Top 5 Reads for Busy People: quick, sharp, done ⚡📰

1. ECJ backs the EU’s Minimum Wage Directive. A big move for employers.
2. Cyber attacks are hitting staff too, with burnout and sick days on the rise.
3. SIPTU warns of unrest as the cost of living crisis deepens.
4. Pension challenge of the year? Inertia.
5. Christmas shopping at work? Better check those policies.

And in other news….our Annual Review of Employment Law at on 27th Nov sold out quicker than you can say “statutory entitlement"! Join the waiting list or catch all the action online from anywhere. 🔥 Check it out HERE. 

**If you have any difficulties accessing the article or resetting your password (if you haven’t already done so in 2025) please email hub@legal-island.com and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.**

1. Case Law Reviews
2. Annual Review Session of the Week: AI and the Future of Work - Transforming Tomorrow's Workplace Today
3. AI and Employment Law
4. European Court of Justice upholds legality of EU's Minimum Wage Directive
5. Cybersecurity
6. Industrial Relations
7. Pensions
8. IoD: Board Director Remuneration and Governance Survey 2025/26 Report Launch
9. Just In Case You Missed It....
10. HR Developments
11. Employment News in the Media

Joanne Kennedy v Stradbally Ladders Ltd. ADJ-00054589

Summary: Dismissal during maternity leave found unfair despite genuine redundancy, as notice breached statutory maternity protections.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should exercise extreme caution when managing employment matters involving employees on protected leave, including maternity, adoptive, or parental leave. Any decision to terminate employment, even where genuine redundancy exists, must strictly comply with statutory protections. Employers must allow an employee to return to work after maternity leave before initiating redundancy consultation. Issuing notice during protected leave, even with benevolent intent, is a breach of the Maternity Protection Act. Consultation and fair procedures must always be observed, ensuring the employee is informed, given an opportunity to respond, and allowed to appeal decisions through an independent process.

Additionally, redundancy processes should be transparent, supported by clear documentation, objective criteria, and evidence of genuine business need. Employers should also ensure that all statutory payments, including notice pay, redundancy pay, and accrued leave, are made promptly. HR advisors or legal counsel should be consulted before taking action involving protected employees. By adhering to fair process and legislative obligations, employers can avoid costly litigation, maintain compliance, and protect their organisational reputation.

Read the full Review here: Joanne Kennedy v Stradbally Ladders Ltd. [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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It’s almost here! Legal Island’s Annual Review of Employment Law, our flagship event of the year takes place on 27th November, live at the Aviva Stadium (and online for those who prefer to tune in from afar).

This is the go-to event for HR professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve, get practical insights from leading experts, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of work.

Each week between now and the big day, we’ll shine a spotlight on the must-see sessions in this year’s packed programme.

Don’t miss out.  Check out the full line-up and secure your spot today. More details here.

Here is our session of the week: 

AI and the Future of Work – Transforming Tomorrow’s Workplace Today

AI is reshaping the world of work at incredible speed – are you ready? In this session, James Ryan from Work Matters explores how HR leaders can harness The Human Edge to stay ahead. Discover how to redesign roles, upskill teams, and build agile, high-performing workplaces that balance technology with empathy and inclusion.

Leave inspired and ready to lead your organisation confidently through the next wave of transformation.

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EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and big tech pressure, FT reports

The European Commission is proposing to pause parts of its landmark artificial intelligence (AI) legislation amid intense pressure from big tech companies and the U.S. government, the Financial Times reported. The move follows months of urging by tech giants like Meta (META.O), opens new tab and Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, and pressure from the Trump administration, which has warned against measures that could provoke trade tensions. More from Reuters.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

This week's episode: Why it's Time for HR to Lead AI Adoption.

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🎧 Amazon Music 🎧 Apple Podcasts

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

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CJEU dismisses challenge to EU adequate minimum wages directive

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has upheld most of the provisions of an EU directive on adequate minimum wages following a challenge from Denmark. Denmark had sought to annul the 2022 directive in its entirety, arguing — with support from Sweden — that legislation on pay goes beyond the EU’s authority. The court dismissed the request to annul the directive and confirmed that it was adopted on a correct legal basis, reports Irish Legal News.

And the union response…

Congress welcomes CJEU recognition that Directive on collective bargaining is on sound legal footing

Any ambiguity on the legality of the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive has been put beyond doubt, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said following a Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling.  In its ruling announced Tuesday, the Court upheld in full all articles relating to the promotion of collective bargaining. You can read the ICTU statement here.

Here direct from the President of the Court......

In his short video below, the President of the Court explains how the Court ruled, clarifying where the EU’s competence ends and the Member States’ begins.

Watch the President’s explainer here.

Want to dive deeper? Read the full press release here.

Read RTE's full report on it here: ECJ upholds legality of EU's minimum wage directive

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Companies hit by cyber attacks note a surge in employee burnout and sick days

Irish companies hit by cyber attacks in the past year are not only facing financial and reputational losses but also a surge in employee burnout, sick days, and toxic workplace culture, according to the Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report 2025. The annual study surveyed 500 Irish businesses and found that 40% had suffered at least one cyber attack in the last 12 months, reports Business Plus.

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‘I was branded rat and traitor over Uisce Éireann talks’ – Siptu delegate tells of online abuse

A local authority employee has told how he was described as a “rat” and “traitor” online when he was involved in intense talks on a deal to transform water services.
Monaghan County Council worker Stephen Kelly said he faced threats of protests at his home by those who disagreed with his union’s stance. The former water worker was speaking at Siptu’s biennial conference in Galway. Delegates backed a motion calling on the union to campaign for tougher regulations to stem online abuse of union members and activists. More from the Irish Independent.

SIPTU warns of 'industrial unrest' due to cost of living crisis

The incoming General Secretary of the country's largest trade union, SIPTU, has warned of significant periods of industrial unrest because the cost of living crisis is "screwing workers". John King, who will take over the top job next year, said the Government has abandoned the interests of working people. RTÉ has more on this story.

Collective Bargaining: Government sets out new Action Plan

Emer Murphy from A&L Goodbody provides an overview of the launch of Ireland’s Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026–2030. Access it here.

Aer Lingus pilots vote no confidence in airline executives

Aer Lingus pilots voted no confidence in the airline’s chief executive Lynne Embleton and chief operations officer Adrian Dunne in a row they say has safety implications.Their union, the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), sought talks with Ms Embleton on Monday ahead of an extraordinary general meeting to discuss “interference from senior non-flying management” in the operation of aircraft while in flight. At the meeting, Ialpa members unanimously backed a motion stating that Aer Lingus pilots in their capacity as “frontline guardians of aviation safety for all and in their promotion of safety first at all times” had no confidence in Ms Embleton or Mr Dunne. The Irish Times has more on this.

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'Inertia one of the biggest challenges of the pension landscape' – CIPD

The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development is calling on organisations to ensure workers are aware of and getting the best benefits from an existing company pension scheme or auto enrolment. The Government is pulling payroll data this month, meaning any eligible workers aged over 22 and earning the equivalent of more than €20,000 and who are not already registered in a company pension scheme will be automatically enrolled in the My Future Fund scheme. More here from RTÉ.

Employers urged to complete preparations for Ireland’s biggest pension reform in decades

With just seven weeks until Ireland’s auto-enrolment pension scheme goes live, social protection minister Dara Calleary has urged employers to complete their preparations. Mr Calleary made the comments to more than 350 attendees at a webinar hosted by business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran. The event focused on My Future Fund, the State’s new retirement savings system that will automatically enrol over 800,000 workers from January. The minister described it as “a landmark reform that will help hundreds of thousands of workers build a secure and comfortable retirement”. Irish Legal News has more.

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The Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland has published a new report, offering a unique view of Ireland’s evolving governance landscape. The report provides a snapshot of director remuneration across regulated financial services and other sectors.

Findings include:

38% of director remuneration and 43% of board chair remuneration in upper range above €60,000 in financial services
70% of non-executive directors feel their remuneration reflects responsibilities and time commitments

You can access a copy of the report here.

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Protected Disclosures - Ireland's Current Landscape

Ireland’s whistleblowing landscape is evolving rapidly, with a sharp rise in protected disclosure complaints and heightened employer obligations under the 2022 Act. Recent cases show the Workplace Relations Commission’s readiness to impose significant, sometimes punitive, awards where penalisation is proven. Katie Doherty from DAC shares her insights here.

When Life Happens: Making Sense of Family Leave in the Irish Workplace

Winter is coming and so are the coughs, colds and caring emergencies. As HR professionals know all too well, this is the season when requests for time off multiply: “My child’s sick again”, “Mum’s had a fall”, “I need time for a doctor’s appointment”. But which type of leave actually applies? Force majeure? Compassionate? Parental? Carer’s? It can feel like an alphabet soup of entitlements and one wrong move can leave an employer exposed. Couldn’t join us live? Don’t worry – catch up on the webinar anytime by watching the recording here.

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Christmas shopping at work? What employers need to know

A recent employment tribunal decision ruled in favour of an employee dismissed after her employer monitored her personal use of shopping and property websites. As the festive shopping season approaches, Personnel Today examines what employers can learn from this decision. Read here.

People profession key to helping organisations adopt AI sustainably and responsibly in an uncertain labour market

The CIPD’s quarterly Labour Market Outlook reveals that UK employer hiring confidence remains at a record low, excluding the COVID-19 period. A key factor is the anticipated impact of AI, with one in six employers expecting to reduce their workforce over the next year due to automation, while 6% foresee an increase in headcount. Among large private firms, one in four expect staff reductions, compared to 17% across the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Globally, similar trends are emerging, with the World Economic Forum predicting that 40% of employers worldwide will cut jobs by 2030 in favour of AI automation. Read here. 

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The health service has been severely criticised for failing to suspend a senior hospital pharmacist for over a year after complaints of repeated sexual harassment were made against him by a more junior employee, who has won nearly €87,000 in compensation. In a decision published this week, a WRC adjudicator wrote that it was "difficult" to disagree with the junior worker when she said the HSE "makes it easy" for alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment. RTÉ has the full story.

Nine Amazon employees have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in Seattle, alleging the company discriminates against disabled workers by systematically denying medical requests to work remotely. The suit claims Amazon uses artificial intelligence to process accommodation requests and, instead of granting them, often forces employees onto unpaid leave or terminates them as part of its strict return-to-office policy. More from Yahoo News. 

A senior employee at a healthcare manufacturers who was suspended over alleged sexual harassment of a junior female colleague has got a High Court injunction halting disciplinary proceedings. A judge was told the allegations arose out of what had been a long-standing private WhatsApp relationship featuring what the male employee says was "playful, mutual and sexualised banter." Breaking News has more on this story.

The Vatican has reached a compromise in the case of two employees of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) who were dismissed after marrying each other. According to Il Messaggero, the agreement ends months of internal tension within the Holy See following the introduction of new regulations forbidding marriages between colleagues at the Vatican Bank. The Catholic Herald has the full story.

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

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