The 5 Must Reads for HR: 

1. What HR can learn from The Traitors about trust & workplace politics 🕵️‍♀️
2. 1 in 10 job ads now mention AI and that number is only going one way 🤖
3. Why generational differences are a red herring at work 👥
4. 90 minute HR Skill Builder to sharpen your approach to probation and performance ⏱️
5. Labour Court recommendation exposes the challenges of resolving EWC disputes in Ireland ⚖️

And in other news....Legal Island has unveiled its brand new HR agony aunt "Dear Caroline" series. In January, Caroline tackled the age old HR mystery of how to be more strategic when you barely have time to finish your tea 🫖😬Read it in full here.

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Skill Builder for HR
4. European Works Council
5. Recruitment and Retention
6. Neurodiversity and Reasonable Accommodation
7. Hybrid Working
8. Pay
9. Just In Case You Missed It....
10. HR Developments
11. Employment News in the Media
12. Health and Safety Developments
13. Friends of Legal Island
14. Free Webinars This Month 

Lee Peate v Musgrave Marketplace ADJ-00059059

Summary: Statutory sick pay was found to be due where the employer’s sick pay scheme excluded a newer employee and was not more favourable as a whole under the Sick Leave Act 2022.

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should carefully review existing sick pay schemes to ensure they genuinely meet the “more favourable as a whole” test under the Sick Leave Act 2022. Particular attention should be paid to qualifying service periods, as lengthy waiting times may operate as a barrier that defeats statutory protections. Even generous schemes can fail if employees are left without income at critical times. Employers should assess schemes from the perspective of lower-paid or newer employees and document how each statutory factor is satisfied. Where schemes predate the Act, a review and amendment may be necessary.

Read the full Review here: Lee Peate v Musgrave Marketplace [2025]
 

Susan Quain (Nee Goodwin) v Board Of Management Catherine McAuley Special School ADJ-0005417

Summary: Employee was found to have been constructively dismissed where prolonged delays, lack of transparency and procedural unfairness in handling bullying and safeguarding complaints rendered her working environment intolerable, resulting in a €40,000 award

Practical Guidance for Employers: 

Employers should:

• Recognise that prolonged delay in handling grievances, particularly those involving bullying, harassment, or safeguarding concerns, can itself constitute a serious breach of duty. Even where an investigation is outsourced, the employer retains responsibility for oversight, timelines, and communication. 
  
  
• Note that complaints are entitled to timely updates, access to investigation outcomes, and clear information about next steps, including any appeal rights. Employers should avoid informal workarounds or inconsistent explanations, as these undermine trust and can be interpreted as evasive or dismissive. Data protection concerns must be handled proportionately and should not be used to obstruct access to reports.
  
  
• Do not assume that extended leave or alternative employment automatically defeats a constructive dismissal claim. Tribunals will assess the totality of circumstances and the reasonableness of the employee’s response.
  

Read the full Review here: Susan Quain (Nee Goodwin) v Board Of Management Catherine McAuley Special School [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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New centre to back ICT and AI researchers in Ireland

TUD and Research Ireland’s new ARC Hub for ICT will target enhanced impact by tech research on society. A new joint initiative between Research Ireland and Technological University Dublin (TUD) aims to amplify the real-world impact of ICT and AI research in Ireland. Silicon Republic has the full story.

One in ten job postings now reference AI – report

One in ten job postings in Ireland now mention artificial intelligence (AI), according to research from hiring platform Indeed. This places Ireland ahead of the US, UK, France and Germany, and is reflective of the tech sector's sizable footprint in the Irish economy. According to the data, several non-tech categories also have significant shares of AI postings, including arts and entertainment, human resources and sales. More from RTÉ.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

This week's episode: AI in the Workplace: Is it Still a Wild West? Our Survey Said…

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 and🎧 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

Part of the Skill Builder for HR: 6 x 6 series, monthly, 90-minute practical HR and employment law sessions designed exclusively for senior HR professionals and business leaders. Leading HR Consultant, Michelle Halloran guides a practical session focusing on the common issues faced when managing probation periods, practical strategies to overcome them, best practices for handling underperformance, the procedures you must follow, and why getting this right is crucial. More here

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Labour Court recommendation highlights issues with resolving EWC disputes in Ireland

The Labour Court has issued a recommendation under the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to a union and an employer regarding how to engage with each other on certain European Works Council (EWC) matters. This case also highlights wider ongoing problems with the current Irish framework for resolving EWC disputes. read the full article by Lewis Silkin here. 

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13% of online searches for jobs in Ireland coming from outside country, says report

Some 13% of online searches for jobs in Ireland now originates outside the country - showing how the Irish jobs market remains a major attraction to foreign workers. More from the Irish Examiner.

And…

Did you know 31st January is ‘National Quitters Day’?

Workplace engagement specialists at Stribe have issued advice to employers as 31st January marks the peak day for UK job resignations across the nation. HR Director has more on this. 

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One in four employees self-identify as neurodivergent - DCU study

One in four corporate employees self-identify or have been diagnosed as neurodivergent, according to new research from the Institute of Education at Dublin City University (DCU). Commonly reported neurodivergences included autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, OCD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, sensory processing issues, anxiety, and depression among others. You can read more from RTÉ. 

And…

CJEU rules employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation to employees who are caregivers of their child with a disability

The Court of Justice of the European Union delivered judgment on 11 September 2025 in the case of G.L. v AB SpA (C-38/24), which concerned a preliminary ruling request from the Supreme Court of Cassation, Italy. The request for preliminary ruling concerned the interpretation of Council Directive 2000/78/EC (the “Directive”) of 27 November 2000, establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. The judgment confirmed that the Directive prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination by association with a person who has a disability and that the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation extends to the caregiver, despite the fact that they do not have a disability themselves. Anne O’Connell Solicitors explains. 

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78% of Dublin businesses support hybrid working

Dublin Chamber survey shows employers favour structured flexibility as attendance patterns and productivity perceptions stabilise. Hybrid working has become an established part of daily life for Dublin’s business community, with most employers now treating flexible arrangements as a permanent feature rather than a transitional response to the pandemic. Think Business has more here. 

 However...

Why the flexibility backlash is growing and what HR leaders should do next

What is emerging is not a single return-to-office wave. It is a growing backlash against flexibility that reflects deeper tensions around performance, trust and control. Recent 2025 and 2026 research suggests the shift is already reshaping employee behaviour and productivity in ways HR leaders cannot ignore. Read more from HRD Connect.

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How much will be deducted from weekly pay with pension auto-enrolment?

For most of the 760,000 workers eligible for auto-enrolment, their first pension contributions will be deducted from their January pay. Those workers will see an average of €15 per week deducted from their take-home pay with this introduction. You can read more from Business Plus.

Payroll portal used by tens of thousands of public servants is offline due to security alert

An online payroll portal used by public servants, including gardaí and other emergency services, has been taken offline due to a security alert, The Journal has learned. The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) has confirmed that the system used to access payslips, apply for leave and other workplace related documents has been taken offline. Read it 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.....

Dear Caroline, my leader says I need to be more strategic - but how, when I’m so busy?

Welcome to Dear Caroline, our monthly HR advice column. Each month we look at the everyday dilemmas HR teams across Ireland are dealing with from complex investigations and hybrid working headaches to questions about statutory obligations. Caroline Kelly, HR Consultant and Coach brings practical down-to-earth guidance shaped by her years of experience as a HR professional and a genuine understanding of how tricky real working life can be. It is a friendly and reassuring place to turn when HR matters feel a little complicated. In January, she tackled the question: "My leader tells me that I need to be more strategic as an HR partner but the role is so busy! I do not know how or where to start given how busy my working day is." Read her advice here. 

Digital Coaches in the Workplace: Opportunity, Oversight and the Human Factor

AI is now an everyday feature of workplace learning across Ireland. One of the most promising developments is the rise of the digital coach, an AI-enabled capability that offers employees personalised feedback, targeted development suggestions and wellbeing prompts.

For HR leaders, digital coaching can deliver real benefits. The question is not whether HR should engage with this technology, but how to do so responsibly and in a way aligned with organisational values.

Legal Island provides insights with additional contribution by Linda Hynes, Partner, Lewis Silkin Ireland LLP. Read the full article here.

Older demographics in Ireland’s workforce: What organisations and HR need to know about the employment (contractual retirement ages) bill 2025

With life expectancy increasing and health outcomes improving, more employees are choosing or needing to work beyond traditional retirement ages. This is reshaping workplace dynamics and creating new challenges for HR professionals. The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 (enacted 16 December 2025), introduces important changes that organisations and particularly HR specialists must understand to remain compliant and strategically prepared. Caroline Reidy, Head of HR Solutions, NFP has more here. 

Trials and tribulations of drug testing in the Irish workplace

Drug testing in the Irish workplace is one of those topics that throws up a multitude of considerations for employers. In the absence of a clear statutory framework, employers must assess and grapple with overlapping and competing factors, including employee wellbeing, health and safety obligations, constitutional rights, equality concerns, data protection issues and workplace culture. Aoife Gallagher-Watson, Director, Employment Law, EY Law Ireland gives here expert guidance here.

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What are The Traitors’ lessons for HR and the workplace?

According to The Times, in the Traitors UK series screened so far, although 32% of contestants have been non-white, ethnic minority people make up almost half of the early evictions. Out of the first 30 players to be murdered or banished, 14 of them were people of colour – equal to just under 47%. In each series, 20-plus contestants play for a prize pot of up to £120,000.

Of the 35 non-white players, 40% were knocked out by a third of the way through the series. There have been no non-white winners of the Traitors.

Older players are also at a disadvantage, with data showing those in their 60s more likely to be banished or murdered before younger participants.

Those with conditions that may be viewed as disabilities were also more vulnerable.

Personnel Today has more.

Why generational differences are a distraction in your workplace

The temptation to explain workplace challenges through generational narratives is understandable, but it may be misplaced. Marian Crowley-Henry from Maynooth University explains in this RTÉ article. 

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There is no date for the introduction of drug testing of Gardaí, almost five years after the policy was announced. The Department of Justice said the delay was because regulations to underpin a drugs-testing scheme are “complex and have required thorough consideration”. The Journal has more on this story. 

RTÉ's failure to reduce its workforce by 100 people last year under a voluntary redundancy scheme is the fault of the Department of Arts, Culture and Media, station sources have said. The national broadcaster this week confirmed 67 employees left under the Voluntary Exit Programme last year, 33% short of its target of 100 when the scheme was unveiled last year, reports Business Plus. 

A pilot accused Aer Lingus bosses of pursuing a "witch hunt" against him after he told colleagues that files including birth certs, private emails and police records relating to staff were openly accessible on the airline's internal computer systems, a tribunal has heard. RTÉ has more on this. 
 
A north Dublin solicitor has been ordered to pay €21,000 in compensation to her former legal secretary who was fired a few weeks after notifying her employer that she was pregnant. The WRC ruled that Ashimedua Okonkwo who operates as Cyril & Co Solicitors, has breached the Employment Equality Act 1998 by discriminating against Michele Merrigan on grounds of gender. More from Breaking News. 

RTÉ reports retired CIÉ workers will stage a protest in Galway, as part of an ongoing campaign to secure improvements to their pension payments. They said the absence of an increase in their pensions since 2008 means many retired staff are experiencing financial hardship. Read here. 

A former public servant who alleges he was penalised for criticising the level of ability with Irish in the Food Safety Authority is to have his employment rights claims heard in Irish later this year. Seanán Ó Coistín, a former communications executive at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, has complained his rights under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Protection of Employment (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003, and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 were breached while working there. Access the article here. 

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70% of retail workers have experienced abuse – survey

The survey shows one in three retail workers who have experienced abusive behaviour from customers said it occurs at least once a week. The survey of 500 retail workers was commissioned by Circle K, Maxol and MrPRICE Branded Bargains, and supported by Retail Ireland, as part of Kindness Week. More from RTÉ.

National protocol and fair pay for extreme weather work needed

As Storm Chandra continues to batter Ireland with heavy rain, high winds, and flooding, resulting in travel disruption and power outages, SIPTU has renewed its call for a binding national protocol to govern how Local Authority and State Agency workers are deployed, protected, and paid in response to extreme weather events.

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Lewis Silkin appoints three to Dublin employment team

Lewis Silkin has expanded its Irish employment law practice with the appointment of Sarah Lawn and Sinead Likely as senior associates and Jacqueline Ho as managing knowledge lawyer. Lewis Silkin are regular contributors to our Hub. Read the latest article by Linda Hynes, Partner, Lewis Silkin on digitial coaching in the workplace here.

Read more about the employment team's expansion in Irish Legal News.

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MCS Lunch and Learn: Level Up Your Recruitment Strategy for 2026

Rebekah Mulligan, Recruitment Manager at MCS Group and Tara Duffy, HR Specialist Recruitment Consultant provided insights into what's happening in the world of HR and recruitment in terms of how HR roles are evolving, what skills are in demand (in case you're thinking of a move!), AI, employer brand and so much more.  If you missed it, you can catch up here.

Check out previous discussions:
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