🥶 As the frost bites and the layers pile on, warm up with this week’s Employment Law updates—it’s the legal equivalent of a cosy cup of tea on a chilly day! ☕
This Week’s Top 5 - Essential Reads, if you’re short on time:
🔮 What’s in store for 2025? Dive into the trends set to reshape workplaces next year.
🌨️ Cold snap chaos? CIPD shares insights on how employers can handle icy commutes, frosty attitudes, and the chill factor in workplace policies.
🍕 Elon Musk, gig workers, and pizza name badges? The WRC served up drama in 2024—you don’t want to miss it.
🤒 Sick leave on hold? Plans to extend paid sick days stall just as flu cases peak.
👫 Workplace friendships = balanced diet? Discover why variety is the spice of office life.
✨ And in other news… If you’ve swung by our website this week, you’ve had a sneak peek at the exciting transformations happening! 🚀 But wait, there’s more to come—stay tuned for the big reveal! 🔑 Don’t forget to reset your password HERE to unlock access to all the new features! 🔐
Stay informed (and maybe grab another cup of tea to thaw out!) 🚀
CONTENTS
1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Adverse Weather
4. Statutory Sick Pay
5. Workplace Trends 2025
6. WRC Update
7. DEI
8. Just in Case You Missed It...
9. HR Developments
10. Health & Safety Developments
11. Employment News in the Media
12. Friends of Legal Island
13. Free Webinars This Month
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Case Law Reviews
Roberta Girinelli -v- Genius Limited
Reference: ADJ-00052761
Complainant: Roberta Girinelli
Respondent: Genius Limited
Keywords: Unfair Dismissal, Disciplinary Procedures, Employment Contract
Summary Sentence: Employer dismissed employee without fair process or investigation.
Practical Guidance for Employers:
Employers should:
Adhere to Disciplinary Procedures: Employers must follow fair and transparent disciplinary processes, including investigation and hearings, before dismissing an employee.
Define and Communicate Contractual Obligations: Clearly outline clauses such as "Loyalty" and discuss their application with employees.
Evaluate Alternatives Before Dismissal: Consider alternative solutions, such as dialogue or adjustments to working arrangements, before opting for dismissal.
Provide Opportunities for Appeal: Always allow employees the right to appeal dismissal decisions. An appeal process can address procedural deficiencies and potentially resolve disputes, demonstrating a commitment to fairness and employee rights
The full case review can be found here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/roberta-girinelli-v-genius-limited
Lauren Carthy McCartan -v- Cluain Ard Meats trading as The Saucy Butcher
Reference: ADJ-00051584
Complainant: Lauren Carthy McCartan
Respondent: Cluain Ard Meats trading as The Saucy Butcher
Keywords: Redundancy, Notice Period, Transfer of Undertakings
Summary Sentence: Employee disputed insufficient notice provided following redundancy
Practical Guidance for Employers:
Employers should:
Communicate Redundancy Clearly and Promptly: Ensure redundancy communications are explicit and formal. Discuss potential business changes transparently, but avoid presenting potential outcomes, such as transfers, as definite. Clearly document and confirm redundancy decisions with adequate notice as required by law.
Comply with Minimum Notice Requirements: Familiarise with statutory notice periods under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act. Calculate notice entitlements accurately based on length of service and provide written notice or payment in lieu to avoid disputes and legal penalties.
Maintain Accurate Records and Documentation: Properly complete all required documentation, such as RP50 forms, with accurate dates and details.
Respect Employee Rights During Redundancy: Recognise that employees facing redundancy are entitled to procedural fairness and clarity.
The full case review can be found here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/lauren-carthy-mccartan-v-cluain-ard-meats-trading-as-the-saucy-butcher
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: https://www.legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/case-law-search-page/
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2. AI and Employment Law
Unethical use of AI among top concerns for workers
The top concern for the future among workers is the unethical use of AI for things such as discrimination or privacy breaches, according to new research. The Ethics at Work: 2024 International Survey of Employees was conducted by the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) in conjunction with the Compliance Institute in Ireland. Among those worried about the misuse of AI for unethical purposes, one-quarter of respondents reported being 'extremely concerned' about its potential for malevolent behaviour. You can read more here from RTÉ:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0107/1489394-artificial-intelligence/
Coursera’s fourth annual Job Skills Report
AI and cybersecurity emerge as fastest growing job skills in 2024, but ‘human’ skills also surge
Findings from Coursera’s fourth annual Job Skills Report, drawing on insights from over five million learners, include:
While AI skills surge globally, only 28% of courses were taken by women overall in 2024, creating an urgent need to address gendered disparities within the AI workforce
Six of the ten fastest-growing tech skills this year are related to cybersecurity and risk management, amid a 71% YOY rise in cyber attacks
Key human skills are also among the fastest-growing, as learners seek to build a balanced skills profile. Assertiveness and Communication were among the top 10 skills in 2024
You can read the full article from HRD Connect here:
https://www.hrdconnect.com/2024/12/13/ai-and-cybersecurity-emerge-as-fastest-growing-job-skills-in-2024-but-human-skills-also-surge/
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3. Adverse Weather
Exceptional weather needs exceptional response from employers - CIPD
HR professional body CIPD has said that large parts of the country are facing exceptional weather conditions this week and such a situation requires an exceptional response from employers. Director of CIPD Mary Connaughton said the number one workplace priority for employers and their workers is safety. "As such, we would expect to see employers facilitating remote working as much as possible - given the unpredictability of localised conditions," Ms Connaughton said. RTÉ has more:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0106/1489246-cold-weather-needs-exceptional-response-from-employers/
Absence during extreme weather events
Extreme and severe weather events can impact on an employee’s ability to report for work and an employer’s ability to operate his/her business and to be able to provide work.
The following information from the WRC may be of assistance where the contract of employment or the statement of terms of employment does not specifically deal with the issue:
https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/news-media/workplace_relations_notices/absence_during_extreme_weather_events.html
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4. Statutory Sick Pay
Plans to extend paid sick leave to 10 days stalled just as flu cases surge
The Government faces criticism as plans to extend paid sick leave stall amid a surge in flu cases. Workers currently receive five paid sick days under a scheme introduced by former taoiseach Leo Varadkar during the pandemic, with an expected increase to seven days this month delayed by a review. Laura Bambrick, of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, noted that while statutory sick leave isn’t a "silver bullet," it helps curb flu spread and prevents workers from having to choose between working while ill or financial hardship reports the Irish Independent:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/plans-to-extend-paid-sick-leave-to-10-days-stalled-just-as-flu-cases-surge/a1738984538.html
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5. Workplace Trends 2025
What are the workplace trends we're going to see in 2025?
Expect a lot of watercooler chatter around hybrid work, the increasing use of AI and the changing nature of how we learn on the job! Read the full article on RTÉ:
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0108/1489498-workplace-trends-2025-hybrid-working-ai-training-learning/
Budget 2025 measures that will take effect now
The Journal has listed the main changes from last October’s budget that are now in effect:
The minimum wage increased from €12.70 to €13.50 per hour.
The 4% rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) has reduced to 3%. The entry point for this rate increased by €1,622, in line with the increase to the national minimum wage, so it will apply to income between €27,382 and €70,044.
The standard rate income tax band (the amount you can earn before you start to pay the higher rate of tax) increased by €2,000 to €44,000 for a single person
Employees can get some vouchers or other non-cash benefits each year without paying tax on them. There will be an increase in the maximum exemption, from €1,000 to €1,500. This can include up to five non-cash benefits per year (an increase from two benefits per year)
Full details can be found here:
https://www.thejournal.ie/budget-2025-changes-today-6562540-Jan2025/
Survey reveals the three most significant barriers for Irish SMEs in 2025
Rising costs, labour shortages and employee retention remain the most significant barriers for Irish SMEs as we enter 2025, according to a survey of 6,400 Irish businesses from diverse industries. Peninsula Ireland released its latest global survey highlighting the pressing challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face as they prepare for the new year. SMEs (<250 persons employed) in Ireland accounted for 99.8% of all enterprises and 68% of people employed in 2022. You can read more from Business Plus here:
https://businessplus.ie/sme/irish-smes-barriers/
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6. WRC Update
Musk, gig economy, pizza name badge and sackings all featured at WRC in 2024
The WRC oversaw a range of cases in 2024 and you can catch up with RTE’s review here:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0101/1488658-work-relations-commission-2024-review/
Updated Employment Agencies List
Please find the updated Licenced Agencies list from the WRC as at 01/01/2025 here:
https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/news-media/workplace_relations_notices/updated-employment-agencies-list.html
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7. DEI
New EU rules on gender balance on corporate boards now in effect
New EU rules aimed at improving gender balance on corporate boards have come into force. The Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive, which has not yet been transposed into Irish law, sets a target for EU large listed companies of 40 per cent of the “under-represented sex” among their non-executive directors and 33 per cent among all directors. The deadline for the transposition by EU member states was 28 December 2024, and companies must meet the targets by 30 June 2026. Irish Legal News has more:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/new-eu-rules-on-gender-balance-on-corporate-boards-now-in-effect
How to unlock leadership potential in neurodiverse employees
Conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia bring unique strengths that can be well suited to management roles – but organisations need to embrace them. Some studies have even shown that neurodiverse teams can be up to 30 per cent more productive than their neurotypical peers. How can organisations adapt to an individual’s needs to harness their unique abilities like lateral thinking and creative problem-solving? People Management has more on this:
https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1901066/unlock-leadership-potential-neurodiverse-employees
How to uniquely stamp out workplace ‘othering’
Whether it affects you or not, othering at work takes its toll on everyone, so how can you identify and eliminate it? The best way to identify and eradicate an issue is to understand the root cause and recognise when it has become a problem in the workforce, so, what is workplace ‘othering’ and what are the signs? More here:
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/advice/uniquely-stamp-out-workplace-othering-employer-employee-advice
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8. Just in Case You Missed It...
Exciting updates are on the horizon! We’re hard at work behind the scenes curating fresh, engaging content that’s tailored just for you. From insightful articles to innovative tools and resources, our Employment Law Hub is about to get a whole lot better. Keep an eye out on our website —new content is coming your way soon!
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9. HR Developments
Why you should treat workplace friendships like your diet – aim for balance and variety
Surveys have shown around three in ten employees have a close friend at work. Researchers argue these relationships can be as important to our personal and professional lives as a nutritious diet is to physical health. However, like many relationships, workplace friendships are challenging to navigate. So, how can we maintain meaningful friendships with work colleagues over time? The Conversation provides guidance here:
https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-treat-workplace-friendships-like-your-diet-aim-for-balance-and-variety-243706
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10. Health and Safety Developments
Decline in work-related deaths last year
There were 33 work-related deaths in 2024 according to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), down from the figure of 43 which was recorded in 2023. Last year's total is higher that the 2022 number of 28, however according to the HSA, the fatality rate per 100,000 workers has fallen to a record low, decreasing from 2.7 to 1.2 in the ten-year period from 2015 to 2024. More here from RTÉ: https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0108/1489556-workplace-deaths/
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11. Employment News in the Media
Pension and life insurance provider Royal London Ireland’s new research estimates the annual salary of a stay-at-home parent has been calculated to be €57,140. The salary figure for a stay-at-home parent is up from an estimated €54,590 in 2023 and €40,560 in 2015, when the company first undertook the same research. The study analysed the typical daily tasks and responsibilities of stay-at-home parents and researched the cost of employing someone to do these jobs, based on current wage data. More from RTÉ:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0109/1489793-stay-home-parent/
Irish Air Traffic controllers have issued a strongly-worded warning for pilots and aircraft professionals to show them “respect and dignity” after an incident of “abusive behaviour”. The unprecedented plea was issued in a so-called Notice to Airmen or NOTAM by AirNav Ireland, the agency in charge of air traffic control in this country, in recent days. The warning from Irish air traffic controllers was issued by staff based in Shannon reports the Journal:
https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-air-traffic-controllers-airnav-ais-abusive-messages-warning-6588185-Jan2025/
Teacher Enoch Burke has turned up at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath as it welcomed students back after Christmas. Mr Burke was previously jailed for failing to comply with a court order that he stay away from the school in Multyfarnham in Co Westmeath, where he used to teach. The judge warned Mr Burke that he would be subject to a daily fine of €1,400 a day if he breached the order directing him to stay away from the school. RTÉ has more:
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0106/1489267-enoch-burke-returns-outside-co-westmeath-school/
The Law Society of Northern Ireland is now formally represented within the Law Society of Ireland for the first time in its century-long history. Since 1921, five seats have been reserved on the Council of the Law Society of Ireland for representatives from its northern counterpart — but have never been filled. That changed in mid-December when Darren Toombs, senior vice president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, formally took up one of those seats for the first time. More here from Irish Legal News:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/historic-moment-as-solicitors-strengthen-north-south-ties
Film workers are challenging in the High Court decisions made by the Labour Court to overturn awards and rulings made in the workers’ favour at the WRC. In December 2023, the WRC made cumulative awards of €434,216 to 22 members of the Irish Film Workers Association (IFWA) against the co-producers of a number of global box office movies, including the multi-award winning Banshees of Inisherin. However, on appeal, movie firm, Metropolitan Films International Ltd has been successful to date in having all WRC awards overturned at the Labour Court where rulings have been made. You can read more from the Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/01/03/film-workers-challenge-overturning-of-wrc-awards/
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12. Friends of Legal Island
Tralee's HR Suite is acquired by global consultancy operator NFP
Human resources firm The HR Suite has been acquired by consultancy firm NFP. Caroline Reidy, managing director and founder of The HR Suite, will lead NFP’s specialist HR division in Ireland. Congratulations Caroline! You can read more here from the Irish Examiner:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41549791.html
CIPD Ireland is looking for a new Director as Mary Connaughton, Fellow CIPD prepares to transition into an exciting new role within the CIPD
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13. Free Webinars Next Month
🤖 New Year, New Gear? Aiming for HR Excellence with ChatGPT or Copilot in 2025? Which is better and why?
🗓 14 January | 🕛 11am - 11.40am
Selecting the right GenAI tool could be your organisation’s most important decision for 2025. In this webinar, we’ll explore the pros and cons of both ChatGPT and Copilot to help you determine which is the better fit for your HR team and workforce.
Join us for a 40-minute webinar where you'll learn how to pick the best GenAI tool for your team, ensure your data stays secure, and discover practical ways to reduce admin workload. Sam Green from Employment Hero will also be showing you how existing HR software is evolving to integrate AI into existing platforms.
After attending this webinar you will understand:
+ Why ChatGPT is leading the AI revolution at work
+ Why Copilot may yet still claim the No.1 spot in the workplace
+ The pros and cons of each of the two models for your workplace
+ The extra data security issues you MUST know for both tools
+ Cost differentials between ChatGPT v Copilot
+ How HR software is evolving with AI to reduce admin across the employment cycle
Presenters:
Barry Phillips is Chairman of Legal-Island one of the UK and Ireland’s leading legal compliance companies. He is host of the UK’s first podcast on AI specifically for HR and a regular speaker on AI tools such as ChatGPT. Barry is a qualified barrister, author and trainer.
Sam Green at Employment Hero brings a unique blend of expertise in HR technology and strategic alliances. With a focus on leveraging AI to transform HR software, his insights on automation, compliance, and employee engagement aim to equip organisations with the knowledge to make data-driven HR decisions while maintaining a human touch.
Employment Hero is the UK's leading all-in-one Recruitment, HR Software, Payroll & Benefits platform for both employers & employees.
Anyone who registers for our webinar will receive a link to the recording after the event. If you can't make it on the day, register now and catch up later!
You can also send your questions in advance to webinars@legal-island.com. Anonymity assured.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2507134345372051289?source=website
💼 Kickstart 2025 with Confidence: HR Trends and Recruitment Strategies with MCS Group
🗓 22 January | 🕛 12:00 – 12:45 PM
Calling all HR professionals! Looking for fresh insights to lead your recruitment strategy in 2025? Join us for a FREE 45-minute lunch-and-learn webinar on 22 January 2025, hosted by Legal Island in partnership with MCS Group.
Recruitment experts Ryan and Rebekah from MCS Group, will be bringing together the top trends, tools, and takeaways to help you stand out in the competitive world of talent acquisition:
Learn from 2024’s lessons: See how last year’s key developments are shaping the hiring strategies of tomorrow.
Simplify and save: Discover smart ways to cut costs, streamline processes, and harness automation.
Win the war for talent: Get expert tips to engage candidates and secure standout hires in a competitive market.
Plan for what’s next: Stay ahead with insights into emerging job roles, salary shifts, and sector-specific demands.
Plus, Julie from Legal Island will be on hand to pose your questions directly to Ryan and Rebekah, making sure you leave with the answers and actionable insights you need. This isn’t just another webinar—it’s your toolkit for 2025 success! Grab your lunch, reserve your spot, and get ready to learn with Ireland’s recruitment leaders to elevate your hiring strategy.
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/393202294472814432?source=WR+ROI
All of our Legal Island webinar recordings and searchable transcriptions are posted online within this section of our employment law hub and are available to stream and research:
https://www.legal-island.ie/resources/webinar-recordings/
Enjoy the weekend!
Legal Island
