2024 results revealed that people’s mental health and wellbeing is being impacted by their work as they are not able to “switch off” with four in ten revealing they have taken a sick day in the last 12 months due to their mental health & wellbeing.
The Government has brought the right to request remote working into operation.
The right to request flexible working arrangements for parents and carers has also commenced.
A code of practice for employers and employers, drawn up by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), has been approved and published.
The right to request remote working and the right to request flexible working under the Work Life Balance Act require a code of practice. This code of practice is currently under development at the Workplace Relations Commission.
From Monday, 27 November 2023, it will be a legal requirement for employers to offer up to five days of paid leave over a period of 12 months to employees affected by domestic violence.
A Christmas party can be a great team-building opportunity, especially this year when there is an opportunity to meet and socialise without restrictions for the first time in four years. Many may still be working hybrid or remotely, something that was not as common pre-covid. Also, after “normal” Christmas parties taking place were so cruelly taken away from us over the last few years, many are now looking forward to the opportunity this year.
Generally, in Ireland, relationships between colleagues and consensual romantic or sexual relationships between work colleagues is an area that is not covered by employment legislation and an area that is not widely dealt with by many employers or their workplace policies.
However, in recent times, more high-profile organisations globally have had trouble in this area and there is nothing stopping any organisation from implementing their own tailored company policies that deal with protocol for when there would be relationships between work colleagues.
The Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 – the legal landscape of protected disclosures, often referred to as ‘whistleblowing’. From 17 December 2023, the Act expands the scope of the protections for those who make protected disclosures and places new and enhanced obligations on organisations with more than 50 employees
The plan for paid sick leave is as follows:
· 3 sick days per calendar year in 2023;
· 5 days per calendar year in 2024;
· 7 days per calendar year in 2025;
· 10 days per calendar year in 2026.
Career cushioning
“Career cushioning” — another term borrowed from the world of dating — means cushioning for whatever comes next in the economy and job market, taking actions to keep your options open.
Career cushioning is the end of year term for 2022, in light of high profile lay-offs in the tech world and continuing worry of the cost-of-living crisis and threat of a possible recession. The worker’s reaction is to create a safety net or a back-up if it all goes wrong.
Every year there appears to be great confusion about public holiday entitlements of workers at Christmas time.
Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day are public holidays.
Even when a public holiday falls on a day which is not a ‘normal working day’ for that business (for example, on Saturday or Sunday), employees are still entitled to benefit for that public holiday.
a very competitive labour market is obviously leading to this and it can be very frustrating and costly for the employer who invests time in the recruitment process and onboarding of a new hire and but only then for the potential candidate or even successful candidate cutting off all contact!
The WHO predicted this peak-time summer season wave and unfortunately strategic plans have not been put in place by government to help businesses and to help employers. There needs to be a long-term plan for small businesses to able to cope with the continued shockwaves of covid. The introduction of Covid supports to Businesses now needs to be a very real consideration as the Covid impact is still there and it is eroding turnover and the bottom line,
Two new codes of practice
1.The Code of Practice on Equal Pay provides employers, trade unions and employees with practical guidance on the right to equal pay, how to eliminate pay inequality, and how to resolve pay disputes.
2.The Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work sets out what is meant by employment-related sexual harassment and harassment and outlines how it can be prevented.
WATCH: Damien McCarthy, founder of HR Buddy, on new guidelines that refer to vaccination status, despite employers not having access to staff vaccine information #TonightVMTV
58% of women say they have experienced harassment in their workplace, 4 in 5
experienced sexualised comments being made towards them at work whilst 3 out of 4 say
they are not confident that they will not experience harassment in the future.
Wellbeing is going to be critical. People have been impacted in different ways. Some may have lost a love one, some may have struggled financially, a lot will have gotten used to doing things differently, many will have a different outlooks and sets of values out the other side of this. Parents who were working from home may see detachment issues with their young children, when they return to the office. Some will have thrived through homeworking, some will have hated it and although many employees will be happy to see restrictions lifted, there will still caution and a worry with regard to health & safety in the workplace as the restrictions may have eased but the threat of Covid-19 still remains in the background.
The GDPR issue with regard not being allowed to ask, learn or disclose vaccination status of employees is particularly awkward and almost conflicts with the safety, health and welfare act. But the pandemic has thrown up some confusing and difficult situations and it is no different when it comes to workplace relations and employment law.
To avail of Enhanced Illness Benefit, depending on your circumstances, the Department of Social Protection will accept: 1. Confirmation from the HSE that you have
