Employment

The annual increase in limits for payments and awards to Northern Ireland workers in relation to certain employment rights is to take effect. From Saturday 6 April, the limit on the compensatory award for unfair dismissal rises from £105,915 to £115,341.

Irish employers find dismissals on performance grounds to be the most difficult to navigate, according to a survey carried out by Mason Hayes & Curran. The business law firm surveyed 450 employers in both the public and private sectors at a recent employment law webinar on navigating effective f

A business has been ordered to pay €450 to an employee who was denied sick leave in the first decision under the landmark Sick Leave Act 2022. The company, North Quay Associates Ltd, admitted that it failed to comply with its statutory obligation and told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC

A chef who brought a claim for constructive dismissal against his former employer has been awarded over €13,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Norman Tanju brought a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against PBR Restaurants Ltd, which operates the Fish Shack chain of

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has published a code of practice for employers and employees on the right to request flexible working and remote working. The 32-page document was published today following a public consultation last year, which drew responses from trade unions and employer r

The Supreme Court has determined that the High Court erred in granting an interlocutory injunction to a company to restrain its employees from continuing industrial action in light of s.19 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Donal O’Donne

New legislation is set to prevent workers from being forced to retire before they reach the state pension age. Ministers have approved the general scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2023, which will prevent the enforcement of mandatory retirement ages lo

Northern Ireland firm Millar McCall Wylie has welcomed Siân McConnell as a solicitor in the firm's employment law team. Director David Mitchell said: "Our commitment to growth and enhancing our client services means continually identifying and supporting talent development.

The UK government is taking action against unscrupulous employers who use controversial ‘fire and rehire’ practices. Dismissal and re-engagement, also known as ‘fire and rehire’, refers to when an employer fires an employee and offers them a new contract on new, often less fa

The High Court has determined that an employee was entitled to refuse to answer his employer’s questions whilst a criminal investigation was ongoing, but that entitlement would cease when the criminal investigation ended or if the plaintiff could establish that its interest in the performance

Barry Crushell examines a recent case concerning the dismissal of a pregnant employee. The case of Ms Abbie Walsh v Soraghan Auto Retail Limited T/A Sandyford Motor Centre (ADJ00045841) examines the circumstances under which the dismissal of a pregnant employee will be deemed to amount to a form of

Ian McFarland, partner at Eversheds Sutherland Belfast, writes on the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly at long last. After nearly two years, we welcome a reformed legislative Assembly. In amongst it all, this is a significant development for employers, employees, and us lawyers alike.

Workers and business owners have been invited to share their views on the legislation protecting tips and gratuities. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022, which came into effect on 1 December 2022, requires a statutory review to be undertaken after one year to assess its

HR professional Audrey Cahill has been appointed as director-general of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Ms Cahill, who previously served as a WRC board member from 2015 to 2021, has over 20 years' experience across all aspects of HR, particularly in the areas of strategic change and transf

As mergers, acquisitions and strategic representation arrangements have altered the Irish legal scene, the Big Four accountants haven’t been slow to see the opportunity to transform themselves from audit firms to multidisciplinary professional services operations. Having made their first foray