Most employers are aware of The Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, but few know about the supplemental provisions of section 14 of the Act and what it means for their workforce.

When an employee acts in a way that crosses a serious line, understanding what gross misconduct means, and handling it correctly, can protect your business from legal risks and reputational harm.

By law an employer must provide written terms and conditions of employment to employees. Currently there are 3 pieces of legislation that outline provisions and protection for employees in respect of terms and conditions of employment. Section 9 of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973 provides that employers must within a month provide written terms and conditions of employment to their employee.

The conversation around diversity and inclusion is evolving. Today, more employers are recognising that neurodivergent individuals bring unique talents, creativity, and perspectives to the workplace. However, employers must understand their legal duties, and take practical steps to create inclusive workplaces.

As of the 1st of January 2025, the new National Minimum Wage is €13.50 gross per hour. It is important to note that there are exceptions to this rate based on age. The minimum hourly rates of pay by age group are as follows;

The European Union (Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 686/2022) came into effect on the 16th of December 2022, altering the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, including some working conditions for the employees, such as the length of probationary periods set out in contracts of employment.

Employers expecting another increase in statutory sick leave entitlements in 2025 can breathe a brief sigh of relief—for now. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has confirmed that the entitlement to paid statutory sick leave will remain at five days per calendar year.

Every organisation is built on human relationships and interactions. These shape and influence how an organisation functions by creating the shared experiences that make up its culture. Organisational culture can be simply described as "the way we do things here," and it has a direct impact on HR strategies, performance, engagement, and employee retention. Research consistently highlights the importance of cultivating and maintaining a strong, positive organisational culture to drive success.

In today’s always-on work culture, the line between work and personal time is increasingly blurred. That’s why Ireland introduced the Right to Disconnect Code of Practice, to help protect employee wellbeing and encourage healthier boundaries.

The Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 686/2022 introduced several important changes that impact employment legislation in Ireland. Here are the key updates employers in Ireland should be aware of:

Equality legislation in Ireland is undergoing significant reform. The Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 proposes a series of key updates to the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts designed to place greater responsibility on employers to ensure inclusive, fair workplaces.

Many employers who contact ESA are unsure of what the difference is between “lay-off” and “short-time” working. Essentially, lay-off is where an employer is unable to provide work for their employees, but believes that this is a temporary situation. Short-time is where an employer has to reduce their employees hours of work or pay to less than 50% of their normal working hours or pay.

As workplace policies continue to evolve, employees are increasingly making use of a wider range of statutory leave entitlements—some of which employers may not have come across before or had very little experience of. Ideally your Contract of Employment or Employee Handbook should set out the various leave entitlements and manner in which they should be applied for. We've also outlined them here in case your documentation requires updating.

In Ireland, vehicle-related incidents are a significant cause of workplace fatalities and injuries. A large percentage of work-related deaths involve vehicles, with some statistics indicating that 45-50% of all workplace deaths reported to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are linked to vehicles. Specifically, being struck by a vehicle is a leading cause of fatal workplace accidents.