This week's top 5:

1. Schools feel the crunch as secretaries and caretakers strike 🚸🏫
2. Increase in AI uptake as 40% of employees reported using AI ✨
3. Public Interest Privilege - MHC considers High Court decision and its implications ⚖️
4. More than half of recruiters anticipate increase in vacancies over the next three months 📈🚀
5. Without smarter workforce planning, is your organisation's productivity and innovation at risk? 🤔🔎
   

And in other news....Back-to-school routines aren’t the only thing worth tracking this September. Discover who really does the heavy lifting at home with this playful Household Tracker.  

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1. Case Law Reviews
2. Annual Review Session of the Week - Unpacking the EU Pay Transparency Directive
3. AI and Employment Law
4. Labour Market
5. Reinstatement
6. Industrial Relations
7. Public Interest Privilege Considered
8. The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030
9. Government Taking Last Minute Approach to Pensions
10. Just In Case You Missed It....
11. HR Developments
12. Employment News in the Media
13. Friends of Legal Island
14. Free Webinars This Month 

Dragomir Mollov v Key Waste Management Limited ADJ-00053014

Summary: Overtime clause valid but claim out of time.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Ensure that all contracts of employment are carefully reviewed before being issued to staff. Clauses relating to pay, overtime, and hours of work must reflect actual practice. If an error is made, such as the accidental inclusion of an overtime entitlement, it may create legal exposure. 
  
  
• Give employees signed copies of their contracts at the outset of employment and to retain proof of delivery. 
  
  
• Keep accurate payroll and attendance records to demonstrate compliance. Where a contractual error is identified, it should be corrected promptly, with clear communication to affected employees.

Read the full Review here: Dragomir Mollov v Key Waste Management Limited [2025]

Prathibha Prakasan v Castlebridge Manor Private Clinic Limited t/a Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home ADJ-00049739

Summary: Employee was found to have been unfairly dismissed without fair procedures, with compensation reduced for mitigation and contributory fault.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Ensure that all actions comply with the principles of fair procedures. This means employees must be given clear notice of the issues raised, an opportunity to respond, and explicit warning if their job is at risk. A performance improvement plan (PIP) should never be treated as a formality. It must be completed before any dismissal decision is made, and outcomes must be fairly assessed.
  
  
• Follow their own disciplinary procedures and the statutory Code of Practice (S.I. 117/1996). Even where performance issues appear obvious, failure to apply these procedures exposes the employer to findings of unfair dismissal. Proper documentation is essential in demonstrating reasonableness and transparency.
  
  
• Separate operational frustrations from formal decision-making. Termination decisions should only follow a structured disciplinary process, ideally involving HR oversight, to minimise risk of legal challenge and ensure dismiss is procedurally fair and legally sound.  
  

Read the full Review here: Prathibha Prakasan v Castlebridge Manor Private Clinic Limited t/a Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home [2025]

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These case reviews were written by Patrick Barrett BL.

Patrick's legal education is robust, beginning with a BCL Law Degree from University College Cork (2012-2016), followed by an LL.M in Business Law from the same institution (2016-2017), and culminating in a Barrister-at-Law Degree from The Honorable Society of King’s Inns in Dublin (2019-2021). He has extensive experience on the South-West Circuit, handling Civil, Family, and Criminal Law cases, as well as advising the Citizen Advice Service.  He has worked as an employment consultant, dealing with workplace investigations and bankruptcy procedures.

Remember: Our Irish case law reviews are now held in our case law section on our fully-searchable employment law hub website.

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The EU Pay Transparency Directive is set to transform how pay equity is managed across the EU and Irish employers need to start preparing now. With a transposition deadline of 7 June 2026, this new legal framework will bring major changes to recruitment, pay reporting and employee rights. It’s not just about compliance – it’s about shifting towards genuine pay transparency and tackling unjustified gender pay gaps.

Join Maura Connolly, Head of Employment and Partner at Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP, as she breaks down what Irish employers need to know. You can find the full details here.

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Big increase in AI usage in workplaces – Ibec

New research from business group Ibec has found a big increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces. The study shows that in July 2025, 40% of employees reported using AI in their workplace tasks compared with 19% in August 2024. The use of AI in specific roles rose from 12% in 2024 to 33% in 2025. RTÉ has more here.

How 'job' scams work: AI images, fake websites and false promises

Scammers are increasingly preying on job seekers, particularly those pursuing remote opportunities by offering seemingly legitimate online tasks like liking posts or writing reviews. Victims are lured in with visible “earnings” on a platform, only to be told they must pay to unlock their funds after completing a few tasks. This exploitative scheme disproportionately targets vulnerable individuals, including those who are unemployed, isolated, or financially strained. As Robert McArdle of Trend Micro notes, urgency and emotional manipulation are key tactics. RTÉ’s Jack McCarron explains here.

Why Representing HR via GenAI Just Got a Whole Lot Better

This week Barry Phillips looks at the new version of Gemini Pro Flash that takes image generation to a new level.

You can also access the episode here.

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Job cuts up by over 9% while number of jobs created falls

The number of jobs cut during the three months of April to June increased by over 9% compared to the same period last year while the number of jobs created declined marginally, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows. According to the latest labour market churn report, the total number of jobs created during the second quarter of this year stood at 172,643, a decrease of 0.8% year-on-year. You can read more on this from the Irish Examiner.

Recruiters anticipate vacancies but talent supply an issue

According to the Employment and Recruitment Federation (ERF), more than half of recruiters (55%) anticipate an increase in vacancies over the next three months, compared to 12% who expect a decline. While demand remains strong, confidence about candidate supply is weaker, with only 39% projecting the pool of qualified candidates to grow. You can read more Business Plus.

Updated Employment Agencies List

Please find the updated Licenced Agencies list as at 01/09/2025 here.

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Arts manager who won WRC unfair dismissal case appeals to Labour Court to get job back

A former arts manager who successfully brought an unfair dismissal claim and secured compensation against her former employer has appealed to the Labour Court to seek reinstatement to her job.

Linda O’Shea Farren, who was summarily dismissed from the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), was awarded €55,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after her employer, a publicly-funded organisation for new music, conceded the claim and acknowledged that she “did not contribute” to her dismissal.

The WRC decision, however, could not envisage “harmonious working relations” between the parties and found reinstatement was not appropriate, awarding the €55,000 based on €44,000 salary, loss and prospective loss of income. Irish Times has more.

Keep an eye on the Case Law section of our Employment Law Hub for a full review of the Labour Court decision once published.....

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Schools expecting to feel the crunch as secretaries and caretakers warn strike could go on for weeks

School secretaries and caretakers are prepared to strike “for weeks, if not months” in order to get parity with their colleagues in the education sector. Workers across the country began the week picketing outside schools on what was the third day of the industrial action, amid what they described as a lack of engagement from the Government. Over 2,600 Fórsa members are calling for the Department of Education to classify them as public servants. You can read more on this from the Journal.

Dublin Fire Brigade to begin industrial action over safety concerns

SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have served notice of industrial action due to serious safety concerns over the introduction of a new call-out and dispatch system. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is attempting to impose this Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system onto DFB without consultation. More here.

Operator of Whitegate Oil Refinery referred to WRC over changes in remote working policies

Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery, which operates the oil refinery in East Cork, has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) by trade union Unite. The union has alleged the refinery operator announced a cut to its flexible work policy earlier this year, which included hybrid remote working provisions, without prior consultation with the workforce. In doing so, Unite said the employer failed to cite objective reasons for such changes, as is provided for in the relevant legislation and by the WRC Guidelines, reports the Irish Examiner.

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The High Court has recently considered public interest privilege. It also addressed the test for deciding whether to order the disclosure of documents where this privilege is claimed. The team Dispute Resolution team at Mason Hayes & Curran examines the decision.

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The Government has published its National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which is Ireland’s plan to advance the realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. There are the following commitments regarding employment:

• Civil and Public Sector
  Maximise opportunities and access for disabled people to get meaningful work in the civil and public sector.
  
  
• Private Sector
  Actively promote the hiring and career advancement of disabled people across the private sector.
  
  
• Supporting Disabled People to Work
  Provide the right supports at the right time for disabled people to access work or return to work.

You can read more here.

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The chief executive and board members of the entity responsible for administering the entire enterprise – the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority – were named only this week. And the portal through which the 800,000 workers will be signed up so that they and their employers can start paying into the scheme from January is going live only in December – the absolute busiest month of the year in the run-up to Christmas for retail and hospitality, two of the sectors most likely to be affected by the new scheme. More from the Irish Times.

And...

Women have an average 40pc less in pension pot as ‘staggering’ gender divide exposed

An average pension pot for a man in Ireland is €102,000. But it is only €60,500 for women, according to research by the Irish-owned network of financial advisers Ask Acorn. Three out of 10 Irish adults have no retirement savings, a situation that is supposed to be addressed with the promised launch of the My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension fund from the start of next year. More from the Irish Independent.

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Collective redundancies in an insolvency situation

In this article Philip Gray of Addleshaw Goddard  looks at some significant developments that have occurred over the past 12 months that HR advisors and Insolvency Practitioners alike should be aware of when dealing with possible collective redundancies in an insolvency situation. Access the article here.

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How to stop flying blind with workforce planning

With traditional job titles and frameworks losing relevance in today’s dynamic working environments, and hybrid working more commonplace, how many business leaders and HR directors can honestly claim to fully understand the capability of their workforce? With rising people costs and widening skill gaps, particularly impacted by AI, organisations cannot just keep hiring to fill capability gaps. Without smarter workforce planning and upskilling strategies, productivity and innovation are at risk. Personnel Today provides guidance.

Workers in their 30s most likely to take part in midlands Skillnet programmes

More than 2,700 people from businesses in Westmeath, Offaly and Laois participated in upskilling with Skillnet Business Networks in 2024, according to the Skillnet Ireland Annual Report. Figures from the document reveal the national agency for talent development delivered some 26,800 training days in Westmeath, Offaly and Laois last year. Fifty three per cent of those who undertook training were men and 47% were women, while those aged 30 to 39 availed of upskilling supports more than any other age group. The Westmeath Examiner has more.

A comparison of approaches for identifying minimum wage workers: Direct question versus administrative earnings data

Ireland is unique in that it is the only country in Europe whose Labour Force Survey (LFS) contains administrative earnings data, self-reported hours worked, and a direct question that asks employees if they are on the minimum wage. By combining these features of the Irish data, researchers compare different approaches for classifying minimum wage workers and evaluate the implications for minimum wage research. ESRI has more on this story.

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The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said it will mount "a strong legal defence" against allegations of discrimination made by former Republic of Ireland Women's head coach Eileen Gleeson. A newspaper report from the Sunday Independent based on court documents showed that Ms Gleeson has accused the FAI of treating her and her team unfairly because of their gender, RTÉ reports.

An international yacht broker and dealer had been ordered to pay €66,500 in compensation to a salesman who was discriminatorily dismissed shortly after he settled a High Court personal injuries action against his employer. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that MGM Boats (Cork) Limited, which operated an office in Kinsale, Co Cork had breached the Employment Equality Act 1998 by discriminating against former broker, Alan Barton, on grounds of his disability. Breaking News has more on this. 

The operators of the former Regency Hotel in Dublin have been ordered to pay €26,000 compensation to a former carpenter over a "sham redundancy" that was executed in a manner "that was both ruthless and dishonest". In his findings, Mr Harraghy stated that he found Mr Finnegan's dismissal "constituted a sham redundancy, executed in a manner that was both ruthless and dishonest, with no regard for the personal impact on the complainant". RTÉ has more.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said its production and sales have been “severely disrupted” following a major cyber attack. The car manufacturer, owned by India’s Tata Motors, shut down systems after becoming aware of issues affecting its global operations. It is the latest setback for JLR as it continues to deal with the impact of US tariffs on the sector and weak consumer confidence. More from the Irish News.

Thailand’s Kasikornbank (KBank) has caused a stir by introducing a special early retirement programme at the age of 45, the first of its kind in the country. Experts say the move reflects both the rapid pace of technological disruption and the growing pressures on employers and employees alike. The option for those as young as 45 to exit the workforce has sparked widespread debate as many fear it could set a precedent for other industries. The Bangkok Post has more on this story.

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Annual CIPD HR Awards 

The 2026 CIPD HR Awards in Ireland are now open for nominations, which are due by 15 October 2025. For the first time, national winners will also get the opportunity to enter the CIPD People Management Awards (PMAs) for free. This means your achievements could also be recognised right across our ever-growing global community, not just in Ireland. You can find out more here.

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Auto-Enrolment 2025 - What HR Needs to Know and Do

📅 Thursday, 18 September 2025
⏰ 11:00 – 11:45 (45 mins)
💻 Online

REGISTER NOW 

Ireland’s new auto-enrolment scheme is going live, and for HR teams, that means real changes to contracts, payroll, and how you communicate with staff. Yet, as RTÉ recently reported, 1 in 4 organisations still haven’t begun preparing.

So, ask yourself: is your organisation ready? Or just hoping it all falls into place?

Whether you're well underway or just getting started, this short, focused webinar will help you:

• Understand your obligations and what’s changing
  
• Spot potential payroll and contract pitfalls
  
• Sense-check your approach with expert insight
  
• Hear how other employers are planning their response

Led by Caroline Reidy, MD of the HR Suite and one of Ireland’s most respected HR experts, the session will offer clear, practical guidance. Hosting the conversation is Julie Holmes from Legal Island, who’ll ask the questions that matter, including how to talk about pensions without everyone leaving the room.

You’ll leave with fresh insight, real-world examples, and the confidence to take the next step, whether you’re already well-positioned or still catching up.

Check out previous discussions:
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