The Government has opened a public consultation inviting feedback from the public, employers and other stakeholders on the right to request remote working.
The rules, introduced in March 2024, require both employers and employees to follow a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) code of practice when reviewing requests for remote work, reports RTE
Employees may bring a dispute to the WRC if they believe their employer did not meet the duties outlined in the code.
The legislation does not grant a direct entitlement to work remotely but instead outlines conditions such as how a request should be submitted, the considerations each side must weigh, and the timelines for processing applications, reports RTE
The code of practice was created by the WRC in consultation with trade unions and employer groups.
Since the right to request remote work was introduced in March 2024, the WRC has received 60 complaints, with 36 cases now closed.
To date, one complaint has been upheld, 11 dismissed, five resolved through mediation and 19 withdrawn, reports RTE
The remaining 24 complaints are awaiting a hearing or a decision by an Adjudication Officer.
Under the law, a review of how the remote working rules operate must take place no earlier than one year and no later than two years after they came into effect, reports RTE
As part of this process, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Circular Economy Alan Dillon has launched a public consultation to gather views on how well the legislation is working.
“This is an important opportunity to hear directly from members of the public, employers and other stakeholders about how the legislation is operating in practice, whether it is clear and accessible, and whether it has presented any challenges or unintended consequences,”, reports RTE
“Remote work plays a vital role in broadening access to the labour market, reducing commuting times, and allowing people to spend more time with their families.”, reports RTE
“Ensuring that the legislation underpinning the right to request remote work is effective and responsive is key to supporting these benefits,”, reports RTE
The public consultation is available on the Department of Enterprise website, and submissions will be accepted until 9 December.
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