Remote work legislation needs radical change

John O’Connell, General Secretary of the Financial Services Union has called for radical change to the proposed remote work legislation which is been discussed today at the Dail Committee on Enterprise, Trade an Employment.

Speaking prior to the Dail committee deliberations on the Bill Mr O Connell commented that in its current state the proposed legislation is weighted far too heavily in favour of employers and makes it easy for any employer to decline a request from their staff to work remotely.

“Radical change is required to ensure that this legislation is fit for purpose.

I welcome the joint approach from ICTU and several of its affiliates including the Financial Services Union to campaign for changes to this legislation.

The intention is to give an employee the legal right to request remote working and to ensure that an employer gives proper consideration to such a request.

As currently drafted the employer can decline a request without having to provide proper justification and the employee has no legal right to appeal the substance of that decision.

The timelines of the decision-making process need to be shortened and the thirteen reasons for an employer to decline a request need to be removed. Any refusal must be justified on objective grounds that relate to the real needs of the business.

Balanced and fair legislation will help protect the advances we have made in remote working over the last two years. It will help the environment, improve the work life balance for workers and increase productivity for employers”

ENDS