5 Must-Knows This Week:

1. AI notetakers are giving HR headaches 🤯
2. Annual Employment Survey 2025 📝
3. What does it really mean to be "present" at work? 👀
4. Work-from-home perks widen the “privilege gap” 🏠
5. Dear Caroline, there’s romance in the office and the team notices - what do I do?❤️

And in other news.... heard of pleasanteeism at work? HR may need to master spotting the “I’m fine” face, because according to new research, plenty of employees are just smiling through stress rather than actually feeling fine. 🙃 HR Director has more. 

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Skill Builder for HR
4. Retirement Age
5. Pay
6. Cybersecurity
7. Employment permit statistics – January 2026
8. Pensions
9. Civil servants across government departments average two weeks of sick leave per year
10. Home Working
11. Annual Employment Survey 2025
12. Just In Case You Missed It....
13. HR Developments
14. Employment News in the Media
15. Friends of Legal Island
16. Free Webinars This Month

Battsetseg Seddavaa v Beacon Sushi Limited ADJ-00057742 

Summary: A chef was awarded compensation for unfair dismissal after being terminated without fair procedures shortly after a miscarriage, with the employer’s reliance on absence reporting breaches found unreasonable.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

• This decision highlights the critical importance of adhering to fair procedures before terminating employment, even where an employer believes there are contractual or disciplinary grounds for dismissal. Employers must ensure that employees are informed of the allegations against them, afforded an opportunity to respond, and given access to representation and an appeal. Failure to follow these basic steps is likely to render a dismissal procedurally unfair, regardless of the underlying conduct.
   
  
• Employers should exercise particular care where an employee is absent due to illness, pregnancy-related complications, or other medical emergencies. Technical reliance on absence-reporting policies, without regard to known medical circumstances, may be viewed as unreasonable or disproportionate.
   
  
• Finally, once a dismissal has been clearly communicated, employers should be aware that it takes immediate legal effect. Attempts to retrospectively revoke a dismissal without the employee’s clear agreement may not cure procedural defects. Employers should seek legal advice before issuing termination letters in sensitive situations and ensure that all disciplinary actions are documented, proportionate, and compliant with statutory codes of practice.
  

Read the full Review here: Battsetseg Seddavaa v Beacon Sushi Limited [2026]

A Worker v An Employer IR - SC - 00004743

Summary: An employee who resigned after unresolved bullying concerns received limited compensation as procedural shortcomings were identified, but her resignation was not considered wholly attributable to the employer.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Ensure that they have a clear, robust, and well-communicated bullying and harassment procedure in place. Such procedures should include defined stages, clear timelines, designated decision-makers, and documented outcomes. Importantly, policies must be operational in practice and not merely exist on paper. 
   
  
• Encourage concerns to be set out in writing and should confirm, in writing, how a complaint will be addressed. Even where an employee appears to withdraw a complaint, employers should exercise caution and consider whether underlying issues remain unresolved. 
   
  
• Act promptly and decisively when workplace conflict arises. Delayed or reactive engagement, particularly after an employee has resigned, is unlikely to remedy procedural failures.

Read the full Review here: A Worker v An Employer [2026]

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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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Pinterest sacks two engineers for creating software to identify fired workers

Pinterest has fired two engineers who created a software tool to identify which workers had lost their jobs in a recent round of cuts and then shared the information, according to reports. The digital pinboard business announced significant job cuts earlier this month, with the chief executive, Bill Ready, telling staff he was “doubling down on an AI-forward approach”, according to a LinkedIn post by a former employee. The Guardian has more.

Why High-Stakes Decisions Demand a Different Kind of AI

Artificial intelligence has moved quickly from something to experiment with to something that is expected. Leaders are under pressure to adopt it, deploy it, and demonstrate value, and they're often measured in speed, automation, and efficiency. But as AI becomes more deeply embedded into how organisations operate, it's important to remain clear-eyed about the context in which it's being used and the problems businesses are trying to solve with it. This article from IT Brief has more on this.

AI notetakers are creating HR nightmares

Employers are facing a new workplace hazard: AI notetakers that don’t know when to stop listening. In some virtual meetings, employees drop off the call while an AI assistant stays behind, quietly documenting gossip or disparaging remarks made by remaining employees, then emailing the transcript to the full team. However, recorded meetings lead individual contributors to speak nearly as much as managers, with women participating 9% more than men. This article from Fortune looks at the risks and benefits.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

Barry is taking a well-deserved break from podcasting this week, but he will be back soon with a brand-new episode.

In the meantime, why not catch up on his recent discussion, Is ChatGPT Safe to Use in the Private and Third Sector? In this episode, Barry Phillips asks whether the data security concerns around ChatGPT are really justified.

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

Listen on 🎧 Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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

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Skill Builder for HR: Managing Probation & Performance 

📅Thursday, 26 February 2026
⏰12:30 - 14:00 ( 1 hour 30 mins )
📍Online

Join one of Legal Island’s most sought after HR speakers, leading HR consultant Michelle Halloran, for a practical and engaging session on one of the most persistent challenges for employers and HR professionals: managing probation periods and performance conversations effectively.

This essential topic never goes away for employers. Handling it well can make the difference between building a strong, productive workforce and facing ongoing performance issues, legal risk, and unnecessary disruption. Michelle will cut through the complexity with clear, practical guidance you can apply immediately.

Expect real world examples, actionable tips, and expert insight delivered in Michelle’s engaging and highly practical style.

More here.

Legal Island Employment Law Hub Members receive two FREE Skill builder places*

*As part of their subscription - worth €315. T&Cs apply.

Find out more about all the upcoming Skill Builder for HR sessions HERE. 

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Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025: Key Provisions and Practical Implications

The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 (the “Act”) reforms the regulation of retirement ages in Irish employment contracts. Enacted on 16 December 2025, it strengthens employee rights where contracts specify a retirement age below pensionable age (currently 66) and provides a framework for employers seeking to rely on such clauses. The Act will not come into operation until the making of a commencement order(s),which is expected during 2026. Employers should therefore prepare now – particularly by reviewing retirement clauses and HR processes, while monitoring the commencement order(s). The team at Philip Lee provides guidance here.

The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 - Five things employers should know

New legislation introduces a framework wherein employees can inform their employers if they do not consent to retire at the mandatory retirement age in their contract and instead, wish to work until they are 66. Mason, Hayes & Curran's Employment Law & Benefits team sets out the key takeaways for employers, along with a practical checklist to help prepare for the Act's commencement. Read it in full here. 

Changes ahead for contractual retirement ages

As demographic trends shift, the topic of retirement is on the agenda for many employers. Retirement is also a key policy consideration for the government most notably with the signing into law of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 (the “Act”) in December 2025. The Act allows, but does not compel, an employee to stay in employment until they reach the “pensionable age” (defined as 66 years). The Act requires a commencement order before it comes into operation. This article from Matheson considers (i) the legal framework on retirement in Ireland before and after the passing of the Act; (ii) recommendations for employers in practice; and (iii) pension and insured benefits considerations for employers and employees working beyond retirement.

Matheson will be providing more insights at Legal Island’s Essentials of Employment Law in Ireland 2 half day online event 29th & 30th April. The course covers key topics like contracts, disciplinary procedures, dismissals, and grievances, with practical exercises and e-learning resources to reinforce learning. You can find out more here.

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Minimum wages in 2026: Which countries pay the most across Europe?

Which European countries have the highest minimum wages? Among EU member states, the monthly gross minimum wage ranges from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,704 in Luxembourg. When candidate countries are included, Ukraine is an outlier at €173, followed by Moldova at €319. Five countries have minimum wages above €2,000. Besides Luxembourg, they are Ireland (€2,391), Germany (€2,343), the Netherlands (€2,295) and Belgium (€2,112). Euronews has more.

Ireland in breach of European Social Charter on Defence Forces pay

Ireland’s failure to provide Defence Forces personnel with overtime and holiday pay has been found in breach of the European Social Charter. More from Irish Legal News.

The decision can be found here.

Are You Prepared for the EU Pay Transparency Directive?

Everybody’s talking about the EU Pay Transparency Directive and for good reason. By 7 June 2026, it will fundamentally change how Irish employers handle pay, promotions, and gender pay reporting. So the question is: are you prepared? Join us and the leading Employment law team at Arthur Cox for a half-day event (on Tuesday 24th February) where legal experts break down the Directive, explain the implications for Irish workplaces, and give you actionable steps to get ahead. This is one of our most popular events and places are selling fast! Book your spot today. Find out more here. 

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WhatsApp allowed to challenge €225m GDPR fine in EU courts

Irish Legal News reports WhatsApp Ireland can bring an EU court challenge to the imposition of a €225 million GDPR fine which followed an investigation by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled.

And you can read the full press release here.

Irish workers believe country is heading towards a cybersecurity catastrophe

The majority of Irish workers fear the country is heading towards a major cyber attack this year, new research has found. According to a survey carried out by IT specialists Landmark Technologies, more than half (52%) of employees believe Ireland will suffer a catastrophic cybersecurity incident this year. Meanwhile, three in five (61%) say Ireland is less prepared than other European countries to defend against cybersecurity threats. You can read more from Business Plus.

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Employment permit statistical tables and company listings for January 2026 including by sector:

• Accommodation & Food Services Activities      318
• Health & Social Work Activities                          818
  Information & Communication Activities           398

You can find the full details here.

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Almost 770,000 employees enrolled in MyFutureFund

RTÉ reports over 763,000 employees working for 104,000 employers have been automatically enrolled in MyFutureFund since its launch on January 1, 2026, according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Protection. Over 5,000 employees have applied to join the pension scheme voluntarily. Over €60m of contributions has already been invested with the three contracted investment managers. More here.  

You can catch up on the full government press release here.

Pensioners from An Post and Eir to protest delays to agreed increases

Retired workers from An Post and Eir are to protest at the Dáil at lunchtime on Tuesday as they seek to have increases to their pensions agreed last year approved by the Government. About 20,000 pensioners are affected, including 7,000 from An Post who are waiting on a 7 per cent increase agreed announced last September. The uplift had been agreed by the company’s board, the scheme’s trustees and the Communications Workers Union (CWU). More from the Irish Times. 

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Breaking News reports civil servants across 10 government departments have taken more than 640,000 sick days in the past four years – an average of more than two weeks per employee every year. The number of sick days taken by staff in the departments last year was 21 per cent higher than in 2022, with around 13,500 workers taking 175,802 days off due to illness, new figures reveal. The department with the highest level of illness-related absenteeism was the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with staff taking an average of more than three weeks off every year.

On 7th May, join Legal Island for an exclusive in-person Employment Law in the Public Sector event with award-winning law firm Byrne Wallace Shields LLP. This is your chance to hear directly from leading experts about the most important legal developments of the past 12–18 months and how they impact public sector employers. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead, gain practical insights, and network with peers tackling the same challenges. More on this event here. 

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‘Privilege gap’ opens as work-from-home restricted mainly to highest-paid workers

The overwhelming number of jobs in the Irish economy do not offer any flexibility to work from home and those that do are mainly higher-paid white-collar roles, despite the heavy focus on the trend since the Covid pandemic. A new analysis from European job-posting platform JobLeads looked at almost 48,000 active Irish job postings and found just 3.7pc of roles are fully remote, 13.4pc are so-called hybrid working, while about 83pc require staff to be on site every day. You can read more on this from the Irish Independent.

Role of stay-at-home parent valued at €60k a year

It would cost around €60,112 per year to employ someone to do the various jobs carried out by a stay-at-home parent, according to new research. The study by insurance and pension company Royal London Ireland assessed the monetary worth of parents who provide full-time care and household management at home. The role's estimated annual equivalent value has increased by 5.2% since 2024, when it stood at €57,140. RTÉ has more.

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Record employment levels in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta

Over 554,608 jobs in client companies of government agencies in 2025, an increase of 7,636 jobs on 2024. The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD, has today published two surveys on the Irish economy, which reflect the continued resilience of industry in Ireland in the face of the challenges posed by global economic and political headwinds. The Annual Employment Survey 2025 finds that jobs in client companies of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta, are now at their highest ever level, at over 554,608 jobs. Employment in agency client firms now represents 20% of total employment in Ireland. Read the government’s press release here.

Strong growth reported in the Border Region as Ministers Burke and Smyth publish Annual Employment Survey 2025 and ABSEI 2024

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, today published the Annual Employment Survey (AES) 2025 and the Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI) 2024, with the latest figures highlighting the continued strength and resilience of the Border region. The AES 2025 shows that employment in the Border region increased by 2.5%, reaching 36,004 jobs last year. This includes 32,622 permanent full time roles and 3,382 part time or temporary positions, reflecting robust regional performance and the ability to grow and sustain high quality employment. Read the government’s press release here.

A copy of the Annual Employment Survey 2025 is here.

A copy of the Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact 2024 is 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.....

Anonymisation of Decisions in the WRC

Sinead Morgan, Legal Director leading DAC Beachcroft Dublin's employment team writes about the increased reporting of WRC decisions in recent years, with employers being named and shamed for poor behaviour in some cases. Historically reporting was less common as prior to 2021 the parties to employment disputes were anonymised unless the matter was reported on appeal to the Labour Court. Read her full article here.

Dear Caroline, there’s romance in the office and the team notices - what do I do?

Lately, as HR Partner I have been made aware of a non-disclosed romantic workplace relationship that has caused challenges within a team. This has started to negatively impact on team performance due to perceptions of unfairness and favouritism. How do I advise the manager to proceed? Read Caroline's advice here.

HR Interview Series: Kerri Smyth, People Business Partner from Kukoon

Forget 'Emily in Paris'! Meet the real HR story of moving from Paris to Newry, the challenges of talent acquisition and the tale of a mischevious cat. Read it here. 

The rise of pleasanteeism, the pressure employees feel to appear “fine” at work

Nearly seven in ten UK employees are now pretending to be well at work when they are not, according to new research from Lime Health, marking a sharp increase from 51% reported in 2021. Employees cited money worries (49%), a lack of understanding from management (26%), and negative stigma around health (19%) as the main reasons for concealing health concerns in the workplace. More from HR Director.

What does it really mean to be present at work?

"Have you ever caught yourself checking your emails on your phone while replying on your computer? I was at an in-person meeting recently, physically present at the table but discreetly checking emails, glancing at notifications and replying to messages. I had been in the room for an hour, but my attention had been scattered across multiple digital spaces. As far as everyone was concerned, I was present in the room, but I was not present at all." Read the full analysis by Dr Olivia O'Leary, UCC here.

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A former employee of PwC who brought an age and disability discrimination case against the company with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland will receive a £150,000 settlement. The woman had worked for PwC for more than 40 years and held the position of executive support assistant. More from Irish Legal News.

A Revenue audit of Our Lady's Hospice in Dublin's Harold's Cross has resulted in dozens of staff being told to repay a temporary salary top-up over a decade after it was paid, writes Michael O’Farrell. The repayment demand follows a Revenue audit of Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services (OLHCS) that began last spring. Business Plus has more on this story.

The Minister for Transport is facing a new round of board trouble at DAA, as unfilled vacancies and looming departures threaten a power vacuum at the top of the State airports company. Darragh O’Brien has acknowledged the need to recruit several board directors – including a new chair in June – but this comes as the DAA prepares to initiate a process for appointing a successor to Kenny Jacobs, the former chief executive. The Irish Times has more on this.

The Irish Times reports Garda suspensions more than doubled last year, rebounding close to record levels, with a growing number of members now suspended after allegations of gender-based violence. These include coercive control, domestic violence and sexual assault or sexual misconduct cases. More from Irish Times here.

A financial services worker whose employment was terminated after he was sentenced to more than two years in prison for deception and impersonating a garda has taken a case for unfair dismissal. Orville Farrell was working as a custody client servicing associate with State Street when he was convicted of the offences before Waterford Circuit Court and commenced a prison sentence in January 2024. The company had not been informed that he was facing criminal charges, and was initially unaware of the reason that he was absent from work. Breaking News has more. 

Lawyers have argued that an alleged "informal and somewhat vulgar working environment" at tech giant Apple meant a worker should not have been sacked after a colleague complained about him talking about "tramps" and "whores" in Portuguese. RTÉ has the full story.

SIPTU has begun balloting its members in RTÉ on whether they have confidence in the broadcaster's senior leadership team and its implementation of the organisation’s five-year strategy. The union, which represents around 600 staff in RTÉ, said the move follows extensive discussions and concerns raised by members across the organisation. More from RTÉ.

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Two wins for A&L Goodbody at diversity and inclusion awards

A&L Goodbody has won two awards at the prestigious National Diversity & Inclusion Awards held in Dublin. The firm won in the categories of Advancing Social Inclusion and Advancing LGBTQ+ Inclusion, following its previous recognition as Company of the Year in last year’s awards.

Congratulations from Legal Island! 🎉

Read more in Irish Legal News here.

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Employer Insights from Real Bullying and Harassment Cases

Tuesday 10th of March
10 to 10:45 a.m.
Online

Research by Matrix Recruitment shows 88% of workers say bullying and harassment remains a serious problem in Irish workplaces. Handling allegations of bullying and harassment is one of the most testing parts of the HR role, particularly when emotions are high and everyone is watching what you do next. Mishandling complaints can escalate issues, harm morale, and even trigger a tribunal.

Join Dr Gerry McMahon, MD of Productive Personnel Ltd, whose experience as an independent HR consultant and WRC adjudicator gives him an insider perspective. He’ll share real case law examples on bullying, harassment, discrimination, and disciplinary disputes, showing what employers did well and what went wrong.

This free webinar will be hosted by Julie from Legal Island, who will moderate a live Q&A so you can ask questions and get practical guidance. You will leave with a clearer sense of what the WRC expects, and reassurance you do not have to be perfect, but what you and your organisation need to do to demonstrate you have been fair, consistent and thoughtful.

Register here.

Check out previous discussions:
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Enjoy your Valentine's weekend! ❤️

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