WHAT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…
Ambulance firm ordered to keep paying Whistleblowers
Two Employees at businessman David Hall’s ambulance company have become the first Employees to win court protection under recently introduced whistleblower legislation.
The two Employees, who were made redundant after making accusing of “serious wrongdoing” in a disclosure to the Revenue Commissioners, will continue to be paid until their unfair dismissal case is heard, the Circuit Court has decided.
Judge Francis Comerford in granting relief under protections provided for under the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblowing) Act 2014 stated that he was satisfied there were substantial grounds for contending the men’s dismissal from Lifeline Ambulance Service recently was wholly or mainly the result of a protected disclosure they made to Revenue.
Paternity Bill Signed into Law
From September 1st, new dads will lawfully be able to take 2 weeks paid paternity leave within the first 26 weeks of their child being born or adopted.
The 230 Euro a week payment can be claimed once new fathers give 4 weeks notice to their employer, have a valid public services card and up to date PRSI payments. Self-employed fathers apply directly to the department.
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar launched the awareness campaign for the new scheme in August after signing it into law at the National Maternity Hospital.
All Organisations should ensure they update their Employee Handbook/policies and procedures to account for this new legislation and use this updated policy to remind Employees about other key HR policies in place also.
Employers to be Encouraged to Allow Workers to Continue Working Past 65
Employers are to be encouraged to allow workers to continue in employment beyond the current normal retirement age of 65. At a recent launch of the report of the Interdepartmental Group on Fuller Working Lives, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has stated that people are seeking to work longer and enjoy more productive later years. The Minister for Public Expenditure also stated that “if increases in the age at which people qualify for State pensions are not matched by longer working lives, future incomes for retirees will become an increasingly pressing issue.”
As part of tackling these challenges, the interdepartmental group identified a number of measures which Mr Donohoe is seeking to implement. These include asking employers to increase raise understanding among their workers of the potential gap in their incomes at current retirement ages. The Department of Public Expenditure has committed to undertake a review of the “barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce, up to the age of entitlement to the State pension.” In addition the Department of Jobs is to ask the Workplace Relations Commission to prepare a new code of practice around the issue of longer working.
Two Employees at businessman David Hall’s ambulance company have become the first Employees to win court protection under recently introduced whistleblower legislation.
The two Employees, who were made redundant after making accusing of “serious wrongdoing” in a disclosure to the Revenue Commissioners, will continue to be paid until their unfair dismissal case is heard, the Circuit Court has decided.
Judge Francis Comerford in granting relief under protections provided for under the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblowing) Act 2014 stated that he was satisfied there were substantial grounds for contending the men’s dismissal from Lifeline Ambulance Service recently was wholly or mainly the result of a protected disclosure they made to Revenue.
Paternity Bill Signed into Law
From September 1st, new dads will lawfully be able to take 2 weeks paid paternity leave within the first 26 weeks of their child being born or adopted.
The 230 Euro a week payment can be claimed once new fathers give 4 weeks notice to their employer, have a valid public services card and up to date PRSI payments. Self-employed fathers apply directly to the department.
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar launched the awareness campaign for the new scheme in August after signing it into law at the National Maternity Hospital.
All Organisations should ensure they update their Employee Handbook/policies and procedures to account for this new legislation and use this updated policy to remind Employees about other key HR policies in place also.
Employers to be Encouraged to Allow Workers to Continue Working Past 65
Employers are to be encouraged to allow workers to continue in employment beyond the current normal retirement age of 65. At a recent launch of the report of the Interdepartmental Group on Fuller Working Lives, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has stated that people are seeking to work longer and enjoy more productive later years. The Minister for Public Expenditure also stated that “if increases in the age at which people qualify for State pensions are not matched by longer working lives, future incomes for retirees will become an increasingly pressing issue.”
As part of tackling these challenges, the interdepartmental group identified a number of measures which Mr Donohoe is seeking to implement. These include asking employers to increase raise understanding among their workers of the potential gap in their incomes at current retirement ages. The Department of Public Expenditure has committed to undertake a review of the “barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce, up to the age of entitlement to the State pension.” In addition the Department of Jobs is to ask the Workplace Relations Commission to prepare a new code of practice around the issue of longer working.
