News
The Illusion of Choice: The Commercial Realities of Ireland’s New Pensions Auto-Enrolment Regime
Ireland's new pensions auto-enrolment scheme, My Future Fund, marks one of the biggest changes to workplace pensions in decades. While many employers see it as simply another payroll deduction, the reality is far more complex. Auto-enrolment introduces new legal obligations, increased payroll responsibilities and ongoing [...]
The Misclassification Trap: Navigating Revenue’s Contractor Audits and the Platform Workers Directive
Many Irish businesses rely on contractors, consultants and freelancers to remain agile, access specialist skills and manage fluctuating workloads. In many cases, these arrangements are entirely legitimate. However, as contractor relationships evolve over time, the distinction between self-employment and employment can become blurred. This is [...]
Rejecting Remote Work: The Legal Pitfalls Under the WRC Code of Practice
Since March 2024, employees in Ireland have had a statutory right to request remote working. While employers can refuse requests, they must follow the process set out in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 and the WRC Code of Practice. Many employers [...]
The Article 7 Trigger: Are You Ready for Employee Pay Requests?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive will introduce significant changes for Irish employers. One of the most important is Article 7, which gives employees the right to request information about pay levels within their organisation. Many employers are focused on Gender Pay Gap Reporting. However, Article [...]
The Pay Transparency Toolkit: How Irish Employers Can Prepare for the New EU Pay Transparency Rules
The EU Pay Transparency Directive is changing how Irish employers manage salaries, recruitment, and equal pay compliance. Although Ireland is introducing the rules in phases, employers already face higher scrutiny and greater legal exposure. This guide explains the latest 2026 guidance, the EIGE toolkit, the [...]
Retention at Risk: Why the January Wage Increase is Biting Now
Four months into 2026, the initial administrative rush of the €14.15 minimum wage increase has evolved into a "pay squeeze" threatening staff loyalty as entry-level wages close the gap on experienced roles. In an April market where specialist talent remains highly selective and candidate intent [...]
EU Platform Workers Directive in Ireland: What Employers Need to Know Before 2026
The EU Platform Workers Directive will significantly change how organisations classify contractors and gig workers across Europe. Many organisations rely on contractors, freelancers, or platform workers to deliver services. Under the upcoming EU Platform Workers Directive, some of these workers may legally be treated as [...]
Mandatory Retirement After 65 in Ireland: What the New Law Requires Employers to Do
Mandatory retirement clauses remain common in Irish employment contracts, but recent legal changes have altered their operation in practice. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act now requires employers to justify retirement decisions through an individual assessment process. Businesses that continue to rely on automatic retirement [...]
Auto-Enrolment Is Live: 5 Steps Employers Must Take Right Now
Ireland’s auto-enrolment pension system is now in force, creating immediate legal duties for employers. Where eligible employees are not already members of a qualifying pension scheme, employers must assess eligibility, register with the system, calculate and remit contributions and maintain accurate records. Auto-enrolment affects payroll, [...]
Is Your Organisation Ready for the June 2026 EU Pay Transparency Deadline?
From June 2026, pay transparency will no longer be optional for Irish employers. The EU Pay Transparency Directive introduces legally enforceable obligations that change how organisations set pay, advertise roles, respond to employee requests and justify pay decisions. These rules apply across the Irish labour [...]
Performance Reviews, Sickness, and Policies: The HR Risks That Peak After Christmas
January is when familiar problems resurface. Absence increases. Return-to-work conversations feel awkward. Performance reviews restart without clarity. Managers apply policies differently just to keep things moving. None of this looks serious at first. But by February or March, these issues often escalate into complaints, disputes, [...]
January HR Checks for Employers: What to Review Before Payroll Problems Start
January is when the “quick questions” start. Is this pay rate correct? Does auto-enrolment apply here? Why is this being handled differently now? None of it feels urgent on its own, but it all lands just as payroll is due. Most employers are not doing [...]
How to Prevent Workplace Burnout After the Holidays: HR Strategies for a Productive 2026 Start
Many employees return from the Christmas and New Year period already feeling drained. Year-end deadlines, personal commitments and financial pressure often leave little space for genuine recovery. Without clear HR direction, this fatigue can quickly turn into workplace burnout by February. Employers protect productivity when [...]
2026 Employment Law Changes: What Employers in Ireland & Northern Ireland Must Prepare for Now
Employers across Ireland and Northern Ireland face significant employment law updates in 2026. Changes to minimum wage, statutory sick pay, working time rules and pay transparency will directly affect payroll, policies and day-to-day people management. For many organisations, especially those operating on both sides of [...]
HR Trends 2026: The Future of Work, Fairness and AI
Hybrid work fatigue, AI anxiety, and widening skills gaps are hitting HR teams hard. The future of work is no longer a distant concept—it’s here, and 2026 will demand sharper decisions, stronger leadership, and fairer systems. HR trends 2026 show a clear shift: technology and [...]