolanda Markey to take a deep dive into the Table and discuss new ways of working and family-related rights in GB, NI and Ireland including: Ireland is tackling work-life balance and remote working head on – what does this mean for employers in Ireland? GB doesn’t need to implement E...

In this webinar Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite outlines the importance of having an awareness of the impact that menopause can have on females, and creating a culture of support and understanding on the subject of menopause. Caroline also outlines the importance of having a policy on menopause. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to ...

Duncan Inverarity, Head of Employment, A&L Goodbody, was a massive hit at our Annual Reviews of Employment Law in November. In this webinar, Duncan revises what he considers to be the top employment cases of the last year (including any post-November 2021) and sets out learning points and takeaway actions to put into practice. Join Duncan and Scott Alexander from Legal Island as they discuss the top cases and why they are important to employers in Ireland. Duncan will set out the factual ...

In this first webinar of 2022, Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite will discuss good practice in managing probationary periods and performance with Legal Island's Rolanda Markey. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employers to build high performing businesses by connecting them with the most talented candidates in the market. If you are interested in finding out how MCS can hel...

Jennifer Cashman, Partner and Practice Group Leader at Ronan Daly Jermyn is our keynote speaker at Legal Island's Annual Review of Employment Law. In this webinar she will be covering key new developments since November and focus on upcoming developments in employment law including: The Transparency at Work Directive Introduction of a Statutory Right to Request Remote Work and the National Remote Working Strategy Gender Pay Gap Consultation on the Review of t...

In this month’s webinar, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and Employment Law Expert will discuss the contents of the recently published Sick Leave Bill 2021 and outline what this will mean for HR professionals, as well as discuss Christmas party considerations for employers in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Legal Island’s webinars and podcasts are sponsored by MCS Group, MCS help people find careers that match their skill sets perfectly, as well as supporting employe...

In this month's podcast, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and Employment Law Expert, will outline how to deal with allegations of bullying in the workplace.

Stephen Frost examines three major D&I opportunities to arise since the Covid outbreak and their importance for the workplace. Stephen Frost of Included is one of the UK’s foremost D&I experts. He led the D&I initiatives at the London Olympics and Paralympics which are regarded as one of the most successful games in modern times. In this podcast (derived from the live webinar), Stephen reviews the most important developments for HR and D&I practitioners relevant to the world o...

In this month's podcast, HR and employment law expert Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite, discusses the new right to request remote working. Caroline provides guidance for employers in considering requests from employees to work on a remote basis.

In this episode, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite, discusses dealing with performance issues. Caroline outlines the best practice for dealing with: Poor performance in new staffPoor performance in long-term staffPoor performance and difficult situations in a remote/hybrid backdrop

David McCarroll, Partner at Ronan Daly Jermyn discusses: The current status of Sectoral Employment OrdersCurrent and proposed employment protections for employees who blow the whistle under current Protected Disclosures law and the EU Directive set to be transposed in to Irish law this yearProof of Covid-19 Vaccination - to what extent, if any, can employers demand Covid vaccination proof to allow an employee to undertake a role

In this episode, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director at The HR Suite outlines the importance of having the proper foundations in place for discipline and grievance management including; Appropriate policesCorrect procedures and training to effectively management disciplinary and grievance mattersAdherence to relevant Codes of PracticeConsideration of when suspension is appropriate

During this episode, Scott Alexander of Legal Island and Michelle Ryan, Senior Associate at RDJ, discuss the data protection implications of seeking information on an employee’s covid-19 vaccination status in light of the proposed directive from the HSE that frontline health staff will have to indicate their vaccination status. They also discuss the further extension to the suspension of Section 12a of the Redundancy Payments Act preventing employees who are laid off making a request fo...

The government has committed to bringing statutory sick pay into legislation by the end of 2021. This will be a major change for Irish employers in terms of costs and absence management. The governments statutory sick pay scheme is due to be phased in over a 4-year period. It is hoped to begin with 3 paid sick days per year for each employee starting in 2022, rising to 5 days in 2023 and 7 days in 2024. It is hoped that employers will cover the cost of 10 sick days per year by 2025. The...

Q2 has marked a new chapter in life and work, with several steps forward. Coronavirus restrictions began easing, and the vaccination programme speeded up, just after a new official code of practice came into place on the right to disconnect from work. Around the same time, the Tánaiste also invited submissions on putting the right to seek remote working into law. In this context, Legal Island discuss what the next phase holds for employers, with a focus on work-life balance, particularly in r...

In this podcast, Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and Employment Law Expert, outlines some tips for managing both short and long-term absence. This includes: Absence PolicyDealing with Long Term absenceDealing with sporadic Short-Term AbsenceReasonable Accommodation

In this podcast, Antoinette Vahey, Partner with RDJ discusses the following with Scott Alexander: WRC Adjudication Service – following the recent Supreme Court case of Zalewski -v- Adjudication Office & ors [2021] IESC 24 the WRC has made a number of changes to the operation of its Adjudication Service. The impact of these changes for cases in the system and those going forward and how the WRC are likely to approach them will be reviewed.Redundancy/Collective redundancy – the ine...

In this podcast, Caroline McEnery, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and Employment Law Expert, discusses the HR implications of the new code of practice on the right to disconnect. In particular, Caroline focuses on: The Organisation of Working Time Act and the right to disconnectDo policies need updated in light of this.Do HR staff need to coach managers to ensure compliance with the code.What about remote/agile workers and the right to disconnect.What about peaks and troughs in work...

In this recording, Legal Island's Rolanda Markey is joined by Caroline McEnery, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and employment law expert to discuss what the new unified bullying code of practice means for HR professionals. Topics include: Updating your policyConsidering your line managers roleDesignating Contact PeopleCommunication & roll out to staffQ&ADISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast is provided as part of Legal Island's Irish Employment Law Hub. We regret...

Legal Island's Rolanda Markey is joined by Caroline McEnery, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR and employment law expert. In this podcast, Caroline discusses the management of probationary periods and the implications of recent case law. This includes consideration of the following questions: What should a probationary clause contain?How often should performance be assessed/discussed during probation?What happens if an employee is sick during a probationary period?Can we discipline an ...

In this brand new bi-monthly podcast from Legal Island and Ronan Daly Jermyn, Scott Alexander, Head of Learning and Development, discuss key employment law developments with the Partners in RDJ’s Employment Team, including the effervescent Jennifer Cashman and her equally lively colleagues David McCarroll, Deirdre Malone, Antoinette Vahey and Michelle Ryan. Our lead panellist in this first session is David McCarroll, who is based in RDJ’s Galway office. David and Scott discuss… An employer’s ...

Duncan Inverarity, Head of A&L Goodbody's Employment Law Group, discusses the background to, and implications of the recent Court of Appeal decision in the case of Donal O’Donovan v Over-C Technology Limited and Over-C Limited [2021] IECA 37 for probationary clauses and practice. DISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast is provided as part of Legal Island's Irish Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that pr...

The subject of performance conversations never goes away for employers or HR professionals. It has been to the fore in this last year. Assuming our speaker is correct, how can you ensure your top performing Millennial employees remain top performers or get back to performing at their best, where they may have slipped or become demotivated, particularly when working from home and without obvious peer support in the next office? Performance conversations are vital retention and motivational too...

Kevin Empey of WorkMatters shares his experience of helping organisations to shape their ‘Future of Work’ models for the more blended, post-Covid world of work we are all facing. While it will be some months before most employers open up their workplace to all employees, planning has already commenced in shaping what the new, blended world of work will look like and how it will be delivered. Over the past year, WorkMatters has been supporting organisations work through and plan what the...

Employment law expert Caroline McEnery, Managing Director of The HR Suite and HR, provides tips and guidance for promoting proactive performance management processes and managing under performance. Caroline discusses: Top tips for performance managementRemotely managing performanceProbationAbsence managementBullying versus performance managementDISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast is provided as part of Legal Island's Irish Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respo...

Jennifer Cashman, Partner and Practice Group Leader at Ronan Daly Jermyn is our keynote speaker at Legal Island's Annual Review of Employment Law conference. In order to help delegates maximise their return on investment and bring others up to date, Jennifer joins us to cover key new developments since November, summarising the law, advising on remedial actions and answering your questions. In this podcast, created from a live webinar recording, Jennifer focuses on: Developments in Remote Wor...

Duncan Inverarity, Head of Employment at A&L Goodbody, revises what he considers to be the top employment cases of the last year (including any post-November 2020) and sets out learning points and takeaway actions to put into practice. Duncan and Scott Alexander from Legal Island discuss the top cases and why they are important to employers in Ireland. Duncan sets out the factual background, what the relevant court decided and what this means from a practical perspective for employers. D...

Following her excellent session at the Annual Review of Employment Law 2020 conference in November, Caroline McEnery, Managing Director at The HR Suite and WRC Adjudicator, provides tips and guidance for handling remote investigations and disciplinary matters and deals with your questions around this area including: RecordingsCovid issuesIssues ref processPIP/DisciplinaryNon-attendanceDISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast is provided as part of Legal Island's Irish Employment Law Hub. W...