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So, you had a baby…Congratulations! And you took your maternity leave because that’s what you’re legally entitled to do. But then throughout that maternity leave you were stuck dealing with a whining, crying needy little brat with no respect for your time or space.

That’s right: your boss…

“I loved it, I loved my job. I was working towards a promotion and more and more responsibilities were being given to me. And I juggled it all. No worries. I was valued, a high performer, on the fast-track. Then I announced I was pregnant, and everything changed. I watched as everything I had been working so hard for, was destroyed.”

One-third of Irish mums experience maternity leave-related discrimination. But it is not always easy to spot this discrimination, or to tackle it.

Even after all of the recent controversies, the #Metoo Campaign, the high-profile resignations and sackings, the hand wringing in high office…nothing has changed, it’s still a Man’s world. Our State has recognised in law the crucial role played by mothers of newly born children in our society. It is the most basic pillar of any civilised society. Employment Equality laws are there to bind all employers into providing certain basic rights and entitlements to expectant mothers and new parents. That’s a wonderful thing but it is too often ignored. You would at this point feel comforted if it wasn’t for the fact that your employer or former employer, like so many others, decided to simply ignore those rights and basic entitlements.

Many women simply accept this as an unfortunate fact of life. But, that’s not right, it’s not acceptable, and you shouldn’t have to tolerate it. Going to work is not everyone’s favourite activity, but it shouldn’t be something that’s treated as an entitlement, at the gift of someone and which can be taken away from you at a whim and simply because of your gender.

Shockingly, often mothers returning to work after maternity leave will be faced with the unacceptable situation where their job has changed dramatically, is no longer there for them in its previous form or worse that there’s no job at all to return to. Perhaps the employer expects them to resume working in a different, less favourable role. Employers sometimes go so far as to dismiss an employee outright because of their pregnancy. Such scenarios are unlawful and in breach of your Employment Rights.

When your maternity leave comes to an end, you are entitled to return to work with your employer in the same job as the one you left. You cannot be discriminated against for having a baby. If you have been dismissed or overlooked for a promotion due to your pregnancy or if your employer has refused to consider your request for flexible hours and/or a job share arrangement upon returning to work you may be entitled to redress. This may also include a situation where you are refused a contract of employment or a renewal of a fixed term contract of employment due to the possibility of pregnancy. The law also provides protection from discrimination on the grounds of ‘Family Status’ which prevents your employer from discriminating against you by virtue of the fact that you have children.

“It wasn’t about the money. When I was let go by my former employer simply because of my pregnancy I was just so devastated that someone could act like that and just wanted them to realise they can’t treat people in this way.”

Christine McDermott Age 29, Waterford, Mother of a beautiful little girl

Our Client Christine was working as a care assistant in Waterford with a well-known Irish employment agency. During her time with the Agency she was always well thought of and extremely busy. She could work upwards of 45 hours a week and there was never a shortage of work to go around. At least until Christine told them of her pregnancy, that is. Then all of a sudden, wouldn’t you know it, Christine was surplus to requirements.

“I have never felt so let down and betrayed at such an important time in my life”

Her hours were significantly reduced and ended up eventually drying up altogether. Nothing else had changed. Her co-workers were still rushed off their feet and staff who had been recruited after her continued to work full-time hours. All that had changed was that Christine was expecting a baby. Christine eventually resigned in frustration.

We lodged a claim for her with the Workplace Relations Commission, did all the necessary preparatory work and attended her hearing with her in the WRC in Carlow. Her former employer also attended and vigorously fought their corner. They tried to say that the changes Christine experienced were completely unconnected with her pregnancy. They said that it was just because Christine was not sufficiently qualified to do certain tasks. This was completely untrue. Christine did have the qualifications she needed, but even if she didn’t this had never been a concern prior to her pregnancy. This also did not appear to be a problem for her former work colleagues who didn’t have the qualifications Christine in fact had. We argued that this was complete nonsense and the Adjudicator agreed and awarded Christine €17,500 for the way she had been treated.

While Karen* another Client, was on maternity leave, she met with her manager to discuss her return-to-work arrangements. She was told that there was no job for her to come back to. “The whole company is restructuring”. Karen later discovered that the man taken on to do her job continues to be employed there doing the job she used to do!

Another one of our Clients who worked for one of the Country’s biggest telcos found herself surplus to requirements after her announcement. She was PA to the C.E.O. When she was recruited, she was given a fixed term contract but was assured that this was merely a formality. Her contract would certainly be renewed on its expiry. Of course, in the meantime, our Client announced the happy news that she was expecting. Suddenly everything changed and her boss decided that her contract would not be renewed. There had been no performance issues, she had in fact been reassured just weeks before at a performance review that she was doing a great job and given extra responsibility. You couldn’t make it up! She was devastated and really felt that her confidence was shot to pieces. She didn’t in fact think that she would have the courage to face her former boss until she came across us and realised that this is not acceptable, she had done nothing wrong and that she had to stand up to them and could do that with our help.

In fact, almost a third of Irish mums experience some form of pregnancy-related discrimination, so these stories are far from unusual.

Types of discrimination related to maternity leave

Many of our Clients tell us stories of how the attitude towards them changed dramatically when they announced their news to their employer. Some were made redundant or had their role restructured, others were straight up dismissed or did not have their contract renewed when they requested or took leave. Others found their hours cut, their jobs changed dramatically or that what had previously been straight forward routine requests were now big issues for their employer.

Because this type of Discrimination can take many forms. Pay, conditions of work and work duties as well as performance assessments and career advancement opportunities are all areas which we regularly see. Missing out on opportunities for a promotion or performance appraisal because you’re about to go on mat leave; being denied maternity leave you were entitled to; or pressure to start or finish your leave earlier or later than you would have liked.

But the “classic case” of pregnancy-related discrimination we so often come across is exactly like Karen’s story; you’ve taken your maternity leave and suddenly you find that your job’s gone.

This often happens when a temporary substitute who replaced the woman while she’s on leave, is then offered the job on an ongoing basis while the woman on maternity leave is simply discarded “like an old sock”.

In other cases, the employer divides your duties among a number of employees and then decides they “don’t need her at all”.

So, are any of these situations legal? And is there anything you can do to protect your workplace rights during maternity leave?

Your job is guaranteed while you’re on maternity leave and during your pregnancy

You are entitled to get your job back after your maternity leave ends. If that job no longer exists when you get back, you’re entitled to a job that’s substantially similar.

In other words, an employer cannot simply give away your job or demote you because your maternity leave is inconvenient for them, or because they decide they prefer your maternity leave replacement as an employee.

This ‘return-to-work guarantee’ applies regardless of how long you’ve worked with the employer prior to your due date.

Irish law also prohibits your employer from discriminating against you because you are pregnant. An employer can’t take “adverse action” against you on the grounds of pregnancy, breastfeeding or family responsibilities, or treat you “less favourably” than other employees because you are pregnant.

If you think your employer has breached your rights, you can take action to enforce them legally through the Workplace Relations Commission.

So, what other things can you do?

Practically while on maternity leave you should try and stay in touch with your workplace. Be more in sight and in mind. Arrange a meeting with the boss and your work colleagues to introduce your new arrival. Keep in touch to see how your role’s going and how your team’s going, how your replacement’s getting on. If you’re able to, keep in touch face to face, rather than relying on email or a phone call.

Plan ahead by taking notes

Document any conversations around your maternity leave and your job as soon as possible preferably in a diary. Often clients email themselves so that these notes are date stamped. If you have a suspicion, or there’s history of unfair treatment at your workplace, the first thing you should do is to take careful notes of all your conversations at work regarding your leave.

You should also follow up on any conversations you’ve had with an email confirming the contents of those meetings.

Creating a paper trail in this way can help you make out your case later, if needed.

Know the difference between sham and genuine redundancies

If you are made redundant, it can be hard to prove the redundancy is a form of discrimination.

It can be legal for your employer to make your position redundant while you’re on maternity leave but only if it’s a “genuine” redundancy, and as long as the employer takes certain steps first.

A genuine redundancy means that your position no longer exists. If your employer has simply decided to hire your maternity leave replacement on an ongoing basis instead of letting you back into your job, or if they hire someone new into your role soon after making you redundant that may be a “sham” redundancy.

That’s very common and is certainly a form of pregnancy discrimination that can be legally challenged.

Even in cases of a genuine redundancy, there are important steps your employer legally has to take.

For example they must consult with you while you’re on leave about restructuring or any other significant changes to the business or organisation that might affect you, have a significant effect on the status, pay or location of your pre-maternity leave job.

If you just haven’t been consulted with whatsoever, then you’re going to have a strong case.

If you are fired while pregnant or on maternity leave, it can feel like lightening is striking twice. Not only have lost your job, you’ve lost it at a particularly financially and emotionally tricky time.

How do you even begin to recover from the trauma? While every situation is different, take a deep breath and consider these seven pieces of advice we gathered from women who’ve been in the same situation.

Accept and confront your emotions.

The first thing you should know is that you are far from alone. One of our Clients, Lucy recalls being “so excited” about returning to work. She had childcare sorted, her work clothes dry-cleaned, and was feeling mentally and physically ready for her new life as a working mother. Lucy recalls that she was let go by email two weeks before she was due to return, and it still “haunts her and gives her anxiety” four years later.

While it may feel incredibly dark for a period, time and support will help you cope with these feelings.

It can be very therapeutic if you can talk to someone else who has been in your shoes. Depending on how you feel and the circumstances, you may need to go beyond the usual embrace of your family and friends. Don’t be afraid to seek out professional help and guidance particularly since postpartum depression can come into play at a confusing and hormonal time.

Many of our Clients also say that taking on a case like this has its own therapeutic qualities. They see it as a service they are doing for themselves (to rebuild their self confidence) but also for other women to ensure that they don’t let this happen again to someone else. The very act of fighting back can be of such great importance to someone who has been so badly treated.

Consider the facts and quickly determine whether you want to pursue legal action.

You may be surprised to find out that your employment can be reorganised while you’re on maternity leave. While it’s illegal for your employer to fire you only because you’re on leave, there are some legitimate reasons your employer can claim your terms of employment were changed.

If you do feel you have been a victim of pregnancy discrimination, you should consider taking legal action your former employer. The statute of limitations on this type of employment claim is just six months, so be sure not to delay for too long if you are interested in pursuing a case.

You should gather all of the information you have to show objective evidence of prejudice for a solicitor to review. However, be careful, if you receive any severance or settlement, you will in all likelihood be asked to agree to waive your right to take legal action.

For example, our Client Jenny* was a customer services rep in a large call centre. She was dismissed while six months pregnant. Her employer offered her a small settlement when she threatened to sue, but it came with a requirement that she agree to confidentiality and full and final settlement of any claims she had against the Company. If something similar happens to you, be sure to read the fine print very carefully and take legal advice before signing.

Negotiate your severance or exit package, if possible.

If you are offered a severance package, carefully examine its terms. How much are you being paid? Will it cover your maternity leave (if you haven’t taken it yet)? Because it’s unlikely that you will be able to get another position before your baby is born, you should look for as much as possible from your former employer. While you may not receive everything you request, you are setting the parameters for the discussions. Put your pride aside, you and your baby will need all the money you can get.

What about a reference?

Depending on the nature of your dismissal, your employer may be happy to write you a letter of recommendation or serve as a referee. This is particularly true if you are dismissed due to no fault of your own beyond working in a restructured organization, for example.

Depending where you are in your pregnancy or maternity leave, the gap created in your CV may be longer than it would otherwise typically have been, so it can be important.

We tend not to attribute too much importance to a reference though. In the modern world references are not anything like as important as they were in previous years. Also, it is very difficult to control what is said in an oral reference and so what you get in writing may be very different to what is said in a phone call. This is usually as good a reason as any to resolve a dispute by compromise or settlement in that this gives you the best possibility of ensuring that the bridges are not entirely burnt between you.

Be conscious of your interview timing and the negotiation implications.

Don’t let being pregnant dissuade you from pursuing a job search. If that’s what you want (or have) to do, it may be harder than usual but there are success stories. For example, Maeve, a client of ours, interviewed at her current job while five months pregnant. She got the job. Legally you don’t have to disclose anything about your pregnancy and it is unlawful for them to ask. But of course, it is always going to be more difficult and if an employer wants to deselect you they will find a way.

If you are very far along in your pregnancy, you may have to decide fairly quickly how soon you are willing to work again if you are offered a new job. You may want to wait until after your baby arrives to begin looking for work if you plan on taking a longer absence since your prospective employer may not be able to wait several months for you to come on board. Or, you will have to negotiate some sort of arrangement for part-time or phased in work if that’s what you’re looking for. For others, finances may mean taking a more limited or almost no maternity leave. Regardless of your situation, be prepared to negotiate and ask for what you need because you are in a non-standard situation.

Examine your finances and make a plan.

There is going to be a period of time where you don’t have any income over the statutory social welfare payments. Be cognizant of your expenses and budget accordingly. You are in a vulnerable position, so keep a close eye on your savings. But remember, this won’t last forever and you can get through this. Just think of the satisfaction you will have when you see your employer being subjected to cross-examination and having to explain their actions to an adjudicator.

Try to see the silver lining.

Being let go during your maternity leave is of course shocking and upsetting, at first. But that passes and you can set your mind to other priorities. Consider working for yourself and imagine a life without a boss. Become the boss. While it’s never easy to be fired, it can be particularly hard when it happens during this time of your life. Whether it’s fair, discriminatory or you’re simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, your ego may not recognize the difference. Feeling bruised and embarrassed for some time is natural but remember that you will in all likelihood land on your feet!

Know where to file a complaint

So, you’ve gathered as much written evidence as possible, and you’re pretty sure your employer hasn’t honoured your return-to-work guarantee or has otherwise discriminated against you. Where should you start proceedings?

Claims of this type are submitted via the Workplace Relations Commission website www.workplacerelations.ie. There is an online form and you fill in your details, those of your employer and set out what claim you intend to make. This is the first step in the process, but it is also a crucial one. We have come across many occasions where this form has been incorrectly completed which has resulted in claims being prejudiced significantly meaning that claimants don’t get their fair redress on a technicality. For example, it is crucial that the correct identity of the employer is set out in this form. Often people don’t realise that they were in fact working for some obscure company and not the company they assumed was their employer. Unless the correct company is identified on the initial form, employers can at times wriggle out of their responsibilities.

In order to properly draft your claim, it is important that you set out all the relevant details and circumstances surrounding your case. It is important that you provide the correct full name and address of your employer and the full address of the place you worked, if different. If you are unsure about the correct name or address of your employer, you should check your pay slips and P45 or P60. In addition, when bringing a discrimination claim, you may need to identify individuals at work you believe have been responsible in some way for the discrimination you have suffered. In bringing a claim for Discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts you can also serve a questionnaire on the Respondent. It is important that you reserve your rights to supplement your claim if there are any questions you think should be included on the form which could help obtain information to support your claims and assess the merits of particular aspects of your claim.

But the WRC is not for the faint hearted!

You see in theory the WRC was supposed to level the playing field, make everything run more smoothly and more efficiently but my strong view is that the process has simply been changed to suit employers. Employers are still turning up fully armed with legal representation including at times barristers both junior and senior counsel. Of course, because the Claimant can’t afford such representation, they are often left fighting a losing battle from the outset. You see, the WRC can’t award costs and so a Claimant will often find it difficult to find a lawyer to represent them without paying a large retainer. I know of one couple who used a boutique Dublin firm to process a Gender Discrimination claim for them and the total professional fees charged came to in excess of €125,000. And they paid those bills as they arose. In another claim under the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term work) Act a client was invoiced over €75,000 for a two-day case in the old Rights Commissioner service.

We know of solicitors who won’t take on employment cases because of their complexity. We have come across many who aren’t so self-aware who have simply led their clients down a blind avenue, oblivious to the dangers.

In the new regime you can no longer sit back and wait for the hearing. Written submissions are now required at the front-end. You can no longer “wing it” as many solicitors, Trade Unions or HR representatives have done in the past.

That was under the old system and recent changes to the employment law landscape have made the claims process more complicated. Although the new system was set up to make things more streamlined the effect has been in our experience that less claims are successful and the awards made are far lower. In fact in 2016, 88% of the awards made by the WRC were for less than €10,000. That’s pretty low considering about 25% of cases related to people who either been unfairly dismissed or discriminated against. When I challenged Oonagh Buckley (head of the WRC) on this her argument was that these awards are mainly relating to wages, annual leave and contractual issues. That still means that only 12% of awards are for in excess of €10,000. What that tells me is that unless you know what you’re doing the chances are you are not going to maximise your claim.

So, if you are bringing a Gender Discrimination case of any type in the WRC, here’s some things you need to know as well as some helpful advice and a synopsis of the law and some hints as to what you might face;

Click here for more information.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about your friend who announced she was pregnant

and suddenly ‘wasn’t ‘a right fit for the company’. Since the #MeToo movement there has been a growing awareness surrounding how women are treated in the Workplace worldwide. We’re here to tell you that as a pregnant lady, you have rights, you shouldn’t be silenced and we will make your voice heard!

Take a look at some of the rights you have that we see are breached most often!

Your Rights before Maternity Leave:

• You have the right to request a Health and Safety Assessment of your Workplace when pregnant.
• You have the right to ask HR or Management to implement any feedback that comes as a result of that assessment. This may be anything from changing a chair with little to no back support or changing your hours to avoid sitting in major traffic without being able to go to the bathroom etc. This kind of accommodation should be made for you while pregnant.
• You have the right to be ‘reasonably accommodated’ in your employment should you not be able to do your job due to your pregnancy. This means you should be given a different job within the business that you are capable of doing and will not cause you any strain while pregnant.
• You have the right to request time off to attend doctors appointments and scans while pregnant. You should be paid the same wage for this day however may be required to work back in that time over a number of days. Some employers may need to see an appointment card for proof of appointment.
• You should be treated the same as any other employee as regards opportunities, pay raises, perks and benefits etc. while pregnant.
• Decisions should not be made on your behalf as to why you should not have to travel, attend work abroad when your rest breaks or maternity leave should start or begin. You should make these decisions yourself and inform the relevant person.
• You must make your employer aware of your intention to take Maternity leave at least 4 weeks in advance. We also encourage that you do this in writing.
• If the situation arises where your employer cannot give you work or cannot remove the risks founds in your risk assessment, you have the right to stay at home with a certificate from your doctor declaring the workplace unsafe for you at this time.
• If you are applying for a job while pregnant, you cannot be asked any questions in relation to your pregnancy such as ‘How far along are you?’
• You cannot be asked any questions regarding your Family Status or Number of Children.
• You should also never be asked if you intend on having more children or any similar discriminatory questions.

Your Rights while on Maternity Leave

• You are entitled to 26 weeks statutory Maternity leave. Not all employers will pay this and it depends on the details of your employment contract. However, may be entitled to avail of Maternity Benefit.
• You are entitled to request an additional 16 weeks unpaid Maternity leave which can start immediately at the end of the 26 weeks statutory leave.
• A further extension is available to mothers who have given birth prematurely. Maternity Benefit will not cover these additional periods. Your employer is also not obliged to pay you for these periods.
• Under the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, you are required to finish up work for Maternity leave at least 2 weeks before your babies expected due date and must remain out of work for at least 4 weeks after it’s birth.
• If you become ill during these additional periods of leave, you can ask your employer to end your Maternity leave and go on sick leave to avail of Illness Benefit.
• You are entitled to regular leave as any other employee while on Maternity leave. Therefore, should you encounter a public holiday while on Maternity leave, this day should be accrued as Annual Leave.
• Should the worst ever happen that a stillbirth or miscarriage occurs after week 24 of your pregnancy, you are entitled to your full Maternity leave period. This includes the statutory 26 weeks and a further 16 weeks thereafter. Should you have the correct PRSI requirements, Maternity Benefit is payable for the first 26 week period.
• In order to apply for Maternity Benefit in the event of a stillbirth, your doctor will need to send a letter containing the Maternity Benefit application form and confirming the expected date of birth, the actual date of birth and the number of weeks of pregnancy.
• In the event of a premature birth, you are entitled to claim the difference between the actual date of birth and the expected date of birth back in Maternity leave. Eg. If your expected due date is the second week of June but instead, your baby is born in the third week of May, this is a difference of three weeks. Your Maternity leave will begin the day you give birth, you are entitled to the statutory 26 weeks and then an additional 3 weeks!
• You must give your employer 4 weeks written notice of your intention to return to work.
• You cannot be dismissed while on Maternity leave.
• If you are dismissed while of Maternity leave, you have 6 months from the date of dismissal to take legal action to the Workplace Relations Commission – We can help with this!

Your Rights after Maternity Leave:

• You have the right to be treated the same as all other employees upon your return to work.
• You should be placed back in your job. If any changes were made to your job while you were on Maternity leave, they should be agreed by you on your return. If you do not agree to these changes, they should not be enforced and you should return to your job.
• Should it not be possible to return to the exact job you should be placed in something similar with similar pay and a similar level of responsibility provided you agree to it.
• You have the right to ask your employer for breastfeeding breaks. You should do this before you return to work in order to plan. This will also mean a risk assessment needs to be done as employers need to provide a safe and healthy environment for this.
• If you were on probation, completing an internship or an apprentice when you announced you were pregnant and when your Maternity leave began, your contract/agreement should be frozen and therefore continue upon your return to work.
• You should not lose any annual leave upon return from your Maternity leave.

We ask that you bring these rights to the attention of your pregnant friends, partners and family.

Should you feel like your rights have been breached in any way during your pregnancy, let us know and we can discuss your legal options. Contact info@employment-matters.ie or call 051 841 641.

It is by no means a surprise to think that sexual harassment at work is common. With the rise of the high profile ‘Me Too’ and ‘Times Up’ movements, sexual harassment at work and female issue’s are at the top of people’s minds. At least that’s what we like to think.

Sexual Harassment at Work

It was in late 2016 that a distressed twenty-something-year-old lady met with Employment-Matters to tell us her story. She had been subject to 6+ months of sexual harassment at work from her then boss and also regular sexually suggestive comments. When our client reported the misconduct to an internal superior, a full investigation was completed but her boss claimed he could not remember making any comments. Prior to the investigation, the man had approached her numerous times and asked her to sit in his car with him, winked at her and directed crude jokes towards her about a tattoo she had.

Our client made a total of five complaints. Of these, two were upheld, one was overturned and a further two could not be substantiated. Some of the complaints made against her boss were of a very serious nature which had clearly left the woman feeling violated. Workplace Relations Commission Adjudicator Mr. Murphy, found our client to be a credible complainant and truly believed that what she had experienced had impacted both her personal and working life.

Due to the employer’s lack of commitment to resolving these complaints internally, they too were responsible said Mr. Murphy. The lack of commitment from the company had been discussed numerous times throughout the case and has helped to identify serious flaws in the business’ internal procedures.

The Award

In the end, our client was awarded an award of €35,000 from her boss for the distress suffered by the complainant. It was instructed that her employer pay our client a further €10,000 for the victimisation and distress of these issues. This gave our client a total award of €45,000.

Have you experienced sexual harassment at work or something similar with a boss or work colleague? If the answer is yes, we want to hear from you! We hear too many cases of women leaving these cases go on too long, or leaving their jobs and missing their 6-month opportunity timeline. Don’t be a victim of time too. Call Employment-Matters on 051 841 641 today for a free consultation with one of our employment law experts.

It is important in considering a redundancy situation and in particular where one or a number of employees is to be selected for redundancy out of a larger group of employees all engaged for the same purpose that a thorough and comprehensive plan and procedure is followed.
There are many practical issues involved such as:
• the appropriate notice period
• the length of service
• contractual redundancy payments vs. Statutory payments
• what written policy or guidelines exist
• whether there is a well recognised custom or practice within the company whereby redundancy packages are automatically paid as additional ex-gratia payments to the statutory redundancy.
As with all unfair dismissal cases the onus rests on the employer to prove that the dismissal is not unfair.
What is unfair selection for redundancy?
Where a genuine redundancy exists and an employee is dismissed wholly or mainly for redundancy, the dismissal may still be unfair in circumstances where an individual has been unfairly selected for redundancy. Consideration must also be given to the manner in which the redundancy was affected and to whether the employer has acted reasonably in the circumstances.
When does a genuine redundancy situation exist?
It is for the employer to prove that a redundancy situation exists that justified the dismissal at the date of the redundancy or that it was likely to arise in the immediate future. A genuine redundancy situation exists where dismissal is wholly or mainly attributable to one of the factors set out in section 7 (2) of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 (as amended by the redundancy payment act 1971) (“the act”).
In a challenge to a redundancy selection in the Employment Appeals Tribunal “EAT”, the tribunal will consider whether a genuine redundancy existed in the first instance and for example such a redundancy may be considered a genuine reason for redundancy where it accords with section 7 (2)(c) of the act – “work to be done by other employees or otherwise” or equally reliance may be placed on section 7(2)(e) – “work to be done by an employee who is also capable of doing other work”.
However, whether this is in fact the case (that such a situation did or did not pertain at the time to an employee who was made redundant or was likely to arise in the immediate future) will be a matter for the company to prove to the satisfaction of the EAT should proceedings for unfair dismissal be initiated.
Typically in a redundancy situation a company will set about justifying this by providing the relevant accounts and balance sheets that show the impact that the economic slowdown is having on their business that left them with no option other than to seek to make a role or roles redundant.
Therefore financial evidence together with a record of the meetings and discussions that led to the decision to make a role(s) redundant are typically relied on.
It is always important to know if such evidence exists. For example an employee will often cite that the company is in the process of actively recruiting more staff and that what appears to be occurring is more in the nature of a restructuring of the workforce. Thus any specific verifiable information in relation to the filling of these positions would be helpful.
It is also helpful to verify as to whether positions had been advertised. Often at the outset of a case we do not have the necessary information to fully assess whether a genuine redundancy situation did in fact exist. However the onus would rest on the company to prove to the satisfaction of the EAT that it in fact did.
When is an employee unfairly selected for redundancy?
It is important to ascertain if the company had any redundancy policy either that the employee was aware of or that was communicated to him. Such policy may be express or implied by custom and practice.
For example some companies follow the policy of “last in, first out”. In the absence of any stated policy the onus is on the company to apply objective criteria in selecting a person for redundancy.
A crucial aspect of employment law is that the redundancy applies to the role and not the person. It is important therefore to understand the nature and structure of the organisation, the department within which an employee worked and the roles that each employee undertook in the department.
Like discrimination, unfair selection relates to an employee’s treatment in relation to other employees and it cannot arise in isolation. There is an obligation on the company to consider the full range of persons in a specific role and apply criteria that were objective in selecting the individual as the person to be made redundant. Thus if an individual is the only person doing a specific role, unfair selection may not arise.
It is important to remember that redundancy must be the only or main reason for dismissal. If, as a company indicates that the reason for a dismissal was prompted by capacity/capability to perform certain duties, etc, this would be detrimental to their case in that it would show that the real reason was in fact personal to the employee. This can however be avoided by a company where the capability of employees is specifically identified as a criteria in the selection process.
It is important therefore at this stage to establish and confirm whether an employee was ever informed of any dissatisfaction with work performance, capabilities or competence. You might also confirm that there are no other issues of contention or complaint made against the employee during the course of the employment and that there were no allegations or complaints made against the employer or any work colleagues during the course of the employment.
In a redundancy situation, did the employer act reasonably and fairly?
There is no statutory requirement for an employer to have consulted with an individual employee prior to that employee being made redundant. However it is now viewed as good industrial relations practice to do so and failure to do so may be utilized to show the unreasonableness of the employer in the circumstances.
Often a company will arrange meetings with employees and give advance warning of the nature of the meeting or the fact that redundancy was being considered. Only when having consulted with the employees effected and sought their views and suggestions in relation to possible redundancy should a company seek to select individuals for dismissal and confirm that a redundancy situation exists. At this stage notice can be given and is normally set out in writing confirming the selection, the procedure which was followed, the criteria used and setting out the terms of the redundancy.
At the consultation stage, there is a requirement to consider alternative work within the company. The employee if at all possible should be given the opportunity to consider alternative work within the company or put forward any proposals in relation to alternative work or alternative or reduced conditions of employment within the company.
It is important to know whether the company gave any consideration to such matters and, if they did give such consideration, whether such matters are documented. There is a view that if no consideration was given to alternative work within the company that this would be capable of being viewed as unreasonable by the employer.
What are the costs of an application to the EAT?
Unlike many other forums for legal redress the EAT does not have the power to award costs. Therefore each party must bear their own costs. It therefore is advisable to always consider the potential exposure to costs at this stage and the fact that whatever the outcome of the case, although the applicant will not be liable for the employer’s legal costs before the EAT.
Of course this also means that even if an applicant is successful he must bear his own costs. It is often easier to quantify the cost exposure before the EAT than in other legal forums which may be helpful for an employee in considering his options.
If counsel is required to be instructed in relation to the EAT hearing the likely fee could be in the region of €1,500 (to include preparation for hearing, advice on proofs and one consultation and exclusive of vat at 21.5 %). Any additional work would attract extra fees.
An employee’s entitlement to a reference
Often a reference is an important issue which must be considered before seeking legal redress. The employee will have to decide on how important a reference may be given the nature of the industry in which he works. There is no obligation on the company to supply a reference and typically, when legal proceedings have issued, references are often reduced to mere factual statements of the dates of service and the roles and responsibilities carried out.
If a matter is to be ultimately settled a more fulsome reference may be negotiated. It is helpful for a reference to state that his position terminated by reason of redundancy and therefore avoid suspicion of misconduct or incompetence. If the matter goes to hearing the opportunity to acquire a meaningful reference is generally lost.
An employee’s entitlement to a p45
Every employee dismissed or ceasing employment for whatever reason is legally entitled to a p45. If not provided this should be formally requested and stating that in the event that the company fail to furnish his p45 by return contact shall be made with the revenue commissioners to engage their assistance in procuring same.
What compensation or redress is an employee entitled to?
Compensation is the most common remedy awarded by the EAT. If successful in an unfair dismissal action an employee may be awarded a maximum of up to two years salary. However such a high award has only been made on a handful of occasions and should not be expected.
A more realistic result, if the company cannot prove to the satisfaction of the EAT that the dismissal was not unfair, is a sum in the region of 40%-50% of the two years. Therefore one year’s salary would be seen as a very good result in most circumstances. The average award of the EAT currently is €11,000.
However, there are two things that must be considered in trying to quantify any amount that may be awarded:
1. award is only made for actual loss from the date of dismissal to the hearing of the action and for any projected loss into the future. If an employee was to take up another job or to set up business on his own account the actual loss would be the loss of salary up to the start of the new job and the differential, if any, of the rate of remuneration between the old job and the new job. There is an obligation on any claimant to mitigate his loss and it is useful for an applicant to be able to demonstrate the manner in which he attempted to do so and this should be recorded and documented by keeping the details of all applications made etc.
2. traditionally the EAT’s awards are lower in relation to claimants who are younger and have a longer working career ahead of them than older claimants. Regard may also be given to the length of time an applicant has worked with a company.
To find out more about your redundancy rights call Employment Matters on 1890 88 90 90 or if you feel you may have a claim or you are involved in an employment dispute click here.

It is nearly true to say now that Ireland’s social welfare system is in a complete diabolical state. The latest headline to reach the Sunday paper is “Part-time staff ‘can’t afford’ to work more hours” and this proves my opening statement.
The Sunday Independent published this article to raise the issue that part-time workers are actually better off if they don’t increase their working hours above the maximum 20 hours per week. The main reason behind this is the fact that when employees work no more than 20 hours per week they are financially better off! How does this even make economical sense?? The answer to that is very clear. In Ireland if an employee works less than 20 hours per week they can still hold onto all the social welfare payments which they may be entitled to such as lone parent and rent allowance plus their wages for 20 hours per week and actually come out at the end of the week making more than they would if they worked full time hours.
This clearly needs to be addressed before the social welfare bill increases even further. This also has implications on the employer as they find that they have to recruit two people to do a one person job and this can significantly increase any employer’s overhead costs. The serious and long term implication of this really is that people in Ireland simply have no incentive to work anymore. How can an economy which is in such disarray at the moment recover if the Irish people don’t even have an incentive to work anymore??
The Sunday Independent writes a piece quoted from a spokesperson on behalf of the Department of Social Protection who said “the department operates a control measure, whereby a percentage of employers of part time/casual workers are contacted periodically and asked to sign a declaration, confirming details of the days worked by a casual employee over a period of up to seven weeks. The employer is also asked if they have full-time work available for the person or if the person has been offered full-time work” but is this measure working as efficiently as it should?
It is clear that something needs to be done about this soon as the Government is loosing out on much needed PAYE, PRSI and income levy payments. An incentive to go out and obtain full-time employment is badly needed to get people back into work and most importantly to boost our economy!!
To find out more about employment law and your employment rights please log on to www.employment-matters.ie or call 051 850 660.

Is your employer treating you in such a way as to make your position untenable which could lead to Constructive dismissal?
Have you been unfairly selected for redundancy while others who arrived to the company after you, or who are less skilled, are kept on?
Are you involved in an employment dispute involving unfair dismissal, redundancy or constructive dismissal?
Do you want to achieve an above average settlement or award in an unfair dismissals case without investing a fortune? What if there was a way to know for sure that you were maximising every Euro of your claim?
You have rights as an employee and you may be entitled to compensation.
Employment law in Ireland is very comprehensive. Your employment relationship is essentially based on a contract of employment and there are certain rights, both express and implied, in that contract as well as employee rights guaranteed to every employee by legislation under the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007.
These rights still apply to you even if you don’t have a contract of employment.
But if you’ve been dismissed how do you enforce these rights and what do you need to do to get redress and to claim any compensation you may be due?
Unfair dismissal cases are dealt with by both the Rights Commissioner service and at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
The legislation which governs this area of law is the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 and employee rights and unfair dismissals in particular are dealt with.
Procedure in an Unfair Dismissal Case
Unfair Dismissal Cases must be commenced within six months of your dismissal so if you have been dismissed, it is imperative that you move quickly. To apply to the Employment Appeals Tribunal for redress you simply complete an application form with the Workplace Relations Commission.
It is crucial in an Unfair Dismissal case that when completing this form you correctly identify the employer. Often employers operate under a trading name but have been constituted in the form of a limited company. It is this limited company which must be named on the form, as this is the legal entity that owes you a legal obligation.
How long can the Employment Appeals process take?
The application process in the Employment Appeals Tribunal takes anything from 50 to 80 weeks due to the volume of complaints currently being received. An employee will initially receive an acknowledgement of an application which will be copied to the employer and your employer will have the opportunity to respond in the form of a T2 form.
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The Unfair Dismissals case will then be set down for hearing.
The Rights Commissioner Service on the other hand is a quicker process that is however often frowned upon by employment solicitors. The view is usually that because a Rights Commissioner determination is normally not binding and can be appealed to the Employment Appeals Tribunal anyway, it is advisable to go straight to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
The Unfair Dismissal Hearing
An Employment Appeals Tribunal hearing is constituted by way of a three-person panel, made up of a chairperson (who is usually a barrister) a representative from an the employers group, IBEC, and an employee’s group usually from one of the trade unions.
What happens at the Unfair Dismissal hearing?
The Employment Appeal Tribunal hears the case made by each party. The employer usually goes first as the onus is on the employer to prove that the employee was not unfairly dismissed.
This is extremely important because in employment law there is an automatic presumption that the dismissal has been unfair. It is therefore up to the employer to prove otherwise. The exception to this is constructive dismissal when the onus is on the employee to prove that they have been dismissed unfairly.
The most important aspect of an unfair dismissal case relates to the procedures followed by an employer in terminating or dismissing an employee. In Labour law and in particular in an unfair dismissals case, an employment termination is only deemed fair in certain circumstances and the main issue is often whether a fair procedure was followed and whether an employee was given the opportunity to defend his position and good name.
Each party should prepare five copies of all documents and submissions. These are handed up to the Tribunal through the secretary and can be used as a guide to the case being made by each side. The Applicant in an appeal is the employee while the employer is known as the Respondent.
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The case is heard in a similar manner to a court case with the witnesses introducing evidence through direct and cross-examination. The normal rules of evidence apply, however, their application is often considered to be quite lax.
Thus initially the employer will be heard and the employee will normally then take the stand and having taken the oath, they will respond to questions from their own legal representative and then will be subject to cross-examination by the legal representatives of their employer.
Each party is normally given the opportunity to make a submission at the end of the hearing, summing up their case and supporting this with relevant case law.
Unfair Dismissal cases will usually be completed in a morning or afternoon but if more complicated could last a full day. Some cases however may take even longer depending on the number of witnesses.
The Decision of an Employment Appeals Tribunal
The Employment Appeals Tribunal will normally take six to eight weeks to deliver their decision which will be in the form of a written summary of the submissions and evidence and the decision of the tribunal.
Decisions can be appealed to the Circuit Court.
If you’d like to find out more about your employment rights in a case of unfair dismissal or about whether you have a Claim please call Employment Matters on 1890 88 90 90 or 086 783 4579.
The Unfair Dismissal Acts 1977 – 2007
The purpose of this Act is to protect employees from being unfairly dismissed from their jobs. The Act enables employees who believe that they have been unfairly dismissed to present a claim as it provides an adjudication system for redress for an employee whose dismissal has been found to be unfair.
This Act applies to people over 16 with at least 12 months continuous service.
However this act does not apply to the following:
1. Employees who have reached the normal retiring age or who on the date of dismissal had not attained the age of 16 years
2. Persons working for a close relative in a private house or farm, provided both also live in the same house or farm
3. Members of the Defence Force and the Gardai
4. Persons undergoing full time training or apprenticeship in FAS establishments
The condition for 12 months service does not apply to an employee whose dismissal results from one or more of the following:
1. The employees pregnancy, giving birth or breastfeeding (or any matters connected therewith)
2. The exercise or proposed exercise by the employee of rights under the Maternity Protection Act
3. The exercise or contemplated exercise by an employees of his/her rights to adoptive leave Act
4. The exercise or proposed exercise by an employee of the right to Parental Leave or Force Majeure under and in accordance with the Parental Leave Act
5. The exercise or proposed exercise by the employee of the right to Carer’s Leave under and in accordance with the Carer’s Leave Act
The good news for employees is that in general the Act provides that every dismissal of an employee will be presumed to have been unfair unless the employer can show substantial ground justifying the dismissal.
If you believe your rights have been breached by an employer you may be entitled to redress. For a free assessment of your case, you can make a claim through Employment Matters or call us on 1890 88 90 90 or complete the form above and we will contact you.
What our clients have to say:
“Thanks Sean, you really helped me out. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have probably had a heart attack from the stress of the whole process…and what a great result, I can’t recommend you highly enough.”
Brian, 26, Tyre fitter, Wexford
“Sean has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of employment law. Sean has successfully supported many clients facing legal issues regarding employment relationships. I would be happy to recommend Sean to clients.”
Liam Barton, Insight HR
Important Note: The above procedures are samples only and not intended as legal advice and as such should not be relied upon. The content of this site is not recommended as a substitute for legal advice and as such Employment Matters accepts no responsibility in relation to these and the above does not constitute legal advice.
Employment Matters is committed to providing Clients with the highest levels of service and care. All details submitted to Employment Matters will be held in strictest confidence and in compliance with the terms of the Data Protection Acts. Employment Matters is not a Solicitor’s Practice and therefore does not act in that capacity. In the event that any conflict of interest arises, Employment Matters guarantees to absent itself from dealing with either party and will advise the parties immediately of any such conflict.

Constructive dismissal is defined in section 1 of the Unfair Dismissal Act 1977 as:
“the termination by the employee of his contract of employment with his employer whether prior notice of the termination was or was not given to the employer in circumstances in which, because of the conduct of the employer, the employee was or would have been entitled or it was or would have been reasonable for the employee to terminate the contract of employment without giving prior notice of the termination to the employer.”
Notice of termination is one of the fundamentals of employment law and the requirement to give notice by either the employee or the employer may only be dispensed with in very particular circumstances.
In any constructive dismissal action the fact of dismissal is put in dispute as the employer will not accept that there was a dismissal.
The employee, who is claiming to have been constructively dismissed, bears the onus of proving that a dismissal in fact occurred, and further that it was unfair. (In theory if dismissal can be shown to have occurred, the burden should shift to the employer to justify the dismissal as reasonable but this is not what happens in practice.)
Accordingly it is for the employee to prove that there was a dismissal and that it was unreasonable; this is a very heavy onus of proof to bear and a note of caution must always be entered in this regard.
A constructive dismissal can arise in a number of ways. For example an employer may treat an employee in such a way as to make the employee’s position untenable. Examples would include where an employer significantly diminishes an employee’s work or responsibility or treats them in a manner which demeans them or causes them to consider their position and future with the employer.
The most famous recent case is that of journalist Liz Allen taken against Independent Newspapers.
Ms Allen was awarded over €70,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal having succeeded in her claim for constructive dismissal against her employer, Independent Newspapers.
Employed as a Crime Correspondent with the Sunday Independent newspaper, it was the EAT’s view that she did not contribute in any way to her dismissal and that she as such had been constructively dismissed.
The Tribunal heard that Ms. Allen had been isolated at work, and that she had had her confidence and health undermined. She had, she believed, been left with no option but to resign.
Attempts had been made by Ms. Allen to have the matters resolved through the internal procedures at the Sunday Independent. The Tribunal heard that two colleagues in particular had been hostile towards Ms Allen.
Any attempt to unilaterally vary the terms of your contract of employment could be considered a significant breach going to the root of the contract, relating for example to remuneration and the type of work to be carried out.
There must therefore be a breach of contract and further that such breach was unreasonable.
The challenge in these types of cases is often the absence of any recorded attempts by the Applicant to formally complain about the inappropriate conduct or to invoke any grievance procedure (if any in fact existed). The employer/respondent will often argue that the employee should have raised their concerns and made a complaint about the conduct and that treating oneself as dismissed was an overreaction.
In such a case it would therefore be argued that any unilateral variations to a contract were so fundamental that the Applicant was entitled to consider himself so dismissed and that the absence of formulating a complaint is not detrimental to the claim.
The position or status of the person against whom the complaint is made is also generally relevant, in that if it is that the person complained against is in a position of authority, and not simply another employee, it would strengthen the claim that this gave rise to the untenable situation.
Usually this action would be taken before the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Tribunal will usually award damages in a successful case but can only award damages in relation to actual financial loss. It is important to note that no awards in relation to stress or personal injury arising from the employment can be granted in the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
The procedure for claiming constructive dismissal is similar to that of an Unfair Dismissal claim save that the onus of proof is shifted as noted above.
To find out more about your employment rights call us on 1890 88 90 90 or complete the form above.

In the current economy, more individuals and companies are hoping to reduce costs and increase settlement options while resolving employment disputes. Both employees and employers are looking for ways to keep expenses to a minimum while maintaining the integrity of the process.
Alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation, have become a valuable resource for both employers and employees given the current state of the economy. The unwillingness of both sides of the equation to spend the extra euro on solicitors has lead to an increasing need for mediators trained in employment law.
There are numerous types of employment disputes which can be settled through mediation. Among them include, termination disputes such as unfair dismissals and unfair selection for redundancy, disagreements regarding pay, discrimination claims, disagreements as to leave, disputes concerning non-compete terms, and grievances under a collective bargaining agreement.
Already the Rights Commissioner service put an emphasis on trying to resolve workers’ compensation claims and unemployment compensation claims through a form of informal mediation.
So, why resort to mediation to settle employment disputes?
In some cases the employee may believe that the employer has violated a number of laws. For example in an Unfair Dismissals claim, liability can be significant and it would behoove the employer to find a quick, low-cost method of resolving the dispute. If the dispute should reach the tribunal, a judgment against the employer could be significant, up to twice the employee’s annual salary in damages.
There are other considerations, as well.
A settlement, unlike rolling the dice in court, brings the relationship to an end and creates certainty for all parties involved. In nearly all cases, mediation will be a more time effective and less costly method of resolving a dispute. In mediation, confidentiality is guaranteed, while parties retain their right to representation by a solicitor.
In addition, non-disparagement clauses may be included in mediated agreements. Such clauses are not believed to be within the power of a tribunal or Court to apply to the outcome of a judgment or verdict.
In mediation, a third party neutral attempts to bring the disputants to the common ground of a mutually acceptable resolution. There are numerous upsides for both employers and employees in the meditation process.
The advantages of choosing mediation include;
 The parties select a mediator acceptable to both sides;
 The mediator’s goal is to broker an agreement, not to reach a particular outcome;
 Mediators are ethically prevented from allowing personal bias or opinion to dictate an outcome;
 A mediator will not give legal advice; and,
 Mediation is confidential.
There are of course downsides to choosing mediation, as well. As a general rule, a mediator is less likely to have a breadth of knowledge of employment law. Certainly, a tribunal officer or rights commisioner will have had more exposure to the employment issues involved in a case such as an unfair dismissals case. There may be a wide disparity in the interpretation of current law.
Regardless, mediation allows the parties to seek the advice of a solicitor at any point. There is no reason to be completely naked and unrepresented in the process. Involving a solicitor remains the right and duty of each participant. In preparing to mediate, I typically ask that the parties or their representation to confer with me in advance of the mediation to agree on the ground rules.
At that point, I expect all parties to be ready to agree to time, place, attendees, fees, interested parties, and anticipated duration. I also ask the parties for any pre-mediation submissions, such as any information which the parties think would be helpful for me to review prior to mediation, I do try to keep this to a minimum as I don’t want to be biased in any way before hearing the parties speak.
A position statements should set forth a party’s opening statement. The parties position based on the facts of the case and the applicable statutory and case law can be included.
Mediation is designed to be valuable to both parties in the dispute. It may be especially valuable to the employer with concerns beyond its damages liability. For instance, it may be advantageous to keep a matter confidential through mediation. It may also be advantageous to the employer to settle the matter quickly, rather than wade through the frustrations of the employment appeals process or worse the equality tribunal!
There are times when an employer wishes to preserve a business relationship through a non-adversarial process of mediation. Of course, the employee may have non-monetary concerns which mediation can satisfy. The employee may wish to ensure a positive reference or some other outside-the-box resolution. The actual tone and tenor of the mediation proceeding often dictate the outcome.
Solicitors are more accustomed to zealous adversarial representation of their client. This combative stance, however, is not helpful as a neutral facilitator. Rather, it is more effective to combine advocacy with a cooperative approach.
While I would never ask a lawyer to stop advocating their client’s position, I would request that all parties be conscious of the other participants’ issues and positions. Here, as with so many disputes in life, the old adage applies, “listen to understand, not necessarily to agree.”
During the process, after the opening statements are made and parties understand the rules of mediation, I will begin a series of break-out sessions. Essentially a series of shuttle diplomacy, I have an opportunity to investigate a variety of options and possible resolutions.
No matter how unusual the request or proposal may seem, a mediate should consider them opportunities to craft an acceptable resolution which both parties will embrace. The aim is to attempt to bring the parties to an agreement on the material terms of the settlement which may include non-monetary provisions.
In the event that a resolution is agreed, all parties ahould sign a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to all material terms of the resolution. Often, the solicitors can use this document to draft the final settlement document. There is often some back and forth between parties before the final document is signed and as such this may take some time after the conclusion of the mediation.
The Memorandum of Understanding gives all parties a document to remind them of the initial agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding should include all aspects of the final agreement, including any provisions as to legal fees, tax ramifications, costs, confidentiality, and non-disparagement clauses.
Finally, we should include a forward-looking provision which addresses the issue of disputes arising out of the settlement agreement. This gives the parties an avenue for settling grievances which arise as a result of a misunderstanding of the agreement or a failure to follow its terms.
At Employment Matters we help both employers and individual employees resolve employment issues where conflict has arisen or where there has been a breakdown in the employment relationship such as described above.
Sean Ormonde is a qualified mediator accredited with the ADR Group in the UK and Friary Law in Ireland, he is a qualified solicitor and an employment law expert and has recently completed the Law Society’s Diploma in Employment Law.
To find out more about how we can help please log on to www.employment-matters.ie or email us at employmentmatterswaterford@gmail.com. We provide an initial free consultation.

A new report just published by the Small Firms Association has shown that absenteeism in Ireland costs small firms some €563 million per annum. The study conducted by the Small Firms Association was conducted throughout Ireland and covered all sectors of Irish Business.
This is a significant figure for any small firm especially in today’s tough economy. The one positive finding for small firms however is the fact that small firms have a lower average rate of absenteeism than larger firms.
The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA), Avine McNally spoke out about this weeks published report and stated “The national average for absenteeism is 3.6% or 8 working days. For large firms this rises to 4.6% or 10 working days. For small firms the average falls to 2.6% or 5 working days”.
The most interesting point which Ms. McNally raised was the fact that the estimated figure of €563 million per annum “takes no account of other direct costs such as the requirement to replace absent staff with other workers or overtime payments, and the cost of medical referrals, or of the indirect costs such as the effect on productivity and quality, the increased work pressure on other colleagues, and the admin time in managing absence”.
The overall cost in reality could in fact be in closer to €900m.
These figures are both shocking and worrying for small firms who are already struggling to compete with larger firms in such harsh economic times.
The report continues to discuss the possible causes of such high levels of absenteeism in Ireland. Stress and back pain/injury are one of the most popular cited problems on medical certs.
Employers need to be aware that they have a duty of care to all of their employees and they also must realise that workplace stress is a major problem which is emerging during these recessionary times. Stress is a normal part of life; however excessive stress interferes with every employee’s productivity and reduces their physical and emotional health, so it’s important that employers find ways to keep it under control.
Fortunately, there is a lot that employers can do to manage and reduce stress at work and benefit every employee.
All employers should have a workplace stress policy that all employees are educated on. This policy should include information for employees such as the signs and symptoms of stress, common causes of workplace stress, how employees can reduce stress by looking after themselves, time management skills, organisation skills and most importantly suggestions on ways to dispel stress. Employers should also be positive role models for their staff and create a work place environment which encourages open and effective communication, employee involvement, incentives and rewards which recognise work well done and most importantly a friendly social climate in the workplace should be encouraged at all times.
At Employment Matters we believe that if employers educate their employees on workplace stress and create an environment where employees feel they can speak openly if they are feeling stressed, this alone will help to improve the stress rates of employees and hopefully in turn reduce the rate of absenteeism in a firm.
To find out more check us out on www.employment-matters.ie or if you want to find out more about dealing with stress in the workplace then contact us today on 051-850660 now!