Tuesday, 29 September 2026
09:30 - 15:45
(
6 hours 15 mins )
Online
Bullying, harassment and sexual harassment complaints are among the most challenging workplace issues HR professionals and managers face. Recent Irish research found that 85% of HR professionals and business leaders have dealt with a bullying complaint during their careers, with almost two-thirds handling one in the past 12 months.
This practical one-day event will help you understand the Irish legal framework governing workplace bullying and harassment while developing the confidence to make sound decisions when concerns arise. Through expert guidance, case law analysis and practical examples, led by Dr Gerry McMahon and Kate Field, Addleshaw Goddard LLP, you'll learn how to identify issues, apply the correct procedures and manage complaints fairly, effectively and in line with Irish employment law.
Many training courses focus on defining bullying and harassment. The challenge for employers is often determining what they are dealing with, what procedure applies, and what action should be taken next.
This event bridges the gap between legal requirements and day-to-day HR practice. It addresses the questions that arise in real workplace situations, including:
By attending, you'll gain practical tools, legal insight and a clearer framework for responding confidently to workplace concerns while helping to support a respectful and compliant workplace culture.
This event is designed for:
Secure your place today and gain the confidence to identify, investigate and resolve bullying and harassment complaints effectively.
Here's what to expect at Preventing Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace:
Get to Know Us: Familiarise yourself with the functions of our online event to ensure you maximise return on your investment. Laura McKee from Legal Island’s Knowledge Team welcomes delegates to our event.
Dr Gerry McMahon, M.D., of Productive Personnel outlines the key legal duties on employers under relevant legislation, together with the practical application of the Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work and the Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work.
Includes Q&A with Dr Gerry McMahon.
See you back in 10 minutes.
Robert Dooney, Legal Director and Rachel Kennedy, Associate of Addleshaw Goddard LLP will review how recent bullying and harassment decisions from the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court and higher courts are shaping employer obligations and risk exposure.
Includes Q&A with Robert Dooney and Rachel Kennedy.
See you back in 10 minutes.
The Codes of Practice place increased emphasis on informal resolution, particularly where parties are required to continue working together, and recognise mediation as a key mechanism for resolving disputes at an early stage.
The Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work also distinguishes between the roles of contact persons and nominated persons in supporting that process.
In this session, Dr Gerry McMahon outlines:
Includes Q&A with Dr Gerry McMahon.
See you back in 1 hour.
In this session, Kate Field, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard LLP explores how employers can respond where issues sit at the intersection of bullying, harassment, interpersonal conflict and protected disclosures, and the legal risk that arises when complaints are misclassified or handled under the wrong procedure.
Includes Q&A with Kate Field.
Dr Gerry McMahon considers the next steps for an employer when the informal processes do not work, and the complaint needs to be dealt with under the formal part of the process.
Gerry will give:
See you back in 15 minutes.
Philip Gray, Associate & Rachel Kennedy, Associate, Addleshaw Goddard LLP will walk attendees through a case study based on hypothetical bullying and harassment scenario in the workplace, drawing together key legal and practical themes covered throughout the day.
Kate is a Partner in the AG employment law team and part of the wider Disputes Group. Kate has extensive experience advising employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. This includes both non-contentious and contentious matters.
Kate predominantly advises commercial clients, mainly international organisations, on a full range of employment law issues including workplace investigations, capability issues, unfair dismissal, discrimination, TUPE, senior executive exits, business reorganisation involving redundancy and collective redundancy processes.
Kate has a particular interest in workplace investigations and specifically in advising clients on complex workplace investigations including investigations involving protected disclosures. Kate regularly speaks on employment law topics at firm events and external training events.
Kate is currently advising clients on a number of complex cases involving capability and reasonable accommodation issues.
Gerry McMahon is an acknowledged national expert in People Management. He has over 35 years’ experience - as a workplace investigator (on bullying/harassment/ disciplinary/dismissal/grievance issues), trainer, negotiator, facilitator, mediator, arbitrator and team builder - across a wide range of employment sectors. He is the M.D. of the H.R. training and advisory company Productive Personnel Ltd.
Gerry has also had an extensive range of books and articles published and been a columnist with the Industrial Relations News, Irish Times, Sunday Business Post, and Irish Independent and expert commentator on H.R./Employee Relations for R.T.E. and TV3/Virgin. He has also served on numerous Legal Island and C.I.P.D. judging panels and is a Council member of the Irish Association for Industrial Relations.
Contact: Tel. 087-2471415; E-Mail: ppl1gerry@gmail.com
Robert is a Legal Director and is a senior member of the AG employment law team and part of the wider Disputes Group
Robert has advised a wide range of domestic and international clients in disputes relating to banking and financial services, property and construction, personal injury, medical and professional negligence, commercial contracts, IP infringement, defamation, product liability and sale of goods claims.
He has extensive experience advising and representing employers and employees on all aspects of the employment relationship, including contentious and non-contentious matters. He represents clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the civil courts in employment litigation such as unfair dismissal, transfer of undertakings, equality/discrimination, occupational stress, and health & safety.
He regularly provides lectures to students of the Law Society’s Employment Diploma Centre, and he often delivers talks at various events to other practitioners, colleagues, and clients on various aspects of employment law.
Philip is an Associate in the Disputes Group at Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP and is part of the Employment Group. He primarily advises employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, both contentious and non-contentious. Philip has a particular focus on advising corporate clients on both the buy and sale side on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, including share and asset sales. Philip also works closely with our Insolvency and Restructuring Group in advising insolvency practitioners on the employment considerations in corporate restructurings including liquidations, examinerships and receiverships. Philip has extensive experience advising clients on best practice contractual and policy reviews, as well as regularly advising clients on redundancy, grievance and disciplinary processes. The Employment Group have also been involved in a number of cases involving employment status, protected disclosures and extensive workplace investigations.
Rachel is an Associate in the Employment Team in Addleshaw Goddard. She advises in relation to all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment and equality law. Rachel reviews contracts of employment, severance agreements, staff handbooks and various policy documents for clients on a regular basis. She also advises clients on disciplinary and grievance procedures, protected disclosure investigations, workplace investigations, working time issues, redundancy processes, long term sick leave and statutory leave entitlements.
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