First published on Thursday, November 14, 2024
Last updated on Thursday, November 14, 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.
Irish firms find hiring harder than their international counterparts
Results from EY’s CEO outlook show only 53% of the Irish C-Suite are confident about recruitment compared to their global peers who are 70% confident.
Why this dip in confidence? Skill gaps and talent shortages could be to blame which is why investing in professional development and culture should be a big focus for Irish employers in 2025.
Investing in a positive company culture can significantly improve your recruitment efforts and help you attract the best talent.
An easy and cost-effective way to do this is by looking at your employee benefits package and performance management strategy to retain top talent, including by focusing on employee praise, e-learning, and professional development opportunities.
For instant advice on this topic and more, try asking our superfast AI tool, Bright Brainbox: ‘How do I make my job advert stand out to attract the best talent?’
Irish Budget 2025: How does it affect my business?
The Irish Budget was announced on Tuesday October 1st, 2025, and it promises to be a mixed bag for business owners…
Finance Minister Jack Chambers has announced a rise in the National Minimum Wage to €13.50 an hour, and main tax credits will see a €125 boost.
Businesses will also benefit from the extension of the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity, as well as the R&D tax credit increase.
There’s also a Small Business Exemption hike, encouraging business to offer more perks to their employees, and new perks for start-ups and large capital projects. The Benefit-in-Kind relief for electric company vehicles is being increased, encouraging greener business practices.
Although a number of measures have been announced for SMEs there has been no acknowledgement of the rising payroll costs that many small businesses will face due to the pension auto-enrolment planned for September 2025.
There is also a significant gap in AI and digital skills training which is an increasing priority for not only employers but the Irish economy.
Cinema manager wins €12,000 for Disability Discrimination
An autistic cinema manager has won €12,000 in compensation for disability discrimination after their employer failed to provide reasonable adjustments.
Despite an occupational health assessment recommending the employee needed consistent breaks, the company failed to adjust his shifts. This led to a significant decline in the employee’s mental health.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that while the company made accommodations for students and pregnant workers, they did not do so for the claimant.
Aside from making sure you always provide reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, it’s important to educate managers and employees on equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as disabilities at work.
To avoid mishandling employee needs it’s recommended you upskill managers on how to deal with sensitive employment law topics with HR compliant training like e-learning courses.
For more advice on this topic, ask Bright Brainbox: ‘What are some legal requirements for employers to ensure equality for disabled workers?’
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines to make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!
