Christine, Julie, and Laura - known as the Knowledge Team - bring extensive expertise in employment law, HR, and learning & development. With diverse backgrounds spanning top-tier law firms, in-house roles, and voluntary organisations across the UK and Ireland, they provide informed and strategic support on employment matters.
Our team includes qualified (now non-practising) employment solicitors with experience in both legal and corporate sectors, alongside an experienced HR professional and CIPD Associate Member, ensuring a well-rounded approach to workplace challenges.
While Dublin's blooming with flowers this bank holiday 🌸, we're bringing you the freshest picks in employment law updates 📩 — perfect for a quick read between garden strolls!🌿
Top 5 Reads Worth Your Time This Week:
- 😰 Holiday hangover? 2 in 3 feel anxious going back to work after time off.
- ⚠️ AI & jobs: Automation could unfairly shut out jobseekers, say experts.
- 🧑🎓 €9K win! Student wins payout over school’s earring ban.
- 📊 Mind the gap! Pay transparency rules are tightening.
- 🛡️ Job loss? New Bill boosts worker rights when employers go bust.
And in other news....why not spend 2 days getting to grips with the essentials of Irish Employment Law. It will be packed with expert insights from the brilliant team at Lewis Silkin and more. It’s the smartest legal catch-up you didn’t know you needed (until now)💡. More 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.**
CONTENTS ⚓︎
1. Case Law Reviews ⚓︎
The Appellant/Complainant v Cisco Systems Internetworking (Ireland) Limited [2025] IECA 6
Summary: Court of Appeal dismisses racial discrimination and victimisation appeal entirely.
Practical Guidance for Employers:
Employers should ensure all disciplinary, promotional, and remuneration decisions are transparently documented and grounded in objective, race-neutral criteria. Fair procedures and impartial decision-making panels are essential to mitigating discrimination claims. Keep detailed records of actions taken and reasons underpinning employment decisions. Respond promptly and comprehensively to data access requests, as delays can be invoked as procedural objections. Ensure comparators in equal pay claims are appropriately identified and contextualised. Adhering closely to the Employment Equality Acts and internal procedures will reduce the risk of litigation.
Read the full Review here:
The Appellant/Complainant v Cisco Systems Internetworking (Ireland) Limited [2025]
Maamar Boudene v Express Safe Systems Limited t/a Express Security Systems ADJ-00055370
Summary: Unlawful holiday pay deduction; overtime claim rejected.
Practical Guidance for Employers:
Employers should exercise care when making any deductions from employees’ wages. Under s.5 of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, deductions are only lawful where expressly permitted by statute, contract, or with the employee’s prior written consent. Even where losses or unreturned property are suspected, deductions must meet strict criteria (such as prior written notice and fair, reasonable amounts). It is not sufficient to rely on an assumed contractual right if no such clause exists.
In this case, the employer’s failure to identify a clear contractual basis for withholding holiday pay resulted in a ruling against them. Employers should ensure contracts are up to date, maintain accurate records, and seek advice before withholding any pay to avoid exposure to successful claims.
Read the full Review here:
Maamar Boudene v Express Safe Systems Limited t/a Express Security Systems [2025]
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
2. AI & Employment Law ⚓︎
Call for AI tax relief for Irish SMEs
A call has been made on the Irish Government to introduce tax relief for SMEs to incentivise the uptake of AI technologies. The call by Digital Business Ireland (DBI) also calls for the reform of existing digital support schemes that have seen minimal uptake. Read more:
https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/ai-tax-relief-budget-2026/
Warnings over AI risks for unemployed people
Campaigners have warned of the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) for unemployed people. The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) has highlighted concerns around digital skills gaps, as well as fears that AI could be used for profiling jobseekers. The risks and potential of AI were debated at the annual delegate conference of the INOU which was held in Dublin. RTÉ has the full story here:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0528/1515320-unemployed-conference/
"The AI Efficiency Drive: Layoffs or Lift-Off?"
In this episode, Barry Phillips explores the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency and job security. As organisations adopt automation at pace, is this the beginning of widespread layoffs—or a launchpad for smarter, more creative work? Tune in for expert insight into the choices employers face and what it could mean for the future of work.
3. Gender Pay Gap & Pay Transparency ⚓︎
Navigating the Updates on Gender Pay Gap Reporting and Pay Transparency in Ireland
Gender pay gap reporting is no longer a novel concept, as many large employers in Ireland have been subject to these obligations since 2022. However, this year the threshold for reporting has dropped to organisations with 50 or more employees, making it relevant to significantly more employers than before. With a new online pay gap reporting portal expected to be launched by the Irish government in Autumn this year, reports will also soon be fully searchable and more easily compared with other organisations by members of the public, thereby drawing further attention to the issue for employers. In this article, Lewis Silkin look at recent updates to the Irish legislation, the changes coming down the tracks at an EU level, and what employers can do now to best prepare themselves to meet their obligations:
https://www.lewissilkin.com/insights/2025/05/22/navigating-the-updates-on-gender-pay-gap-reporting-and-pay-transparency-in-ireland
Launch of IEL’s Guide to Pay Transparency edited by Freshfields.
Designed to increase fairness and reduce gender pay gaps by giving current and prospective employees better information for their careers, pay transparency laws are being introduced worldwide. But with legislation varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, multinational employers face challenges maintaining compliance and limiting exposure to employee claims.
IEL’s Guide to Pay Transparency provides a comprehensive overview of remuneration disclosure rules across 24 jurisdictions worldwide, as well as advice on how to mitigate risk, and create more transparent and equitable workplaces. You can use the guide to compare queries quickly and easily across various jurisdictions. For ease of reference, users can conduct their research online or download a PDF of just the questions and answers that matter to them, or save whole chapters for later review.
IEL and our contributors will continue to update the guide regularly to reflect changes in legislation, including the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive, over the months and years.
Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4jSO3cg
4. Discrimination ⚓︎
Commission provides legal assistance in Judicial Review of a WRC decision in a discrimination case
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a person in respect of the Judicial Review of a decision made by the Workplace Relations Commission (“the WRC”) in a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 (“ESA”). Mr Danut Nae, a health advocacy officer for the Roma Community, brought a complaint under the ESA to the WRC, alleging to have experienced discrimination as a member of the Roma Community, in a SuperValu store on Talbot Street, Dublin 1. Read more direct from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission:
https://www.ihrec.ie/commission-provides-legal-assistance-in-judicial-review-of-a-wrc-decision-in-a-discrimination-case/
More on this case from Irish Legal News ehre:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/fresh-hearing-of-wrc-case-after-judicial-review-brought
Student awarded €9,000 as school's ear piercing policy found to be discriminatory
Student awarded €9,000 as school's ear piercing policy found to be discriminatory. A 16-year-old Transition Year student has won €9,000 in compensation for gender-based discrimination and victimisation after he was punished for wearing an ear piercing to school at the start of term last year. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that his school's uniform policy was indirectly discriminatory on gender grounds, favouring female students over males by requiring ear piercings to be worn in pairs, and ordered the rule be changed. More here:
https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2025/0527/1515293-earring/
5. Legislation Update ⚓︎
Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025
The Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to strengthen protections for employees when their employer becomes insolvent. It updates the 1984 Act to:
• Implement EU Directive 2008/94/EC more fully
• Allow certain employers to be treated as insolvent for employee protection purposes
• Improve how payments from the Social Insurance Fund are calculated
• Make related changes to the Employment Equality Act 1998
Current stage: First Stage in Dáil Éireann. The Bill was published on 22 May 2025.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2025/28/
6. Just In Case You Missed It...... ⚓︎
Auto-Enrolment Explained: Preparing Your Organisation for Ireland’s New Pension Scheme
Auto-enrolment is a new retirement savings scheme for employees who do not already have a workplace pension scheme or an additional pension arrangement. Pension membership in Ireland, particularly among private-sector workers, has historically been low. According to recent data, only about 35% of private sector workers have supplementary pension coverage. Read Caroline Reidy from HR Suite's full article here:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/auto-enrolment-explained-preparing-your-organisation-for-irelands-new-pension-scheme
Into the Portal – Updates to Gender Pay Gap Reporting
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has recently announced that a gender pay gap reporting portal will be launched in Autumn of 2025. It is expected that around 6,000 employers will be required to report into the new portal when it goes live later this year. Further to the Minister’s announcement, what will the changes to gender pay gap reporting be when the portal is introduced and what do they mean for employers? Siobhan Lafferty, Senior Associate Solicitor Byrne Wallace Shields LLP has more:
https://legal-island.ie/employment-law-hub/into-the-portal-updates-to-gender-pay-gap-reporting
7. HR Developments ⚓︎
Almost two-thirds of Irish professional feel anxious returning to work
Almost two-thirds of Irish professionals feel anxious returning to work after annual leave, new research reveals, writes Kate Lynch. And this anxiety is not only dampening the relaxing benefits of a break, but also undermining workplace productivity, according to a new survey of Irish trends by leading international HR specialists Robert Walters. More:
https://businessplus.ie/business-insights/returning-to-work-anxious/
WRC publishes video guides
The WRC has produced a number of video guides for it’s services. They’re published in a variety of languages and can be found here:
https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what-we-do/wrc-videos/english/
8. Employment News in the Media
More than two-thirds of job applications are rejected due to a lack of relevant skills, according to new research from hiring platform IrishJobs. The Recruiter & Jobseeker Survey gathered insights from 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland to identify changing attitudes and actions on hiring processes. Read more:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0530/1515828-recruiter-jobseeker-survey/
An eBay customer support agent who quit after being written up for failing to explain four minutes of inactivity on his computer to his manager's satisfaction has lost his claim for constructive dismissal. The employee told the WRC earlier this year he had "people dying left, right and centre" in his personal life at the time of the events that led to the warning. His former manager said: "Anything over 60 seconds is considered work avoidance." RTE has more on this story:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0526/1515048-ebay-worker-loses-constructive-dismissal-claim/
Average weekly earnings surpassed €1,000 in the first three months of this year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. Weekly earnings were up 5.6% from €972 in the first quarter of 2024 to €1,026 in the first three months of this year. The figures cover all sectors across the economy excluding agriculture and companies with less than three people. Read in full:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0527/1515191-average-weekly-earnings-cso/
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has reportedly taken action after a staff member allegedly sent sexually-charged text messages to a woman who used its services. The Irish Independent published a number of the text messages the woman said she had received from an LSRA employee several months after using the LSRA’s services. Catch up:
https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/legal-regulator-investigated-staff-member-over-sexual-messages
International Workplace Group (IWG) has opened its first Regus flexible workspace in Tipperary. The new office space is located in the Ormonde Shopping Centre on Gladstone Street on Gladstone Street in Clonmel. The opening marks IWG's 22nd Regus location in the Republic of Ireland, and its 7th in the Munster region, and will be followed soon by a new office space in Waterford. The hybrid workspace solutions company said it has more than 10 additional locations in the pipeline, as it continues to scale its presence in regional towns and cities. More here:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0528/1515488-new-flexible-office-space-opens-in-clonmel/
9. Free Webinars This Month
MCS Lunch and Learn: What Top Recruiters Know that You Don’t (Yet)
🔔 Please note that the webinar has been rescheduled to 23rd July.
🗓 Thursday, 23 July 2025
🕚 12:00 – 12:45 (45 mins)
💻 Online
Register HERE.
Join Julie from Legal Island for an MCS Lunch and Learn webinar with leading recruitment experts Ryan Calvert and Rebekah Mulligan. In the first quarter of 2025, the business and recruitment landscape has already been reshaped by macroeconomic, socio-economic, and political forces. Policy changes, inflationary pressures, and shifts in the labour market are compelling organisations across the UK and Northern Ireland to reassess their HR strategies. As workforce dynamics continue to evolve and skills demands grow, it’s essential for HR professionals to adapt their approaches to remain competitive and effectively meet new challenges.
In this 45-minute webinar, Ryan and Rebekah will share the latest trends in recruitment, exploring how organisations are addressing skills shortages, meeting the demand for flexible work, and adapting to the changing expectations of today’s candidates. From the rise of AI-assisted applications to the impact of global DEI rollbacks on local employer brands, they’ll outline the trends that will define talent acquisition in 2025 and beyond.
In this session, we’ll cover:
- Evolving Hiring Trends – Gain insight into where job demand is expected to increase in the next year.
- Practical Strategies for Addressing Skills Shortages and Talent Demands – Learn how organisations are responding to economic pressures and shifting labour markets.
- Building an Authentic and Competitive Employer Brand – Discover how cultural fit and retention efforts can strengthen your recruitment strategy.
Learn how to build trust and strengthen your employer brand in an era where candidates are more informed than ever. Our experts will also discuss how HR teams can stay authentic and competitive in a rapidly shifting environment - ensuring your organisation’s values shine through at every touchpoint, from job adverts to interviews and beyond. Expect practical tips, straight-talking insights, and just enough humour to make your talent challenges feel (almost) manageable.
Got questions? Bring them along! Ryan and Rebekah will be answering audience questions, giving you the chance to get expert advice on the issues that matter most to you.
Check out previous discussions:
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