Terry The four scenarios below are quite common in the Irish workplace. Each of them has the potential to be very costly for the employer if he/she acts on the common misconceptions contained in these hypothetical situations. My employee is 67 and I want him/her to retire-can I just tell him/her that he/she must retire soon? … Read more
One of the first areas that employers look to in seeking to cut the costs is employees’ wages and salaries. Cutting staff wages unilaterally though can be fraught with danger. One of the fundamental terms of the contract of employment will be that dealing with pay/salary. Cutting wages therefore is a variation or change of … Read more
Health and safety in the workplace in Ireland places very onerous obligations on employers. Health and safety law in the workplace derives from Common law and Statutory regulation. Common law Under common law there is a general duty of care owed by employers to their employees. Regardless of any piece of legislation such as … Read more
Employers have a legal obligation to provide their employees with written procedures to be followed before dismissal of an employee. The safest approach for the employer to take is to follow the best practice set out in Statutory Instrument 146/2000.(See Labour Relations Commission Code of Practice re Disciplinary and Grievance procedures) It is not … Read more
The main sources of Irish employment equality law are the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2008 and various EU directives such as the Equal Pay Directive (75/117/EEC), the Equal Treatment Directive (76/207/EEC), and the General Framework Directive (2000/78/EC). And they can cause great difficulties for Irish business owners (who can also be held vicariously liable for the … Read more