First published on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Last updated on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
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.
Job vacancies fall, but demand for hybrid roles remains stable
Research from the latest Jobs Index from IrishJobs shows that despite several high-profile cases of employers bringing workers back to the office, the level of hybrid working vacancies remains unchanged.
With unemployment close to record lows, many business owners are navigating a highly competitive market for talent, with many choosing this cost-effective way to create a more attractive offering for potential applicants. Hybrid working has been known to offer better work-life balance, productivity, and reduced absenteeism for workforces, often with little-to-no cost involved for the employer.
But many businesses fear the setup process can be lengthy, difficult, or expensive. Fortunately, apps like Blip make clocking-in and out effortless, with remote working features and real-time updates. Handy, right?
Tesco ordered to pay €40,000 for disability discrimination
Tesco has been ordered to pay €40,000 after dismissing a long-term sick employee based on occupational health report—rather than a proper medical opinion, (oh dear.)
The tribunal found that Tesco ignored a 2021 recommendation to refer a worker, who suffered visual impairment after an aneurysm, to a consultant ophthalmologist. Instead, Tesco dismissed her in 2023 without a recent medical assessment.
The WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) ruled this was a failure to provide reasonable accommodations, labelling Tesco’s actions “utterly bizarre and disingenuous”. Business owners, this should be obvious, but dismissing an employee on medical grounds without considering reasonable accommodations is a one way ticket to costly tribunal rulings. Explore adjustments before termination, use compliant documents to support and track the process, and seek expert advice if you ever have questions!
Ireland’s great talent hunt continues
According to LinkedIn, recruiters in Ireland have been having a tough time—three-quarters say they struggled to find qualified talent last year. The main culprit? A skills shortage, with many candidates lacking the technical know-how employers need.
Nearly half of job seekers say they’ve been “ghosted” after applying, while seven in ten recruiters admit they simply can’t respond to every applicant. The result? A hit to employer reputation and frustrated candidates.
Finding (and keeping) top talent requires a smarter approach—one that prioritises skills, upskilling, and better candidate communication.
Enter our Turbo Talent Navigator—easily create job roles, onboard new employees, and connect with top candidates so you’re not left chasing ghosts!
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines to make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!
