Employment Law and Grants presentation

Welcome!

EMPLOYMENT LAW & GRANTS SEMINAR

ON THE ROAD TO EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

[email protected] 053-923 8000 Merrythought House, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy

The Workplace Relations Act 2015: All Change in Employment Law

Adrian TwomeyAdvokat & Gallenalliance Solicitors



Introduction

• Incremental development since 1967• Driven by Europe• Lack of joined-up thinking• Piecemeal system



Pre-October Situation

Rights Commissioners

Labour Court

Equality Tribunal

Employment Appeals Tribunal

District Court

Circuit Court

High Court

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court



The Current Situation

Rights Commissioners

Labour Court

Equality Tribunal

Employment Appeals Tribunal

District Court

Circuit Court

High Court

Court of Appeal

Supreme CourtRPA, MNA, UDA, WTA, EEA – 23 Acts, Innumberable S.I.s



Introduction

• The system was a mess• Shotgun claims• Costs



Reform

• Promises of reform• System too ungainly• Reforms less than might be hoped for, but helpful

nonetheless• Workplace Relations Act 2015• Became effective on 1 October 2015• Expected lag of 1 year



The Future Picture

Workplace Relations Commission

Labour Court

Mediation

District Court

Circuit Court

High Court

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

Adjudication



Workplace Relations Act

• NERA – gone• Labour Relations Commission – gone• Employment Appeals Tribunal – going• Equality Tribunal – gone• Circuit Court – no further function

• New Workplace Relations Commission• Pumped-up Labour Court



Workplace Relations Act

• WRC Inspectors• Power to Prosecute• Costs of prosecutions• Compliance Notices• Fixed Payment Notices - €2,000 (payslips,

average hours of work notices, failure to consult on collective redundancies)

• Sick leave – accrue and retain leave for up to 15 months after the relevant year.



The Big “BUT” …

• Still a plethora of legislation• Terms of Employment (Information) Act – 4

weeks• Minimum Notice Acts – up to 8 weeks• Organisation of Working Time Act – up to 2 years• Employment Equality Acts – 2 years / unlimited• Unfair Dismissals Acts – up to 2 years• Part-Time Workers / Fixed-Term Workers /

Agency Workers Acts – up to 2 years• Safety Health & Welfare at Work Act – 2 years• Protected Disclosures Act – up to 5 years pay!



Staying Safe

• Employment Contracts• Employee Handbook containing policies• Pay-slips• Working Time Records• Look before you leap – seek advice



Staying Safe

• Be careful when choosing your advisor• General practitioner solicitors & counsel• Low hourly rates and padded hours• With solicitors seek an engagement letter;

check the hourly rate; background check them; seek itemised bills specifying time spent

• With HR consultants – check their background, experience and success rate

• Beware of those selling their insurance cover• Don’t rely on kids



The Workplace Relations Act 2015: All Change in Employment Law

Adrian TwomeySolicitor



Advokat will be delighted to help bring your business into compliance with the wide range of existing employment legislation.

We are well aware that such an undertaking can be daunting for new or smaller businesses.

For that reason, we encourage clients to tackle the issue in bite-sized pieces



• Start by introducing basic but properly-drafted employment contracts.

• Then add simple but essential written policies on grievances, discipline and dignity in the workplace.

• Introduce a system (either computerised or manual) to record employees’ time and attendance.

• After that you can bolt on a safety statement, policies on equal opportunities, email and internet usage, data protection and so on.

• Before you know it, you will be very well positioned to face any workplace inspection or defend a broad range of potential claims by employees.



If you want to travel any distance – no matter how far – you have to begin by making that first step. We’re there to help

you along the way.

Adrian Twomey and Advokat can be contacted on 053-9238000, on [email protected] or at Merrythought House,

Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

mailto:[email protected]

Employment Grants for SMEs

Karl Fitzpatrick – Chevron Training & Recruitment 14 th June 2016

053 9124572 jobs@chevrongroup

Background

Established in 2005 22 staff in Wexford town Department of Jobs licenced Employment Agency Member of National Recruitment Federation Serving both SME and multi-national clients nationwide


Context

Recovering Economy More confidence = more investment Employers are planning for growth Knowledge and awareness of employment grants


Sources of Employment Grants

Department of Social Protection - JobsPlus Local Enterprise Office - Priming Grant Employability Wexford – Wage Subsidy Scheme Enterprise Ireland – Key Manager Grant Enterprise Ireland - Job Expansion Fund


JobsPlus – Dept. of Social Protection

Jobseeker 1-2 years unemployed - €7,500 Jobseeker over 2 years - €10,000 No limit on number of employees Paid monthly in arrears over 2 years Minimum of 30 hours of work per week Ineligible if displacement occurs


Priming Grant – Local Enterprise Office (LEO)

Maximum number of employees - 10 Preference for manufacturing or export potential 50% of employment costs Limit - €15,000 per job Cannot cause external displacement


Wage Subsidy Scheme - Employability Wexford

Supporting people with disabilities 120 candidates on their database Wage Subsidy is €5.30 per hour Minimum 20 hours per week Wage subsidy is paid indefinitely


Key Manager Grant - Enterprise Ireland

Business must employ 10 or more staff Trading for at least 2 years Internationally traded service/manufacturing Must be a new role within company Covers 50% of first years’ salary Maximum salary €80,000


Job Expansion Fund – Enterprise Ireland

Same criteria as key manager Staff must be based in Ireland Minimum 3 non-sales positions Maximum grant €150,000 Maximum per job - €15,000


Overview of the Local Job Market

Those that emigrated are on their way home – 500 per annum to Co. Wexford Shortage of construction, hospitality, healthcare, IT, telecoms staff Adequate supply of sales, admin, finance, retail, childcare staff Employees are on the move for higher salaries and career progression Over 50% of staff are now sourced through Social Media Channels 450m people have to date uploaded their CV’s to LinkedIn


Thank You

Any Questions ?


Recruiting & HR

Employment Law and Grants presentation