Sinead Morgan, senior associate in the employment team at DWF in Dublin, sets out the key legal considerations for any company offering remote working to its employees. Remote working, flexible working or homeworking? Whatever term you choose to use the desire for, and drive towards remote working i
Employment
The former business development manager of a gin distillery start-up has been awarded €9,533 for constructive dismissal and non-payment of wages. Adjudication Officer Marguerite Buckley said that the managing director of the company, for whom the start-up was a side venture, took “a lax v
Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan of Richard Grogan & Associates examines the issue of harassment in the workplace. In Case ADJ15003, the Adjudication Officer dealt with two significant issues: firstly, what is harassment; and secondly, the issue of investigations of complaints.
Lisa Bryson, partner and head of employment at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers the meaning of Priti Patel's recent announcement on free movement. Reports early this week indicated that the new Home Secretary intends to “end free movement” to the UK of EEA citizens immediately
The Government is considering the case for a French-style "right to disconnect" law to ensure workers do not feel obliged to check work-related emails outside of office hours. Business Minister Heather Humphreys, responding to a parliamentary question, said the Government would "examine the French a
A female prison officer with 25 years' service with the Irish Prison Service has been awarded €20,000 in the Workplace Relations Commission after it was found that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of gender. Finding that gender discrimination had occurred when the officer had b
A man whose employment was terminated after a dispute arose over paternity leave has been awarded nearly €8,000 in the Workplace Relations Commission. The man had been informed that he was entitled to a period of paid leave, but after approaching his manager, his request for paid leave was decl
A woman who was sexually harassed at work for over six months after she returned from maternity leave has been awarded €40,000 in the Workplace Relations Commission. The woman stated that she was sexually harassed on a regular basis in front of managers of the retail store she worked in, and th
Jill Gracey, senior associate at A&L Goodbody in Belfast, considers the issue of holiday pay from the perspective of employers. Almost every employer in Northern Ireland will be aware of the 'PSNI Holiday Pay case' as it progresses through the Northern Ireland courts.
The Supreme Court has held that the Employment Equality Acts requires the distribution of essential duties must be considered as part of a “reasonable accommodation” to accommodate employees with a disability, and that the Court of Appeal erred in making a distinction between “task
BT has lost an appeal against the finding that it was liable for disability discrimination for failing to make reasonable adjustments in its recruitment process for a man with Asperger’s Syndrome. Finding that there was no error in the reasoning or in the fact finding of the Industrial Tribuna
Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan of Richard Grogan & Associates considers recent cases illustrating the different means of recourse for pregnancy-related dismissal. In case ADJ18062, being a case of a waitress and a restaurant, the Adjudication Officer quoted the case of O'Brien –v-
Audrey Whyte, associate in the employment, immigration and reward team at Lewis Silkin in Dublin, writes on a recent Labour Court decision. A recent Labour Court decision reminds employers that they could be ordered to re-employ employees they have unfairly dismissed. Employers should also consider
Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan of Richard Grogan & Associates writes on a case concerning maternity leave. The case EDA1919, being G4S Secure Solutions (Ireland) Limited and Kelly, is a decision of the Labour Court of 12th June 2019.
Legislation providing for the phased introduction of eight additional weeks of unpaid parental leave has been brought into force. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan yesterday signed the commencement order for the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, which was originally introduced as a private member