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Irish employment law is constantly evolving, and every update requires you to review and revise your policies, documentation, and business practices.
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Understanding Employment Law
As an employer, failure to comply with your legal responsibilities could lead to significant legal, financial, and reputational damage to your business.
Our in-house experts will guide you through recent and upcoming updates to Irish employment law, ensuring peace of mind and total compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EU Pay Transparency Directive?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive requires EU member states to implement legislation which promotes equal pay for equal work between men and women.
Once fully transposed into Irish law, employers will be required to revise their hiring processes, review and revise their salary structures, expand their gender pay gap reporting, remove any pay secrecy clauses, review their policies regarding pay queries, and much more.
What are some upcoming updates to Irish employment law?
There are usually multiple updates to Irish employment legislation every year. Some recent and upcoming changes for 2026 include pension auto-enrolment, national minimum wage increases, employment permit legislation, pay transparency, The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025, the EU AI Act, and The Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025.
Do I need to update my documentation since pension auto-enrolment?
When pension auto-enrolment came into place on 1 January 2026, hundreds of thousands of employees were automatically enrolled in the My Future Fund pension scheme.
Employers should update their payroll systems and HR documentation to reflect these changes and remain mindful of these new entitlements when hiring new staff.
Is there legislation in place regarding break times at work?
Yes, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) specifies employee entitlements to breaks at work, as well as rest periods between working days and shifts. To avoid facing a grievance complaint or even a WRC claim, it’s important to familiarise yourself with this legislation.
What are the current Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) entitlements?
Under the Sick Leave Act 2022, all employers in Ireland are legally required to provide Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to employees who meet the eligibility criteria.
Currently, employees are entitled to 5 days of paid sick leave per year. This entitlement was due to rise to 7 days in January 2025, but the increase did not go ahead.
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