The Irish government announced its remote working strategy in January 2021, and several proposed measures will be issued later in 2021 according to a published timetable. The government plans to make remote working a permanent option for employees after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, and measures will include granting employees the right to request remote working and introduction of a code of practice to give employees the right to disconnect from work outside of working hours. The strategy follows a 2020 public consultation on remote work.

Highlights

• Establish three pillars and supporting initiatives that aim to create a conducive environment for remote working; develop and leverage a remote work infrastructure; and build a remote work policy and guidance framework.
• Promote the advantages of remote working to private sector employers, including advice on training and skills required for successful remote working, in Q1, 2021.
• Propose legislation to grant employees the right to request remote working, in Q3, 2021.
• Introduce a code of practice on the rights of employees to disconnect from their work during nonworking hours and holidays — covering phone calls, emails and switch-off time. The Workplace Relations Commission will draft the code for ministerial approval in Q1, 2021.
  
• Provide remote working guidance to employers and employees on an ongoing basis. The strategy highlights the need for quantitative evidence of employers adopting remote work solutions outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Review tax arrangements applicable to remote working, in particular with regard to employees and employers. The applicable tax arrangements will feature in the 2022 budget in Q3, 2021.
• Establish a cross-departmental knowledge base on the costs and benefits of remote working, including the impact on employment, equality considerations, transport, carbon emissions and broadband provisions.
• Map commuter patterns, skills and childcare facilities to better inform decision making about remote working hub developments (Q3, 2021), and a commitment to “significant investment” in the expansion of remote work facilities in Q4, 2021
• Mandate that public sector employers achieve an average of 20% home and remote working (Q4, 2021). The strategy recognizes the difficulties faced by some sectors, such as healthcare.

Related resource

• Government announcement (Irish government, 15 Jan 2021)
• Guidance for working remotely (Irish government)