HR Heartbeat: Childcare woes, cutting corners, and the ‘silent slowdown’

Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we take a look at the week’s most pressing HR and employment law stories. With over a decade of experience as a solicitor working in employment law, I give my opinion on current trends impacting your business, as well as my own personal commentary on all things HR and legal.

It’s the first week of school, and 70% of parents are feeling the strain

The schools are back! And working parents are already feeling the pressure. In a recent survey of 1,000 parents, 70% of respondents said childcare accessibility had affected their ability to work. And 25% have cut their hours to accommodate childcare.

It’s no secret that flexibility at work is something parents are looking for. More than two-thirds of parents feel they miss out on important moments in their child’s life due to work, so a bit of flexibility could raise morale and staff retention. If you can offer it, I’d recommend employers look at a clearly written and fairly applied workplace policy for flexible working. If you’re ready for remote working, time tracking software could be the way to maintain trust and accountability.

Carpenter’s employers should have followed the drill

Hotel operators in Dublin have been ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to pay nearly €30,000 to a carpenter. He lost his job in a process described as “both ruthless and dishonest, with no regard for the personal impact on the complainant”.

Having worked in employment law for over a decade, I can tell you that the rules for redundancy are strict. In this case, the employer failed to follow fair procedures for consultation, record-keeping, and for exploring alternatives to redundancy. They also did not provide a written contract. Even if an employee seems to be under performing, employers should avoid cutting corners. Expert guidance is essential to manage redundancies and dismissals the right way and avoid legal action.

SMEs face effects of ‘silent slowdown’

Is the ‘silent slowdown’ affecting your business? According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), job data reflects a wider economic slowdown. New job growth slowed between April and June this year, fewer people are switching jobs, and there was a spike in job losses.

SMEs employ two-thirds of Ireland’s workforce, so the ‘silent slowdown’ could have a real effect on employment. Employers are facing significant wage cost pressures, due to the introduction of pension auto-enrolment and other changes.

It’s not an easy thought, but if you are considering job losses, you need to make sure things are done the right way. Our redundancy navigator tool can help you stay compliant and avoid messy disputes.

And that’s a wrap from me. Tune in next time for my take on the latest headlines and employment law stories, helping keep your business ahead!