HR Heartbeat: Storm Darragh chaos, growing demand for green skills, and…

Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we give you a rundown of the week’s top employment law stories. Stay on the pulse of current trends impacting your business, plus get up-to-the-minute commentaries on all things HR and legal.

Companies with 150+ employees will now have to...

Businesses with over 150 employees are required by Irish law to publish information on their gender pay gap, as per new rules which came into effect in early December.

Specifically, employers will now have to consider and report on gender based differences in hourly remuneration, bonus payments, and the percentage of employees paid a bonus or benefits in kind.

Your business will need to publish a broad explanation for reasons behind any gaps, as well as the measures you’ll take to address them. All this information will be made public, making it especially important to consider this issue.

Small businesses aren’t getting off lightly either! In 2025, this will reduce to 50 employees, meaning it’s important for employers of all sizes to start preparing.  

For instant advice on this topic, try our superfast AI tool, BrAInbox, for answers to questions like: ‘What do I need to do to report my company gender pay gap?’

Storm Darragh raises concerns for employers

In light of the recent Storm Darragh, it’s understandable why many employers have questions about the procedures they should follow in stormy weather.

Under Irish law, there’s generally no statutory entitlement for employees to be paid when they can’t attend work during episodes of severe weather.

But it might be in your best interests to offer flexible working arrangements so your business and your people don't end up out of pocket. Consider which arrangements mean your business productivity, customer service, and staff pay are least affected.

For instant advice, try Bright BrAInbox: ‘What happens if I can’t open my business because of a storm?’

Demand for green skills in Ireland growing at twice the global average

Demand for green talent in Ireland grew by over 22.1% last year, well above the global average of 11.6%, according to new research by the Labour Market Pulse by IDA Ireland.

Green skills are defined as “the skills needed to support a society which reduces the impact of human activity on the environment”. They’re most concentrated in industries like construction, manufacturing, and utilities. But this need is rapidly spreading to other industries too!

Many businesses see upskilling in sustainability and other areas as critical to their success, meaning it’s more important than ever to invest in cost-effective training for your team.

Learning Management Systems that offer courses on sustainability such as BrightLearn can help you make your business more attractive to talent and do your bit in easing your environmental impact too, which is a win-win for everyone.

And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines to make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!