First published on Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Last updated on Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we give you a rundown of the week’s top employment law stories. Stay on the pulse of current trends impacting your business, plus get up-to-the-minute commentaries on all things HR and legal.
Annual leave: Use it or lose it!
New research from FRS Recruitment reveals that over 40% of employees did not fully use their holiday entitlements last year. Shockingly, nearly one in five workers left 5 or more days of annual leave unused—that’s a whole working week of missed relaxation! Despite the importance of taking time off, many employees aren’t making the most of their entitled breaks…
Encouraging your team to take their full holiday entitlement is important for their wellbeing and productivity. Using a staff holiday planner can make the process a breeze and reduce staff burnout. By making holiday planning straightforward and transparent, businesses can foster a healthier work-life balance for their teams.
Or for instant advice on this topic ask Brainbox: Can I force an employee to take annual leave?
Tech-savvy or tech-sorry?
More than a quarter of Irish employers have integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their recruitment processes according to new research from IrishJobs. In fact, nearly one in five businesses are relying solely on AI to develop now job adverts. While AI can streamline the recruitment process, it can also pose some big risks, like security breaches and potential biases, which can quickly turn into a HR horror movie!
If you want to adopt AI in your hiring process, it’s always advisable to do so with the right support. Finding a solution with over-the-phone recruitment advice backed by employment law experts can help keep your hiring processes fair and compliant.
BrightHR’s people navigator software can help you streamline your hiring process with job description templates, tools for CV storage and screening, and 24/7 advice.
Clocking out on compliance
In a recent case, a worker received €22,000 for multiple breaches of employment rights, including excessive working hours and unfair dismissal. The tribunal found that the employer had entirely clocked out on compliance, fabricating documents to cover up the violations, leading to a big payout for the worker.
To ensure your team are working within legal limits, use a clocking-in tool like Blip to keep accurate records of staff hours, breaks, and overtime. And for more complex issues like unfair dismissal always ensure you seek expert advice to protect your business from potential disputes, costly fines, and reputational damage.
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines and make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!
