First published on Thursday, October 30, 2025
Last updated on Thursday, October 30, 2025
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.
The red flags that are losing you great candidates
A recent survey has revealed that 70% of jobseekers have declined a job due to poor interview experience, with 25% having made that decision within the first few minutes.
Red flags include interviewer lateness, too many rounds of interviews, disorganised scheduling, poor explanation of the role, and negative impressions of company culture. Despite these red flags, 60% of hiring managers have never received training on how to conduct interviews.
Our AI-powered Turbo Talent Navigator software is designed to make the interview experience better. We’ve got job description templates for clarity on both sides, a single hub for that all-important communication between candidates and internal stakeholders, and an onboarding journey that’ll be sure to impress. And if your interviewers need to brush up on their skills, we’ve got an e-learning module for that too!
Nearly half of employers still have a gender pay gap
44% of Irish firms have a gender pay gap, and 49% have a gender imbalance in senior roles. And by June 2026, businesses will need to comply with the EU Pay Transparency Directive. So, in just over six months, you’ll need to communicate your pay gaps, reward policies, packages, and pay increases. And if your employee takes a discrimination or equal pay claim to the WRC, you might find yourself on the end of a hefty fine.
You should start to prepare now. Look at your current policies and update them if necessary. We’ve got templates of every HR document you need in BrightBase. They’re expert-written, legally-compliant, and available for download instantly.
If you’re concerned about getting legally compliant, our employment law experts are available 24/7. Get unlimited advice and business guidance without legal fees.
7 in 10 employees value workplace wellness
Over the last three years, expectations around wellbeing in the workplace have risen. 69% of employees returning to work after the pandemic placed workplace wellbeing as high on their list of must-haves.
Workplace initiatives include increased focus on mental health, financial wellbeing initiatives, and work-life balance. But incentives and initiatives need to be communicated and suitable for a diverse workforce.
Our Employee Advice Line (EAP) isn’t just for employees in crisis. It’s supplied by Ireland’s largest Workplace Wellbeing provider, and can improve employee relationship management, boost retention rates, and lower burnout.
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!
