Advice on the National Remote Working Strategy
We all breathed a sigh of relief at the announcement that Level 5 restrictions have been eased somewhat across the country. It was a welcomed piece of good news that I think we all can admit, couldn’t have come too soon. Although we still have some way to go, it has certainly instilled hope that there are better days ahead and that this is the beginning. At Recruitment Plus, we are seeing a steady pick up in recruitment trends.
As employers, this might be news you are waiting to hear in order to start planning for the remainder of the year. You may have started to think again about adding to your headcount.
Have you considered how you will accommodate the government’s recently launched “Remote Working Strategy”? An initiative that, without COVID, would have taken decades to implement and has now been propelled into the forefront of every industry across Ireland.
Whether you’ve read the strategy document yet or not, you probably have questions about how this will affect your workforce structure, recruitment plans and just about every other aspect of recruiting and managing staff.
Here are some of the main takeaways from the Remote Working Strategy document to equip you with the knowledge to take your next steps.
National Remote Working Strategy
Main actions that will be taken by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment:
- “Mandating that home and remote work should be the norm for 20 per cent of public sector employment
- Reviewing the treatment of remote working for the purposes of tax and expenditure in the next Budget
- Mapping and investing in a network of remote working hubs across Ireland
- Legislating for the right to request remote working
- Developing a code of practice for the right to disconnect
- Doing what we can to accelerate the provision of high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland”
Interesting Statistic Regarding Employee Attitudes & Remote Working
According to research carried out in October 2020, 94% of those who partook in the survey said that they would like to work remotely after the pandemic. This was an increase of 10% on results from a similar survey carried out the previous May.
Three Pillars for the Remote Working Strategy
As stated in the strategy, the initiative will be broken down into three pillars with one main objective “Ensure Remote Work is a Permanent Feature in the Irish Workplace”
Pillar One: Create a Conducive Environment
Pillar Two: Develop and Leverage Remote Working Infrastructure
Pillar Three: Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework
Resources for Employers
So, what should employers be doing to prepare? Knowledge is power. Take a look at the full strategy document and the remote working checklist for employers below to have a better understanding of what to expect.
It will also allow you to put in place policies and strategies to facilitate employee needs and future rights.
Government of Ireland Remote Working Checklist for Employers
Recruitment Plus’ Promise & Your Next Steps
Recruitment Plus has a strong track record in finding flexible solutions for clients and candidates. Our positive approach to Remote Working will be no different. We believe that this flexibility will only expand the pool of talent beyond candidates that traditionally would be more fixed on location.
What you choose to do now will directly affect your workforce structure in the third and fourth quarters of this year.
Contact our office to find out more about how the Remote Working Strategy will affect your business. We will find the best possible solution and provide you with the knowledge and assurance for smooth recruitment moving forward.
STILLORGAN OFFICE
01 2788610
jobs@rplus.ie
DUNDALK OFFICE
042 9356910
careers@rplus.ie
Supporting Remote Employees
Here are some of our most popular reads which you may find useful in further supporting your employees.
8 Silver Linings of Working From Home
Supporting Field-Based Workers
