First published on Monday, April 28, 2025
Last updated on Monday, April 28, 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.
Should Ireland set a maximum working temperature?
As the weather heats up, so does the debate around worker safety. The union, Unite, is calling for new protections, setting a maximum working temperature of 30°C or (27°C for strenuous jobs), and giving employees four days of paid “climate leave” when extreme weather strikes.
Their proposals follow a survey showing over half of workers felt unsafe when travelling during Storm Éowyn, with many forced to dip into annual leave when businesses closed. For me, it’s a strong reminder that as climate change intensifies, we as employers need to rethink our approach to health & safety.
No matter the weather, risk assessments and emergency planning should already be a part of your HR arsenal. Having clear, extreme weather policies in place, and tracking things like absences or special leave requests, makes managing disruptions smoother and protects both your people and your business.
Does every business need a safety rep?
On Workers’ Memorial Day, there’s been a clear message from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Health and Safety Authority (HSE)—we need more safety representatives in workplaces across Ireland. With 34 people losing their lives in work-related incidents in 2024, (many in farming and construction), vigilance over your health & safety processes has never been this important.
Safety reps serve as vital liaisons between staff and management, helping to spot risks before they become tragedies. Under Irish law, employees are entitled to elect a safety rep, but too few workplaces actually have one.
Having the right HR systems makes it easier to log incidents, record training, and stay on top of risk assessments—so you can protect your people before accidents happen, not after.
WRC cracks down: Over €2m recovered in unpaid wages
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)’s 2024 report shows it’s been one heck of a year for upholding workers’ rights. With over 5,000 inspections carried out and €2.15 million clawed back in unpaid wages, the WRC has clearly been keeping employers on their toes.
Adjudication hearings and dispute resolutions are on the rise too, while the launch of the new Code of Practice on the Right to Request Remote and Flexible Working is another major milestone for workplaces adapting to changing employee expectations.
If you want to avoid falling on the wrong side of inspections, having up-to-date policies, accurate wage records and clear remote working tools is a must.
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!
