⏳ Short on time? Catch up fast with this week’s Top 5 Must-Reads:

1. 👴 Retirement WRC Ruling – WRC backs employer who enforced retirement at 60
2. 📢 Pay Transparency in Focus: New legislation on equality law on the way
3. 🧠 Neurodiversity at Work – Smart design = inclusive workplaces. Is your office up to speed?
4. 📊 Gender Pay Gap Alert: Minister announces fresh reporting requirements for 2025
5. 😷 Covid: 5 Years Later – How the pandemic reshaped the workplace—are we better or worse off?
   

And in other news………….The AI Revolution is Happening Faster than you think. Join Barry Phillips, author of the brand new groundbreaking  book “ChatGPT in HR – a Practical Guide for Employers and HR Professionals”, as he reveals 5 powerful ways Generative AI is already transforming HR in his FREE webinar on 25th March. REGISTER 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 Review
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Event: Legal Answers to HR Dilemmas – Session of the Week 
4. EU Pay Transparency Directive 
5. Covid - 5 Years On
6. Industrial Relations
7. DEI
8. Just in Case You Missed It...
9. HR Developments
10. Employment News in the Media
11. Free Webinars This Month

Colette Quinn v An Garda Síochána ADJ-00044613

Complainant: Colette Quinn

Respondent: An Garda Síochána

Summary: WRC held that Complainant was not discriminated on grounds of age when mandatory retirement age of 60 was enforced.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

1. Ensure that mandatory retirement policies are objectively justified by legitimate aims, such as workforce planning and operational efficiency (see the S.I. No. 600/2017 - Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Longer Working) (Declaration) Order 2017). Consistency and transparency in applying retirement policies are crucial to avoiding potential claims of age discrimination.  
   
2. Carefully assess whether differing retirement ages are justified by the distinct nature of the roles. As seen in this case, the distinction between Gardaí and civil servants, despite some role overlap, was considered a valid justification for different retirement ages (document the reasoning behind such decisions to support any future challenges). 
   
3. Ensure that employees are aware of any application process for retirement extensions, preventing assumptions about eligibility. Policies should be regularly reviewed to align with evolving workforce needs and legal standards.

Read the full Review here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/colette-quinn-v-an-garda-s%C3%ADoch%C3%A1na

Anatasia Putzier v Premier Recruitment International U.C. t/a Morgan McKinley ADJ-00049902

Complainant: Anatasia Putzier

Respondent: Premier Recruitment International U.C. t/a Morgan McKinley

Summary: Be aware of statutory time frames at the WRC.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

1. Ensure clarity in contractual relationships, particularly when engaging contractors or agency workers, to avoid potential misclassification claims. It is crucial to maintain thorough documentation of employment status, contract terms, and engagement periods to defend against any disputes.  
   
2. Be aware of statutory time limits for employment-related claims and be prepared to challenge out-of-time complaints. 
   
3. Seek legal advice when drafting contracts to ensure compliance with employment laws and reduce potential liabilities.

Read the full Review here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/anatasia-putzier-v-premier-recruitment-international-u-c-t-a-morgan-mckinley-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:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/case-law

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Experts in AI look at the jobs AI can't take over the next 20 years

The astonishing speed at which generative artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT have taken off has shocked even tech insiders, writes Jonathan Margolis. Only 10 years ago, leading experts were not concerned about the effect on the world of work. "It's nothing new," said the then head of AI for Amazon. "It won't be replacing anyone." When I emailed him this week, he didn't answer. More:
https://businessplus.ie/business-insights/ai-jobs-2/

5 AI mistakes organisations must avoid

Riverbed’s Fernando Castanheira advises companies not to run before they can walk when it comes to AI implementation. With artificial intelligence (AI) technologies ramping up all the time, implementing AI is now viewed as essential for staying competitive, boosting productivity and driving innovation. Despite the clear promise, recent findings from Riverbed’s Global AI & Digital Experience Survey reveal that many business leaders are still making fundamental errors in their approach to AI integration. These mistakes must be avoided to ensure that AI strategies can evolve from a solid and healthy foundation. After all, you can’t run before you can walk. Read more:
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/ai-mistakes-organisations-avoid-data-strategies-it-cybersecurity-compliance-advice

How GenAI is Transforming HR Visuals – We May Never Have to Visit Istock Again

In this episode, Barry Phillips explores the transformative impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on the creation and use of HR visuals. He discusses how GenAI allows HR professionals to generate bespoke, high-quality images tailored to specific needs, potentially reducing reliance on traditional stock photo platforms. This advancement streamlines the visual content creation process, offering cost-effective and legally safe alternatives for HR materials.

Catch up on Barry’s podcast on this topic here:

How GenAI is Transforming HR Visuals – We May Never Have to Visit Istock Again

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Legal Answers to HR Dilemmas – Mastering Modern Workplace Challenges

27th March 2025, Online

Speakers: Leading Employment Law Team at Eversheds Sutherland (Ireland) LLP

When staff are away, do you have the right legal and HR safeguards in place? From sickness absences to remote work policies, Legal Island’s Legal Answers to HR Dilemmas event will equip you with expert guidance to manage tricky workplace dilemmas with confidence.

Here is a taster to one of the sessions on the day……

Dilemma 3: Untangling the Web of New Employee Rights

With a wave of new employee rights and entitlements introduced in 2023 and 2024, it’s no wonder HR managers are feeling a bit overwhelmed! This session will focus on the key legislative changes you need to know and act on right now to ensure your organisation is fully compliant.

Emma Quinn, Associate, Eversheds Sutherland LLP (Ireland) will lead a practical session covering:

Review, Reflect, React – We’ll dive into the most recent changes that impact your family leave policies, including:

• Domestic Violence Leave – What it means for your workforce and how to manage it.
• Flexible Working Requests for Carers – Understanding employees’ new rights and your obligations.
• Postponement of maternity leave in the event of a serious health condition – what are your obligations

What’s on the Horizon – Get ahead of upcoming changes, including:

• The Maternity Protection, Employment Equality, and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024 – What you need to know in relation to the new restriction on the use of non-disclosure agreements.
• What else is coming? – Are there more changes on the way that you should be planning for?

Compliance vs. Best Practice  

Learn what you need to do to stay compliant and discover what great employers are doing to lead the way in supporting their employees and maintaining a strong workplace culture. Find what fits for your organisation!

Get practical, up-to-date legal advice to keep your organisation compliant and avoid costly mistakes

Read the full programme and BOOK your place here: 
https://legal-island.ie/events/legal-answers-to-hr-dilemmas-roi

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EU Pay Transparency Directive: which countries have implemented?

The Pay Transparency Directive is the EU’s latest effort to achieve its longstanding principle of equal pay for equal work. The centerpiece of the Directive is a requirement that all employers with more than 100 employees must regularly report detailed information regarding the organisation’s gender pay gap. If this reporting reveals a gap of 5% or more within any job category and the gap cannot be explained by objective and non-discriminatory factors, the employer has six months to eliminate the gap. If it fails to do so, the employer must engage in an extensive pay audit process (a ‘joint pay assessment’), with oversight by the employee representatives. Ius Laboris has more:
https://iuslaboris.com/insights/eu-pay-transparency-directive-which-countries-have-implemented/

Proposed Legislation on Pay Transparency and Equality Law Developments

In an important step towards Ireland’s implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970/EU), the Irish Government published the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (the “GSE Bill”) on 15 January 2025. The GSE Bill also proposes a number of significant amendments to equality legislation, including extending the time limit for discrimination claims and potential redress.  In this article, we outline the key proposals in the GSE Bill and some practical steps that employers can take now to prepare. Read full analysis from Matheson here:
https://www.matheson.com/insights/detail/proposed-legislation-on-pay-transparency-and-equality-law-developments#:~:text=In%20an%20important,now%20to%20prepare.

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Covid five years on - the world of work

This time five years ago the world of work was turned on its head. As the first Covid lockdowns were announced, employees packed up equipment and headed for home leaving behind empty offices, businesses and classrooms. The remote working revolution had begun. It was a difficult transition for many, with no shortage of challenges such as slow broadband speeds and technical glitches, not to mention interruptions from family members and pets. Five years on however, a working model that was borne out of a public health emergency has been embraced by thousands of employees who have no desire for things to go back to the way they were. Read full article on RTÉ :
https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2025/0319/1502776-covid-lockdown-work/

Hospitality sector hit hardest by pandemic - CSO

The accommodation and food services sector suffered the largest fall in employment during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Central Statistics Office. Five years on from the first Covid lockdowns, the research looks at the impact on employment, earnings and air travel. The study found that employment in the accommodation and food sector fell by 38%, or 68,700 people, between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020. RTÉ has more:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0319/1502867-cso-covid-impact-on-work-earnings-travel/

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BNM Recycling workers serve strike notice for 2nd and 3rd April

SIPTU members employed by Bord na Móna (BNM) Recycling, the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, have served notice of a two-day strike action which will stop the company’s domestic waste collection services on 2nd and 3rd April. More direct from SIPTU:
https://www.siptu.ie/bnm-recycling-workers-serve-strike-notice-for-2nd-and-3rd-april/

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New announcement from Minister on gender pay gap reporting requirements for 2025

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has announced that the long-awaited gender pay gap reporting portal will be launched in autumn 2025. Reports from all in-scope employers will be made available on the online portal, which will be fully searchable by the public. Currently, in-scope employers are only required to publish their gender pay gap report on their website. A&L Goodbody have more on this:
https://knowledgeplus.algoodbody.com/blog/new-announcement-minister-gender-pay-gap-reporting-requirements-2025#page=1

Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace by design

Businesses in Ireland are embedding diversity policies, not just as an act of compliance but because it has been established that diversity in the workplace leads to better decisions and innovations. Designing the physical workplace to be more inclusive is a growing part of that drive. Office supplier Codex has announced a partnership with Autism charity AsIAm. Catch up:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0318/1502544-supporting-neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-by-design/

‘Sensory overwhelm’: Office supply firm launches quiet spaces and pods for employees with autism

Office supply company Codex is partnering with a charity to introduce products for employees with autism and other neurodivergent needs. The products, developed with autism charity AsIAm include support facilities like pods and quiet spaces. To develop them, Codex surveyed over 200 neurodivergent employees in Ireland and the UK who were diagnosed with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. More from Irish Independent:
https://www.independent.ie/business/sensory-overwhelm-office-supply-firm-launches-quiet-spaces-and-pods-for-employees-with-autism/a27509206.html

Rotunda care assistant who was sexually harassed by porter to appeal WRC ruling

A female care assistant at the Rotunda Hospital who claimed she was forced to quit because its management let a porter who sexually harassed her stay on staff is to appeal a tribunal ruling rejecting her claim for constructive dismissal. More:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0318/1502713-no-compensation-for-worker-sexually-harassed-at-rotunda/

Young adults with disabilities locked out of work placements as employers have to fight with insurers

Young adults with disabilities face a “significant barrier” when seeking work placements as businesses struggle to get insurance cover, a new report reveals. But there is an increased desire for these opportunities at the “critical juncture” before they leave school, according to the ESRI report published today. It reveals many obstacles faced by school leavers with additional needs. Irish Independent has more:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/young-adults-with-disabilities-locked-out-of-work-placements-as-employers-have-to-fight-with-insurers/a229068239.html

President Trump’s DEI orders: what do they mean for employers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland? 

The article by Síobhra Rush, Niamh Crotty, and Paul Gillen from Lewis Silkin examines the impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the U.S. and what this means for employers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. More here:
President Trump’s DEI orders: what do they mean for employers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?

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Managing Protected Disclosures in the Workplace

Missed our webinar with Sinead Morgan, Legal Director, DAC Beachcroft on whistleblowing? Don't worry, you can catch up on the recording here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/managing-protected-disclosures-in-the-workplace

How to: Successfully Manage Grievances at Work

Gerry McMahon’s article outlines the critical importance of effectively managing workplace grievances to maintain morale, job satisfaction, and organisational success. He discusses legal implications, constructive dismissal risks, delays, representation rights, and best practices for grievance handling. Read more here:
How to: Successfully Manage Grievances at Work

President Trump’s DEI orders: what do they mean for employers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?

Within days of taking office, President Trump issued orders demanding the rolling back of DEI initiatives within the federal government, federal contractors and – to some extent – the private sector. In this article, we explain how US law differs from Irish and Northern Irish law on DEI, why key initiatives must stay in place, and what impacted companies based in the island of Ireland can be doing now. Read more:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/president-trumps-dei-orders-what-do-they-mean-for-employers-in-the-republic-of-ireland-and-northern-ireland

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Harnessing human skills in the hybrid era

Hybrid work, enabled by technology, boosts productivity but risks side-lining human skills like empathy and communication. The loss of informal office interactions can erode trust and teamwork. Businesses must develop virtual connections, redefine leadership, and invest in human skills to build resilient, engaged teams in the evolving workplace. HR Director has more:
https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/training_and_development/harnessing-human-skills-hybrid-era/

Half of women lack inspirational female leaders at work

More than half (52%) of female professionals in Ireland said they lack inspirational female leaders within their company, recruiter Robert Walters has found in a new poll on barriers women in Ireland face at work. The finding comes after research from Grant Thornton showed that one in seven Irish firms have no women in their senior management team, and there are no female CEOs at any of Ireland's top 20 publicly traded companies. Businessplus.ie has more:
https://businessplus.ie/business-insights/inspirational-female-leaders-at-work/

Simple Safety in Retailing

HSAs simple safety toolkit for those working in retail:
https://www.hsa.ie/eng/topics/simple_safety/retail/

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A schoolteacher who claims she was falsely identified online as the so-called “GAA Catfish” has secured an interim injunction restraining her school from continuing a disciplinary process potentially leading to her dismissal. Niamh Farrell, from The Spires, Portadown, Co Armagh, has claimed in the High Court she was wrongly identified online as the person responsible for “catfishing” – the practice of deceiving people online often in an attempt to lure them into a relationship – various individuals in activities that were the subject of several podcasts by entertainment duo The 2 Johnnies. Irish Examiner has more:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41596684.html

A scientist at an artificial intelligence skincare research company has won orders for €11,500 on top of a statutory redundancy lump sum after she returned to work from maternity leave to find her workplace had closed. Aoife McHugh, a former employee of Rinocloud Limited, established her entitlement to statutory redundancy and won awards for non-payment of wages and breaches of the working time legislation in a decision published yesterday by the Workplace Relations Commission. RTÉ has the full story:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0314/1502125-scientist-at-firm-locked-out-at-end-of-maternity-leave/

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has accused Meta of “silencing” a former director who was ordered this week to refrain from promoting her new book. Careless People, published this week, provides an account from Sarah Wynn-Williams of her time as Meta’s director of global public policy from 2011 to 2017. The book includes a widely-publicised claim that the Irish government gave Facebook a “special phone” in the event that it encountered any problems in Dublin. More from Irish Legal News:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/meta-silencing-former-director-barred-from-publicising-new-book

A member of the Burke family from Castlebar, Co Mayo, has spent more than €45,000 on Facebook advertisements over the past six years, according to data made publicly available by Meta, the owner of the platform. The money has been spent promoting uploaded videos on the Facebook page of Josiah Burke, who recently published a video of his mother, Martina, and brother, Isaac, speaking outside the Ireland Funds gala dinner in Washington, DC. More from The Irish Times:
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/03/16/burke-family-pays-facebook-to-promote-its-video-of-their-washington-dc-protest/

A teacher whose social media posts a Teaching Council committee said amounted to breaches of incitement to hatred laws is appealing a preliminary ruling in his High Court action aimed at halting a disciplinary process arising from the posts. Between 2015 and 2016, Gearoid Johnson – teacher of 26 years who previously worked at Ballyfermot College of Further Education – made 12 social media posts referring to Islam, homosexuality and transgender issues, among other subjects. BrekaingNews has more:
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/teacher-to-appeal-preliminary-ruling-in-action-against-social-media-posts-disciplinary-process-1739453.html

Google is to pay $28m (£21.5m) to settle racial bias claims against the business, according to lawyers involved in the case. The technology giant had been accused of giving white and Asian workers better pay and career progression opportunities than those from other ethnic backgrounds. According to news agency Reuters, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of at least 6,632 individuals who worked at Google between 15 February 2018 and 31 December 2024. Personnel Today has more:
https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/google-agrees-28m-payout-to-settle-racial-bias-claims/

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5 Ways GenAI is Already Reshaping HR

📅 Tuesday 25th March 2025 

⏰ 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM 

💻 Online

The AI Revolution is Happening Faster Than You Think. Join Barry Phillips, author of the brand new groundbreaking  book “ChatGPT in HR – a Practical Guide for Employers and HR Professionals”, as he reveals five powerful ways Generative AI is already transforming HR.

Barry will challenge outdated assumptions, tackling key issues such as:

• Misconduct redefined – How AI tools are blurring traditional workplace boundaries
• AI bans: Time to rethink? – Why prohibiting GenAI could leave your organisation at a considerable disadvantage
• The rise of AI Agents – How autonomous AI could reshape HR roles and responsibilities
• Dedicated AI coaches for HR? It's so much closer than you think...

AI also presents an opportunity to supercharge HR, boosting its strategic influence like never before. Discover how AI can elevate HR from an operational function to a critical, decision-driving powerhouse at the heart of your organisation.

This is a must-attend session for HR leaders who want to stay ahead of the AI curve and make informed decisions about the future of work.

REGISTER HERE! 

FREE WEBINAR: Trump’s DEI Rollbacks - A Wake-Up Call for Irish HR Leaders?

📅 Tuesday 15th April 2025 

⏰ 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM  

💻 Online 

President Donald Trump issued executive orders rolling back DEI efforts across the US, which contributed to job cuts in the public sector and prompted some companies to reconsider their diversity policies. Major corporations - including Meta, McDonald's, and Bank of America - have adjusted their DEI strategies, scaling back public diversity targets and shifting towards ‘merit-based’ hiring practices.

If research found diverse teams are 70% more likely to capture new markets why is opposition to DEI increasing?  Could this signal a shift for businesses in Ireland as well? With global organisations reassessing their commitments, HR leaders in Ireland face key questions:

• Does a strong DEI strategy drive business results, or is it just an added expense?
• How might changing global trends affect Irish workplace policies and expectations?
• Should businesses double down on inclusion or take a more measured approach?

Join Julie Holmes from Legal Island and industry experts as we examine whether businesses should sustain, reshape, or scale back their DEI commitments in response to shifting global trends - and what this means for HR leaders in Ireland.

Secure your spot now and be part of the conversation!

REGISTER HERE!

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:
Legal Island | Webinars Podcasts 

Enjoy the weekend.

Legal-Island