5 Quick Reads⚡

1. The AI Act keeps moving, here's your quick catch-up 🤖
2. No pushback, no problem: €126,000 awarded in unpaid salary 💶
3. Third of employees not given goals or reviews by managers, survey finds 🎯
4. Unpaid traineeships lock out talent, it's time to end them 🏦
5. On the Hub: We missed the Pay transparency deadline, now what? 👀

And in other news...retirement ages just got a legal makeover, so if your contracts still say "65 and done," it's time for a rethink. Grab your free spot for our 21 July webinar and get ahead of the new rules! ⏰ Register HERE.

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Antisocial behaviour at work
4. Absenteeism
5. Industrial Relations
6. Insights from Mediation at the WRC: A Review of 1,000 Mediation Cases
7. Employment permit statistics 2026
8. Call for end to unpaid internships
9. EU warns Ireland over working conditions directive
10. Just In Case You Missed It....
11. HR Developments
12. Employment News in the Media
13. Health and Safety Developments
14. Friends of Legal Island
15. Free Webinars This Month

A Former Director of Wellbeing v A Tech Company ADJ-00065083

Summary: Employee awarded €126,000 in unpaid salary based on uncontested evidence.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Ensure that agreed salary arrangements are documented clearly and honoured in practice. Repeated assurances that payment is imminent will not protect an employer where wages remain unpaid. Where cash-flow or banking difficulties arise, employers should communicate candidly and avoid continuing to require substantial work without paying contractual remuneration.
  
  
• Remember that under the Payment of Wages Act, the critical question is what remuneration was properly payable. The WRC will examine the contract, communications, payment history and surrounding evidence. Informal attempts to re-characterise an employee as a consultant after work has commenced are unlikely to succeed where the factual and/or contractual relationship points to employment.
  
  
• Note, where an employer considers a claim overstated, failure to attend the WRC leaves sworn evidence and documentary material unchallenged. Ignoring the process can result in very substantial awards.

Read the full Review here.

Denis Korovin v Precision Parts and Products Limited ADJ-00056070

Summary: Lay off was unfair because there was no fair selection process or meaningful consultation, despite a genuine redundancy need.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Treat lay-off as a serious employment step, not as an informal holding measure. Even where there is a genuine downturn, financial pressure or reduced work, the employer should be able to show why lay-off was necessary, why particular employees were selected, and what alternatives were considered.
  
  
• Have consultations before selection by giving an opportunity for employee input, consideration of reduced hours or alternative roles, and clear communication about the likely duration of lay-off. If roles are available, even arguably different roles, the employer should consider whether the employee may be suitable or capable of adaptation.
  
  
• Avoid assuming that an RP9 form automatically defeats an unfair dismissal claim. A genuine redundancy need will not rescue a flawed, rushed or arbitrary process.
  

Read the full Review here.

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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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Keeping pace with the AI Act: A snapshot of recent developments

The EU AI Act continued to move rapidly from law on paper to law in practice in recent weeks, with significant developments at both European and national level. This briefing from McCann Fitzgerald LLP summarises the key milestones.

Almost half of Irish workers ‘worry about AI taking their jobs’

Anxiety among Irish workers about artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to displace jobs has grown significantly over the past year, but only a small fraction of companies here have used the technology to replace a role, a new study has indicated. Based on a survey of just under 4,000 employees and businesses, FRS Recruitment’s annual employment insights report reveals that just under half of Irish workers believe AI will replace or negatively impact their current role. The Irish Times has more on this.

Mid-Year AI reality check: Which HR pilots are actually delivering value?

AI has moved beyond the pilot phase, but many organisations are still struggling to translate individual productivity gains into business performance. Drawing on recent research from Microsoft, Gallup, Gartner and Deloitte, this analysis explores which HR AI use cases are delivering measurable value, why some initiatives fail to scale and the questions organisations should be asking as they evaluate AI investments at the midpoint of 2026. HRD Connect has more here.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

Hub subscribers are beginning to request that our Chairman, Barry covers a particular AI topic in a future podcast. If you have a request, send it to him directly at barry@legal-island.com - he’ll feel like a DJ from the 80s…...🎧

You can tune into the latest episode right here - or, if you’re on the move, why not take us with you?

Listen on all major platforms: 🎧 Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Simply search for “AI for HR Weekly Podcast” and enjoy expert insights anytime, anywhere.

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Antisocial behaviour 'seems to be the norm' on public transport forcing bus drivers to leave jobs

Bus drivers are being forced to leave their jobs due to escalating violence which sees them routinely being spat at and verbally and physically assaulted. While the latest figures from Bus Éireann show there were 654 incidents of antisocial behaviour on its vehicles in 2025, a 5% increase on the previous year, the National Bus and Rail Union says the actual numbers are significantly higher but drivers are not reporting them because they think: "What's the point?" The Irish Examiner has more on this.

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'Exceptionally aggressive': Germany's new sick leave laws wouldn't work here, say businesses

Germany’s new sick leave laws would not work in Ireland, a business body representing employers has said.  Workers in Germany can no longer take a single sick day without a valid medical certification under sweeping new rules brought in to revive the struggling economy. The reforms mean workers need to provide a sick cert from the first day of illness, instead of the fourth day, as was previously required. The right of employees to get a sick note by telephone has also been scrapped in an effort to reduce absenteeism rates. Would this work in Ireland? More from the Journal.

Irish employees need 10 days off to fully recharge from work – survey

A new survey shows that employees in Ireland need an average of 10 consecutive days - including weekends - to properly recharge from work. This is below the European average of 13 days. The survey, from payroll and HR solutions provider SD Worx, also suggests the way Irish employees are taking annual leave and recovering from work is changing. Rather than relying on one long annual break, almost 60% of Irish workers now favour a mix of short, ad hoc breaks and longer-stay holidays. RTÉ has more. 

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Fórsa public sector members to be balloted on industrial action over pay

The country's largest public service trade union, Fórsa, is to ballot more than 90,000 members in the public sector to see if they are willing to take industrial action over pay. Unions have accused the Government of failing to establish a basis for public sector pay talks following the expiry of the previous public service agreement last week. RTÉ has more.

Govt willing to engage with unions on public sector pay deal, says Tánaiste

The Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said it is surprising and unnecessary that trade unions are threatening industrial action over public sector pay. The previous pay deal lapsed last week and formal talks have yet to begin on a successor agreement. His comments come as SIPTU launched workplace consultations in preparation for strike ballots involving tens of thousands of its members across the public service over the coming weeks. RTÉ has the full story.

Labour Court rules on laboratory scientists' pay

The Labour Court has issued a recommendation on a long-running pay dispute involving public laboratory scientists working in the HSE. SIPTU, which represents the scientists, said the decision acknowledges that public laboratory scientists should be paid in line with their colleagues who work as medical laboratory scientists. The union said however that questions remain over how pay parity will be achieved. RTÉ has more on this.

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An in-depth analysis of 1,000 pre-adjudication mediations, both resolved and unresolved, completed between January and December 2025. Key insights reveal:

• Telephone mediations showed the highest settlement rate at 67.2% compared to in-person mediations at 48.7% and virtual mediations at 49.5%.
• Unfair dismissal (29.9%); employment equality (18.4%); and pay (15.7%) were the most frequent complaint areas discussed at mediation.

You can find more here.

And other insights published this week...

DPC Publishes Annual Report for 2025

The Irish Data Protection Commission (“DPC”) recently published its Annual Report for 2025, describing the year as its most active to date. The Report provides a comprehensive account of the DPC’s activities during 2025, a year marked by a record 45% surge in complaints. A key trend with many of these complaints was the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools in data subject complaint correspondence.  The Report showcases the DPC’s activity on multiple fronts, including its continued focus on regulating emerging technologies (including generative AI model training), advancing cross-border enforcement through the one-stop-shop (“OSS”) mechanism, strengthening the protection of children’s personal data, and regulating international data transfers. Matheson has more.

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Employment permit statistical tables and company listings for 2026. The list details companies issued with permits from the beginning of the year up until the last day of the previous month. See full listings here.

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Unions call for an end to unpaid internships

Trade unions have called on the Government to use its presidency of the European Union to progress an EU directive aimed at ending unpaid traineeships. The European Commission has proposed a ban on unpaid internships through the Traineeships Directive, but more than two years after its launch, the legislation has not yet received its final approval. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have called on the Government to make the conclusion of the Traineeship Directive a priority for its six-month term.

ICTU says the Irish presidency must end the bank of mum and dad traineeships. More from ICTU here.

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RTÉ reports the European Commission has issued a warning to Ireland, and seven other countries, for failing to fully adopt an EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions. The legislation aims to ensure that workers have clear, upfront information about their employment terms such as working hours, pay and job stability. It also strengthens protections against abusive practices, including unpredictable schedules and last-minute assignments, while guaranteeing worker rights like cost-free mandatory training.

And...

Ireland employment updates Q2 2026

Having reached the second quarter of 2026, DAC Beachcroft have highlighted key changes which will impact employers and business owners in Ireland moving forward:

The following Heads of Bill are being drafted:

• Pay Transparency Bill to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive
• Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to amend equality legislation and provide for surrogacy leave and leave for pregnancy loss
• Gender Pay Gap Information (Amendment) Bill to facilitate gender pay gap reporting via a central online portal

More here.

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The Employment Law Hub is a comprehensive, jurisdiction-specific resource designed for HR professionals, legal advisors, and business leaders. It centralises essential employment law and HR updates, expertly curated and written by leading HR and legal specialists to provide reliable, practical, and authoritative insights. We have over 700+ in depth articles and 1000+ case law reviews. As a subscriber, you have access to all of this. Check it out the full Hub here and below are some recent articles you may have missed.....

Diagnose or Die! Managing Difficult Conversations

There are just some of the questions that you can ask yourself in preparation for a significant conversation – a breakthrough conversation - and to carry out a credible diagnosis of the situation – and you don’t have to be a near insane doctor to get the right result! Read more from Luke Monahan, Founding Partner, Dynamic Partners.

How to: Effectively engage with employee representatives

As employee representation rights continue to expand, employers must be prepared to engage effectively with staff representatives. This article outlines the legal developments, practical guidance and best practice for building constructive workplace relationships. Read more from Dr. Gerry McMahon, MD, Productive Personnel Ltd

AG ADVISES - EU Pay Transparency Directive – where are we now and what should employers be doing?

The 7 June 2026 deadline for full transposition of EU Directive 2023/970 into Irish law has been and gone and the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Minister) has now confirmed that Ireland will implement the Directive on a phased approach.  Due to Ireland’s delay in implementation the Minister also confirmed that employers will not be penalised for failing to comply with the requirements of the Directive that have not yet been introduced into Irish law. In this article Kate Field of AG responds to frequently asked questions raised recently by clients in preparation for the 7 June deadline.

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Third of employees not given goals or reviews by managers, survey finds

Workers are missing core support as organisations increasingly expect line managers to lead on people responsibilities. Two in five (38 per cent) employees said their manager did not regularly set targets, while a similar proportion (34 per cent) said their progression was not regularly reviewed, according to a survey of 2,003 UK employees by Reward Gateway Edenred. You can read more from People Management.

Ireland's overqualified workers will need to be diverted to other sectors 

Redistributing Ireland's overqualified workers to more suitable roles could help alleviate future demand for workers, a new Government study has found. A new paper published by the Department of Finance says demand for workers in healthcare and construction could reach double the available supply by 2065 unless labour is diverted from other parts of the economy. The Irish Examiner has more here.

And the full report is available here:

Future Forty - In Short Supply, Ireland's Workforce to 2065

‘Shocking’ landscape for women in senior tech roles in Ireland

Ireland must act faster to close gender gap in senior tech roles, warns Technology Ireland as the NOVA programme develops future leaders. Ireland’s technology sector must move more quickly to tackle the underrepresentation of women in senior leadership positions. That’s according to Technology Ireland director Una Fitzpatrick who described the current landscape as both stark and unsustainable. Think Business has more on this.

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A tech firm employee who signed up for a job with a €150,000-a-year salary, but ended up “unable to heat her home” having received just €11,500 in 11 months of employment has won a claim for her unpaid wages. The WRC has awarded €126,000 in back pay to the unidentified worker under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 in an anonymised decision, reports the Irish Times.

Read the full case review on our Hub here.

A former maths teacher employed in supervisor and accounts jobs in Wilson’s Hospital School has been awarded €7,500 after he won a case of unfair dismissal against the school. The Co Westmeath school, which has gained international attention due to protests by its former teacher Enoch Burke, has faced a number of complaints from former staff in the past year. In the latest case before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), George Forbes said he was first hired as an accounts manager. He said the school commenced a review of its financial position and considered cost-cutting measures – including redundancies – before he was advised his role no longer existed. More from the Irish Times.

Business Plus reports that Microsoft is cutting approximately 4,800 jobs worldwide, representing around 2.1% of its global workforce, as the technology giant continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence while seeking to improve efficiency across its business. The latest round of layoffs comes amid a broader trend across the technology sector, with major players including Amazon and Meta also reducing headcount this year as they balance soaring AI investment with pressure to deliver stronger financial returns.

Irish Central reports that nine in 10 American companies operating in Ireland plan to maintain or increase their workforce over the next 12 months, while 70% expect to make further investments in the country over the next five years.

The Irish Times reports a warehouse worker who made “extreme” and “unfounded” claims on social media that excessive working hours at Keelings were a factor in the deaths of two of his colleagues has lost a challenge to his sacking. Bosses at the fruit company took disciplinary action against the worker, Rudolf Csikos, after concerns were raised internally and the company received legal letters about his LinkedIn activity in 2024 from its former HR manager, Audrey Cahill – who had been appointed director general of the Workplace Relations Commission earlier that year.

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Extreme heat puts workers at risk. OiRA can help.

As heatwaves intensify across Europe, heat exposure is becoming a serious threat to workers’ health. The Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tool on heat and cold helps companies assess thermal hazards and identify appropriate preventive measures.  These may include adapting work organisation, planning rest breaks, improving access to drinking water, shade and ventilation, providing suitable protective equipment, and helping workers recognise the early signs of heat stress. The tool also helps employers consider the specific needs of vulnerable workers and supports compliance with EU occupational safety and health requirements. More from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

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Arthur Cox Employment Law Yearbook

Arthur Cox LLP Launched the 15th volume of the Arthur Cox Employment Law Yearbook at their offices in Ten Earlsfort Terrace. They welcomed Rossa Fanning SC, Attorney General of Ireland, who officially launched this milestone volume, with Kevin Langford, Head of the Employment Group, opening the event.

Edited by Gavan Mc Laughlin, Associate in the Employment Group, and Siobhán Mulholland, the 2025 Yearbook captures the key developments across employment and related areas of law in Ireland over the past year.

Visit the Bloomsbury Professional website to purchase a copy. 

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New Rules on Retirement Age – What Employers Need to Know 

📅 Tuesday 21 July 2026
🕒 11.00 am to 11.45 am
📍 Live online | Free to attend

Register HERE. 

Ireland's approach to contractual retirement ages changed significantly on 29 June 2026 with the commencement of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 and the updated Code of Practice on Longer Working.
These changes introduce a new consent-based framework that will affect how employers manage retirement, employee requests to work beyond retirement age, and the drafting of contracts and workplace policies.

Laura McKee, Legal Island will be joined by Anne O'Connell, Anne O'Connell Solicitors, where she will explain what the new framework means in practice and the steps employers should be taking now.

This webinar will explore: 

1.    How the new legislation interacts with existing equality law
2.    Practical changes employers should make to contracts, policies and retirement procedures
3.    Managing requests to continue working beyond retirement age while minimising legal risk
4.    Common pitfalls and practical tips for HR professionals and managers.

Check out previous discussions:
Legal Island's Webinar & Podcasts

Enjoy the weekend!

Legal Island

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