Irish gov’t proposes remote work to be “permanent fixture” in workplaces

The government of Ireland wants to see remote work as a permanent fixture of working life, as offices and establishments reopen this week.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Leo Varadkar said that the pandemic had changed the world of work and taught everyone the possibilities of remote working.
Varadkar added that he is hoping that employers are “speaking to their staff to figure out what works best for them and the business.”
The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Patricia King said that improvements in the work safety protocols had been discussed and it opened the possibility of blended working arrangements within various industries.
Meanwhile, employment lawyer Síobhra Rush noted that businesses are being urged to develop their long-term policies for a hybrid work model as it “brings many legal implications, including management of a hybrid workforce, proximity bias/discrimination, costs of equipment and data privacy/confidentiality.”
Ireland allowed its establishments to continue on-site operations last Monday as 90% of its population over 16 are now fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.