This Week’s Quick Five:

1. Ireland to miss pay transparency deadline but employers won’t be penalised ⚖️
2. Pay rises are on the slide this year 📉
3. 57% of Gen Z men say men face discrimination 📊
4. 5 ways to support first time managers 🚀
5. Protected disclosures: new WRC trends 🕵️‍♂️

And in other news… calling your Irish colleague “potato” or "Paddy" isn’t a joke—it’s a £23k mistake, according to the UK employment tribunal🥔☘️

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Neurodiversity at Work
4. Pay Transparency
5. Should we expect Government support as oil prices continue to increase?
6. Women in Work
7. More demand for hybrid and remote work as housing crisis hits hiring market
8. Industrial Relations News
9. Downward trend in pay increases for this year
10. Just In Case You Missed It....
11. HR Developments
12. Employment News in the Media
13. Free Webinars This Month

Shane Bursey v Aramark Campbell Catering ADJ-00056526

Summary: Complaint about workplace grievances was not a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Clearly implement formal grievance policies and whistleblowing policies that expressly define what constitutes a protected disclosure and the procedures for handling each type of complaint appropriately.
  
  
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of complaints, internal responses, and any investigations undertaken. Where an employee raises concerns, employers should assess whether the issue relates to “relevant wrongdoing” under the legislation. If it does not, it should be redirected through the grievance or HR process rather than treated as a whistleblowing matter.
  
  
• Ensure managers are trained on penalisation risks and statutory obligations under s.12 of the 2014 Act. Even where a complaint is ultimately unfounded, adverse treatment linked to a genuine protected disclosure can create liability.  
   
  

Read the full Review here.

Sinead Cotter v Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Limited (on consent) ADJ-00037909 

Summary: Pay difference was objectively justified; no gender or family status discrimination found.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Ensure that job grading systems are transparent, consistently applied and supported by clear job descriptions. Where formal evaluation systems such as the Hay methodology are used, employees should understand how roles are assessed and how grading decisions are reached.  
  
  
• Maintain clear procedures for handling requests for regrading or salary review. Long delays in responding to employee concerns may create perceptions of unfairness, even where decisions are objectively justified.  
  
  
• Be mindful of the legal framework governing equal pay under Irish and EU law. Differences in pay must be capable of objective justification unrelated to gender or other protected grounds. Maintaining documented evidence of the skills, qualifications, responsibilities and commercial risks associated with different roles will assist employers in demonstrating legitimate reasons for pay differentials.

 
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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The Empathy Deficit: Why HR Holds the Key to AI That Actually Works 

With only 17% of executives seeing empathy as essential in AI, we’ve created a huge ‘Empathy Deficit’ issue, but HR teams are poised to tackle this catastrophic business error. Read more. 

Certificate in AI for HR - CPD Certified

Boost your HR career with our Certified AI in HR Course, designed specifically for HR professionals eager to harness the power of artificial intelligence. This is currently the only CPD Certified Course in the UK and Ireland on AI for HR – level of knowledge required beginner to intermediate. Find out more.

Quarter of finance workers unsure of their AI skills but half don’t have time to upskill

A quarter of workers in the financial services sector are uncertain whether they have the skills to deal with the changes brought about by AI and automation, but almost half do not have time to undergo training in the technology, according to a new report. The Irish Times has more on this story. 

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

How to choose the right LLM for your workplace and should HR have the final say?

You can tune into the latest 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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📅Thursday 26th March 2026
⏰12:30 - 14:00 ( 1 hour 30 mins )
📍Online

Part of the Skill Builder for HR series, this 90-minute practical session is designed for HR professionals managing diverse ways of working across their organisations. Dr Susan Hill of Medmark Occupational Healthcare will share practical guidance on helping HR move from reactive case management to proactive, culture-shaping impact. You’ll gain clear, actionable insights to better support employees, partner effectively with occupational health, and strengthen team dynamics. 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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Employers won’t be ‘penalised’ as Ireland to miss deadline to introduce pay transparency law

The Department of Equality has said work is continuing on the legislation required to fully transpose the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive but acknowledged the required measures will not be completed by the June 7th deadline and so implementation will happen on “a phased basis”. More from the Irish Times.

New EU law transparency initiative launched by Minister Byrne

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, has launched a new dedicated section on Ireland.ie focused on highlighting how Ireland implements EU law, in the interests of public transparency. The dedicated section will provide up to date information for the public on the performance of government departments in transposing EU directives into Irish law. It also outlines the EU legislative process in detail, and explains infringement procedures, in cases where there are delays in transposing EU directives into national law. Read the government’s press release here.

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The outbreak of war between the United States and Iran has seen a wild volatility in the price of crude oil hit Irish consumers in recent days. In a Dáil debate last week, TDs outlined cases in which households were hit with hundreds of euro of price increases in the days following their orders of home heating oil. Over the weekend, attention shifted to the petrol pumps where drivers noticed sharp jumps in prices. Calls for government intervention have come from across the political spectrum and from business and lobby groups. The Irish Examiner has more on this.

and...

The Road Haulage Association has threatened the Government with “disruptive protests” unless it takes action over fuel prices. The cost of petrol and diesel has surged in the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which have thrown the global energy market into chaos.  While Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted that there is “no excuse for prices going up”, the industry insists it has no choice, given how quickly their costs have risen. More from News Talk.

CIPD: Supporting your workforce through exceptional events

Crisis events like natural disasters, global conflict or the COVID-19 pandemic have a serious impact on people’s lives and on organisations. These resources can help you think through the key considerations and provide guidance on recommended actions during uncertain times. More here. 

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Ireland sees biggest improvement in PwC's Women in Work Index

Ireland saw the biggest improvement in PwC's Women in Work Index for 2026 - mainly driven by a decrease in the gender pay gap here. Ireland rose six places to 11th position this year among 33 OECD countries in PwC's latest Women in Work Index. PwC's 2026 Women in Work Index, now in its 15th year, tracks the progress of women in the workplace across 33 OECD countries. It uses five indicators covering pay, participation, unemployment and full time employment for women. More here.

IrishJobs report shows 17pc gap in pay expectations of men and women

The data also shows that men are often more comfortable negotiating a pay rise than their female colleagues. Recruitment platform IrishJobs has released data highlighting issues of pay disparity and unequal expectations between men and women of similar skill in the workplace. IrishJobs and parent company The Stepstone Group compiled the data using research related to salary and benefit trends from 1.3m job adverts, alongside survey insights from 470 recruiters and 670 candidates in Ireland, as well as using data from the UK and Germany. Silicon Republic has more.

Minister Foley Encourages Early Gender Pay Gap Reporting as New Research Highlights Early-Career Pay Inequalities

On International Women’s Day, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports, as new research published by the Department shows that a gender pay gap is evident in the early stages of young women’s careers. The research is based on data from the Growing Up in Ireland study which examines the earnings of 1,911 men and women who were born in 1998. It shows that the men in the study, now aged 25, earn on average approximately €50 more per week than women aged 25. Read the government’s press release here.

Despite challenges, Ireland sixth in EU for board gender diversity

Balance for Better Business, the independent business-led review group established by the Government, has released the findings of a report exploring the positioning of women on the boards of Ireland’s largest companies. Coinciding with International Women’s day this past Sunday (8 March), Balance for Better Business’s data shows that the proportion of women represented on the boards of ISEQ20 companies has remained steady, at 40pc, though this has fallen slightly from previous figures of 42pc. You can read more from Silicon Republic. 

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The housing crisis has hit hiring and is driving demand for hybrid and remote work, according to an employer study published today. A total of 61pc of employers in the private and commercial semi-state sectors reported that the housing crisis is affecting recruitment, while 73pc said it is fuelling demand for remote working. You can read more from the Irish Independent.

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SIPTU to play key role in HSE Pay and Number Strategy talks

SIPTU will be a key participant in this year’s Pay and Number Strategy talks with the HSE after claims that it was in breach of a staffing agreement across grades. This comes after the HSE was taken to the Labour Court for failing to engage and consult on a workforce plan with the unions representing the workforce. SIPTU, along with other unions, argued that the HSE was in breach of the staffing agreement with an estimated 7,000 vacant posts across the health service. If left unfilled, these vacancies could affect the quality of care that patients receive. SIPTU has more here.

SIPTU welcomes decision to offer contracts to graduate paramedics

SIPTU representatives have welcomed a resolution of a dispute affecting 70 graduate paramedics who will now be offered permanent contracts in the National Ambulance Service. This dispute was concluded following engagement between unions and HSE management 10th March and you can catch up here. 

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More than half of Irish employers plan to increase pay this year however, the average increase is expected to be 2.9%, down from a high of 5% in 2022. That is according to a survey from the professional body for the HR industry CIPD and Industrial Relations News (IRN). The Employment Practices Survey found that 78% of employers increased salaries in 2025, but 59% are planning a pay rise this year. RTÉ has the full story.

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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.....

Q&A: Protected Disclosures - Emerging trends from the WRC

The term “whistleblowing” has well and truly entered the mainstream vocabulary of employers (and employees) in Ireland and there is now a noticeable increase in whistleblowing related litigation before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). This is not surprising given the significant statutory redress available to whistleblowers who can establish they have been penalised at work.

In this Q&A, David Murray, Solicitor, A&L Goodbody looks at some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to recent trends in the WRC in this area and the practical learnings to be drawn from these cases.

Fair Procedures 101: back to basics in disciplinary processes and outcomes

In a world where employment laws are consistently changing and evolving, one steadfast principle remains – the role of fair procedures in the disciplinary process. The EY Law Ireland Employment Law team discusses a number of recent WRC decisions which confirm that, even where substantive grounds for disciplinary action exist, procedural missteps will expose leaving employers exposed. Read it in full here.

Duncan's Case Law Reviews

Duncan Inverarity, Former Partner & Head of Employment at A&L Goodbody LLP reviews the most important case law relevant for Irish employers from the past year. Keep an eye out on our Hub every week for a new update. This week he is discussing a protected disclosure case:

Breban v Catch Security Systems [2025]

In this case, the High Court ruled that a worker only needs a reasonable belief that wrongdoing occurred for a disclosure to be protected, even if no actual wrongdoing exists.

Read the full case review here.

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How Gen Z men’s ‘traditional’ values have implications for HR

Almost a third of Gen Z men and boys believe that a wife should obey her husband, and 59% think men are expected to do too much to support equality, according to new figures published by King’s College London. The annual survey of men in 29 countries found that men born between 1997 and 2012 were twice as likely as those from the Baby Boomer (1946-1964) generation to have traditional views on decision-making in a marriage. This may seem removed from the workplace, but there are clear implications for how HR set equal policies and how they are taken up. Fifty-seven per cent of Gen Z men said we have gone so far in promoting women’s equality that we are discriminating against men, the research found. Jo Faragher examines what this means for workplaces, gender equality and HR in this article for Personnel Today here.

Top 5 ways organisations can support first time Managers

For many employees, becoming a manager is seen as a promotion. Behaviourally, it is a far more complex transition. This article explores why first-time managers struggle with identity shifts, emotional pressure and new social dynamics, and what organisations can do to support them effectively. HRD Connect has more.

How to Link Learning & Development to measurable business impact

Businesses around the globe are now investing billions into learning management systems (LMS) designed to close skills gaps, improve compliance and accelerate workforce capability. Yet despite careful procurement processes and detailed vendor comparisons, many businesses have started to discover that some learning platforms struggle to deliver the strategic value originally envisioned. Harry Chapman-Walker, CEO, Kallidus, explains the steps to take to ensure measurable success in this article for HR Director.

Fake job applications pack malware that kills endpoint detection before stealing data

HR teams are being targeted with fake CVs that quietly install malware which can disable security tools before stealing data from infected machines. Researchers say the bait arrives as what looks like a perfectly normal job application sitting on a well-known cloud storage service. To the recruiter skimming through a stack of candidates, it appears to be just another CV, but opening it quietly kicks off a series of background actions that knock out security tools and hand the attackers a foothold on the machine. More from The Register. 

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Over 11,000 people saw their social welfare rates reduced last year for failing to engage with employment services. The Government has been cracking down on people in receipt of unemployment benefits for not attending meetings with the Department of Social Protection or engaging with employment support schemes. Plans introduced under the last government doubled the penalty for non-engagement from €44 per week to €90 from January 2025. Irish Examiner has more.

The Irish Independent reports shouting “potato” at an Irish colleague in a mock accent amounts to racial harassment, an employment tribunal in the UK has found. A judge said repeated use of terms such as “potato” and “Paddy” were “offensive and humiliating”. The ruling was made at an employment tribunal where an Irish book-keeper won £20,000 (€23,112) in a race harassment case.

An Irish arm of iPhone maker Apple dismissed an employee for gross misconduct after alleging he made unauthorised changes to customer records on 13 occasions during February 2024. Apple Partner Relations Advisor Francesco Muro sued for unfair dismissal against Apple Distribution International Ltd (ADIL). RTÉ has more.

The Journal reports Enoch Burke has said moving him from Mountjoy in Dublin to Castlerea in Roscommon has no basis in law. He appeared before the High Court on Tuesday to argue that his transfer should not be allowed as his detention was based on a civil rather than a criminal matter. Burke and his family have appeared in court multiple times in recent years in relation to a dispute with the board of management of Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where Burke worked as a teacher.

Tayto Snacks invested €1.17m in major rooftop solar project as manufacturers turn to onsite generation. The installation, comprising 1,734 panels, is expected to generate around 667 MWh of electricity each year. Tayto says the system will cut its annual carbon emissions by an estimated 146 tonnes of CO₂, providing a measure of insulation against rising power costs and grid constraints. More from Think Business.

The Taoiseach has been asked to meet healthcare workers with Long Covid following claims he showed a “willingness to revisit” a special sick pay scheme. A temporary special scheme for staff unable to work due to Long Covid meant they received full pay, but it was discontinued at the end of December, reports the Irish Independent. 

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Employer Insights from Real Bullying and Harassment Cases

Missed our webinar on real bullying and harassment cases? Catch up with the recording here.

Dr Gerry McMahon, a national expert with 35+ years in workplace investigations, shares real-life scenarios, common pitfalls, and WRC expectations. Hosted by Julie Holmes from Legal Island, the session gives practical guidance so HR teams can handle complaints fairly, consistently, and confidently without needing to be perfect.

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

Enjoy the weekend and happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️

Legal Island

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