On remote working, the Fórsa union says its preference is to bypass legislation and deal with the issue through collective bargaining. Fórsa’s deputy general secretary and head of Civil Service, Éamonn Donnelly, told a conference that the union’s preference was to bypass the legislation and deal with the issue in collective bargaining with employers. Remote and hybrid working, she said, continues to be seen by employers as an aid to recruitment and retention as it is “very good for employee relations”. But they also have to think about mentorship, the supervision of younger workers and how that can be developed with hybrid working. “An absolute massive priority is nailing down and securing flexible working patterns and blended working,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times March 16, 2026 12:01 UTC