News
Government Approves The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill to Protect Employee Tips and Give Customers Transparency
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, has approved ‘The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill’ that will give new rights to employees - forbidding the use of tips and gratuities to make up contractual rates of pay. Employers will have new requirements to clearly display their policy on how card and cash tips, gratuities, and service charges are distributed. All electronic tips must now be distributed fairly and in a transparent way. Mr Varadkar said: “This new law will, for the first time, give workers legal protections over tips. It will mean that any tips received [...]
Tánaiste Introduces Legal Framework For Remote Working Requests
The Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, has published details of a new law giving workers the right to request remote working from their employers. Announcing the legislation, Mr Varadkar said: "So long as the business gets done and services are provided, employers should facilitate it." HR Team Director, Martina McAuley, said: “The Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021 will provide a legal framework for Irish employees to submit a request for remote working and have their request approved or refused by employers. "An employee will be eligible to submit a request once they have worked for their employer for six months. [...]
Managing The Probationary Period
Probationary periods are included as a standard practice in most employment contracts. This is frequently provided for in employment contracts to allow for a trial period in which an employer can evaluate an employee’s suitability and performance. However, probationary periods are not without pitfalls, and dismissal can carry many legal risks during this trial period. Employment contracts that do not contain a probation disclaimer could cause problems for the employer if recruitment is not successful. The Legality Of Probationary Periods Firstly, it is worth noting that although you are not legally obliged to include probationary periods for all new recruits, [...]
Entering the final ‘frontier’ for EU workers post-Brexit – What to know
European Union (EU) citizens employed or self-employed in the UK but are resident elsewhere are classed as frontier workers, those working in the UK on or before December 31 2020 can also still enter the UK for work. Martina McAuley, HR Team company director, outlines the details of frontier worker status. Martina said: “Since January 1 2021, most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who are working in the UK but living elsewhere will need to hold a frontier worker permit to enter the UK as a frontier worker - in addition to a valid passport or national identity card. “Frontier [...]
The HR Advisor January 2022
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Forthcoming Gender Pay Gap Legislation
The ‘Gender Pay Gap Information Bill’ will require organisations to report on the gender pay differentials in their organisations, setting out pay differences between female and male employees, including bonuses – the bill has been stalled since 2019. HR Team director, Martina McAuley, said: “Employers will have to explain the reasons for the gap and outline the measures they have in place to address it. It is expected that the reporting will commence in 2022 and I would recommend that employers begin to prepare now”. Research carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) revealed that only 33% [...]
Budget 2022 Key Points For Employers
Changes to the pandemic wage subsidy scheme are among some of the key takeaways for employers in the Government’s €4.7 billion spending plan for 2022. HR Team reviews how the Budget 2022 will affect employers in the coming year. Key Budget points employers need to be mindful of: Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) support will be extended until the end of April 2022. However, a structure of two rates (€151.50 and €203) will apply from December until the end of February, being reduced to €100 for March and April. The scheme will close to new [...]
The HR Advisor October 2021
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What Is The Grievance Procedure And How Employers Can Manage This Appropriately?
A grievance procedure occurs when your employee has a concern or issue that has not been resolved informally. The employee may escalate this issue and make a formal grievance complaint. Businesses must have a written grievance procedure in place and share it with all employees. This must say how the process works and how long it takes. When an employee raises a formal grievance, their employer should follow a standard procedure. Grievances typically cover the following areas: Raising the issue informally has not been effective, or the matter dealt with cannot be dealt with informally. Pay and working conditions. Terms [...]
How Employers Can Manage Returning To The Workplace
Workers in Ireland are obliged to honour their contracts if their employer requires them to return to the office, says Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar. A ‘staggered and phased’ return to the workplace began on September 20, under the reopening roadmap launched by the government. In this article, leading HR and employment law consultant, Breda Cullen, offers her expert advice on the roadmap, and the impact that this will have on employers and workplaces in the coming months. Ms Cullen says: “Many employers and employees will have been working at home since March 2020. The return to the workplace may pose [...]