Adare Responds to the Challenges of Ireland’s New Remote and Flexible Working

Adare, one of Ireland’s leading HR and employment law consultancy firms responds to the right to request remote working arrangements for all Employees and the right to request flexible working arrangements for parents and carers that came into operation on March 7th, 2024, following the publication of a new Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

These new Employee rights represent a significant shift for businesses necessitating a reassessment of internal processes, aligning with modern workforce needs, and maintaining compliance in response to more flexible employment structures. Adare is committed to guiding Employers through the evolving landscape of employment laws and practices.

“We aim to support Irish businesses as they get to grips with these new regulations. While these changes reflect modern workforce needs, they do pose considerable challenges for Employers, necessitating Employers to re-evaluate their operational frameworks, update policies, and ensure compliance,” said Sarah Fagan, Managing Director of Adare, “The new Code of Practice encourages businesses to assess the effectiveness of their current flexible working practices and identify any benefits or potential issues, aligning them with Employee perspectives to foster a balanced approach.”

“In reality, the interdependencies within Organisations mean that an increase in flexible work arrangements could trigger unforeseen consequences, which will only become apparent through the actual implementation of the new Code. Performance is another consideration, fostering high performance in a remote environment presents unique challenges. Connecting Employees to company culture in remote work settings has also been difficult for many Irish Employers. These points underline the importance of a robust review mechanism within any flexible or remote working practices”.

“We do expect that there will be many challenges from an Employment Law perspective and urge Employers to refresh and prepare Remote and Flexible work policies and procedures to avoid any potential future penalties. Adare is committed to supporting Employers and providing services to Organisations to successfully implement remote and flexible working policies.”

Adare is excited to announce the forthcoming release of our bi-annual HR Barometer report on April 10^th, 2024. This comprehensive benchmarking and forecasting report is invaluable for Employers, delving into critical national workplace trends, including HR Priorities, HR Metrics, Health and Well-being, Conflicts and Disputes, Pay & Benefits, and Working Practices. The HR Barometer gives cutting-edge insights that will identify emerging trends, empowering HR strategies to support organisational goals and future-proofing businesses in 2024 and beyond.

If your Organisation needs support to update policies and procedures, please contact Adare by calling (01) 561 3594 or emailing info@adarehrm.ie to learn what services are available to support your business.

Adare is a team of expert-led Employment Law, Industrial Relations and best practice Human Resource Management consultants. If your Organisation needs advice, support, or guidance about compliance requirements or any HR issues.