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FROM THE INTRODUCTION of a four day work week to the uptake in remote working options, Irish businesses are adapting to the demands of an evolving workplace.
In the last year, some companies have chosen to adopt new policies to attract talent with unemployment at a level not seen since 2007, while others have come about due to employee expectations.
For some of these workplace trends, it’s just the beginning of their adoption and 2020 should see them gain a large foothold in Ireland.
Four day work week
After a successful trial, one Galway-based recruitment firm, was among the first in Ireland to adopt the much-discussed four-day work week.
ICE Group launched the shorter working week back in June and Margaret Cox, managing director, told Fora at the time she expected with a more rested and happier workforce for sales to increase by between 10 to 15%.
The company took inspiration from New Zealand-based Perpetua Guardian which trialled a four-day work week last year and released a paper outlining the benefits.
According to industry experts, it’s likely that more Irish companies will adopt the policy next year – with the ball just set in motion this year.
Remote working
Working from home was once seen as a luxury but it’s quickly becoming the norm, with employees actively seeking out these types of roles. A recent Indeed survey highlighted that 5% of Irish tech roles had no location, potentially signifying a move to flexible working.
Some e-commerce giants like Shopify and Wayfair operate a fully out-of-office work model in Ireland but other indigenous companies are catching onto the trend. Bank of Ireland rolled out flexible working for 10,000 staff members this year, in the hope that it would improve engagement with colleagues and counter stress.
To remedy the problem of the exhausted commuter, Enterprise Ireland is working on a smart working strategy to provide new alternative solutions.
As part of their scheme, they hope to make more desk spaces available across regional hubs that work like co-working spaces. Not only could they help the worker, but a Vodafone report released in October showed they could generate €312 million for the regions.
The war for talent
Major tech companies have been upping their game when it comes to attracting talent.
Amid a housing crisis in Ireland, some of the tech companies are offering relocation packages to entice people. Fora reported earlier this year that some of the large multinationals are giving new hires, moving from abroad a few months accommodation up front.
Remote and flexible working options are being provided by companies, with many rolling out attractive parental leave benefits, including Vodafone, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Diageo.
There has been a move toward wellness programmes for employees in recent years. With Burnout being recognised as an “occupational phenomenon” in its classification of diseases this year.
When it comes to winning talent, money is as attractive as ever and the salaries of some senior engineers have almost doubled in Dublin since 2013.
Employees expectations have shifted too – thanks to the newer office providers such as Iconic, Huckletree and WeWork.
One prop-tech company told Fora this year, the “‘war for talent’ is becoming the ‘landlords war for tenants’” and the implementation of new technologies helps them differentiate their assets.
Looking forward
For 2020 automation seems to be a concern for people as many companies are embracing new technologies to increase their growth capacity, particularly in the manufacturing industry.
A recent survey by Griffith College showed that 40% of Irish workers are concerned robots would take their jobs.
The government is trying to plan around that. Under its Industry 4.0 strategy it has announced €23 million funding for the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre that is looking at how to lessen the skills gap alongside its research and development of automotive, digitisation and sustainability solutions for industry.
Moves may be made next year toward the approval of a Gender Pay Gap Information bill that has yet to be passed through the Dáil. The proposed law will require employers to publish salary information.
A recent report by state-backed Balance for Better Business group showed that the percentage of women on the boards of Irish listed companies is 19.1%.
Get our Daily Briefing with the morning’s most important headlines for innovative Irish businesses.
Written by Laura Roddy and posted on Fora.ie
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My first time getting it from tomorrow and I’m so thankful it’s available, the workplace were originally going to pay us only 50% of our contracted hours which was just not something some staff on 8 hour contracts could live on, especially when they work a lot more than 8 hours a week. Retail, even as management, is precarious!
@Whatever: I was on it from the middle of March last year until the end of December as my job is still closed but thankfully got a college placement co-op position for the next 8 months so I am off it now. Was very grateful to receive the PUP, glad it’s there for ye now being laid off again
@Whatever: As self employed I applied last year and was told NO. Now I eat beans, no heat, food or help. No one cares.
@Paul Somers: why was that? I know a few self employed people that got it. My brother and husband included
@Paul Somers: had you a tax return completed and paid for the previous financial year? If you completed a return in October/November 2019 for the 2018 tax year you should have got it. If you only started your business in 2019 you should qualify once you submitted a return for that year.
@Laura Clayton: I honestly don’t know, I pay tax and the vat. Got scared, and now sitting in the house with thermals and a wooly hat. I would love a cuppa
@Derdaly: yes I did
@Paul Somers: you should be entitled to it keep contacting your local social welfare office they will get it sorted for you. I was waiting 5 weeks for mine to come through but I got it eventually with persistence
@Brian Byrne: gave up but thank you
@Paul Somers: honestly don’t give up Paul keep at them daily until they sort it for you. I sent in the postal application and applied online through the social services portal. It was all sorted eventually.
@Paul Somers: That might be why you never got it. If you want it it’s there for you as long as you provide what’s required of you.
@Seán O’Loughlin: it’s embarrassing
@Paul Somers: You were told lies. I’m self employed and on the full PUP.
@Paul Somers: paul I’m self employed and I’m on it since March last year. I had to apply 3 times because it never went through online. The last time I posted it in and was eventually back dated to the 1st time I applied. You are 100% entitled to it. Hope thing get better for you soon.
Heard of some people being denied loans because they claimed pup. Thought it wasn’t meant to affect your credit rating?
@Brian Dunne: yeah that is true. Iv heard of people having their mortgage application rejected because one of the joint applicants were on PUP. Even with employer letters saying their job is secure and available for the person to return to. I don’t know if it effects your actual credit rating, but banks will not lend to people on social welfare and PUP is social welfare no matter what way you break it down. Its a joke
@Eoin Jackson: and before people start blasting the banks as the big bad wolves for that strategy, that is mandated by the CBI, which in other words, is basically mandated by the government.
@Eoin Jackson: yup – that was the case for me and my husband last April. We were both on Pup and both had letters confirming future employment and BoI pulled our approval. They’d issued it in February and we were sale agreed on a house and everything. That all fell through.
Ended up going to the credit union. Their deal isn’t great and you’ve to have a 30% down payment (Christ) but they signed off on it for us while both on Pup. In our own house now since November and I’m still on pup. Husband back at work but laid off on the wage subsidy scheme. We are well able to afford the mortgage repayments but there’s not a chance we could have afforded to rent a place
Cash nixer bonanza
@MickN: Mor on. It’s keeping the wolf from the door for so many people.
@Seán Óg: Aye right…
Where do I sign up?
Went on the PUP in November because of redundancy.. started a new job today. Happy days!
Banks are very hard to deal with this lockdown. I tried to get a 2 month freeze on the mortgage as it’s going to be 2 months until I’m back up and running. Spent an hour filling in the online form. Looking now for last years earnings. Accountant letters etc. etc. What’s last years accounts got to do with being out of work this year due to a pandemic. I think the government should be doing more with the banks like last lockdown.
Serious question: Do people living in Northern Ireland, if working in the south, get paid PUP from the Irish Government?
@David Connell: only available to people with pps /prsi no. You have to supply details in order to qualify
And the reports of the country bouncing back later this year and the housing market being strong.
What a load of bs
@billy bound: I’m in construction and I’m up the walls. That includes every construction friend I know. Covid has made things busier not quieter.
If you get OAP and out of work you don’t qualify, even if you pay taxes
When do they transfer to jobseekers (aka regular dole)?
And still you’ll get another tax demand at the end of this year like most people did in the last 2 weeks
when the chickens come home to roost this place will be worse than 2008.
If you are getting OAP but still working before Covid hit and were paid on PAYE basis, as far as I know, you are entitled to PUP. However if OAP and self employed and NOT on PAYE system, (just taxed at end of year when returns are made)then no PUP. Anyway this is what happened 2 of my friends who were in each situation as described
have your say