Advertise on podcast: Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by partner Alice Duffy to examine the growing trend of employees using generative AI tools to draft workplace grievances, disciplinary responses and appeal submissions. The discussion explores the practical impact this is having on employers, recent WRC and Irish High Court decisions involving AI generated legal submissions, and the WRC’s new guidance on the responsible use of AI.   Bryan and Alice also outline practical steps for employers in managing AI generated complaints, the risks for employers deploying AI within HR processes, and the implications of the EU AI Act for workplace decision making.

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment is joined by our newest partner, Rachel Barry, and senior associate, Colum Holland, to explore two significant developments for European Works Councils: the new EWC Directive and the landmark Irish High Court decision in the Verizon case.  The discussion covers changes to EWC rights, enforcement, cost awards, and practical steps for employers preparing for legislative change.

In the latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, explores a whistleblowing case in ‘A Finance Manager V A Charity’. The decision offers valuable insights into how an Adjudication Officer assesses whether a communication qualifies as a protected disclosure, and crucially, how they determine if an employee has been penalised for making one. It also sets out some of the key principles from the main case law in this area for employers to be aware of when assessing whether a protected disclosure has been made and also how to successfully defend any consequent penalisation claims.

In the latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan and employment partner Ailbhe Dennehy to delve into the topic of mandatory retirement in the workplace.  The podcast looks at this issue from both an employment law and pensions law perspective.   This discussion addresses the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Mallon v The Minister for Justice, which appears to make implementing a mandatory retirement age more straightforward for employers. It also consider the pending legislation intended to regulate the use of mandatory retirement clauses and whether there is any major change for employers in this.

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan, senior associate, Conor Woods and associate, Trina Dzidonu on a special episode looking at the new Irish pensions auto-enrolment system, My Future Fund, due to launch in September 2025. The discussion explores all aspects of auto-enrolment, including the eligibility and the enrolment process, the key differences between the auto-enrolment system and traditional pension arrangements, and key considerations and decision points for employers ahead of the new system going live.

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by senior associates Ellen Nolan, Shane Gallen, Rachel Barry and Jill Barrett to discuss what we see as the key employment law and HR themes for 2025. The themes discussed include: the Pay Transparency Directive and how to prepare for these changes, the HR aspects of CSRD, new rules on the use of non-disclosure agreements, the changes at US parent level on D&I programmes, trends in remote working and finally anticipated new legislation in relation to mandatory retirement.

In the first of our Matheson Employment Law podcasts of 2025, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by two financial services industry specialists, Enda Allen and Una Hassett, on a special episode looking at recent research on the area of executive derailment in the workplace. The discussion explored what executive derailment is, why it happens, and preventative measures to help reduce it occurring, with a particular focus on how employers can significantly benefit from a greater awareness of how executive derailment can arise and how to address it early on.

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow employment partner, Alice Duffy, on a special episode looking at AI in the workplace. In particular, Bryan and Alice discuss how AI uses may pose a risk for employers. Also discussed is the new AI Act and resources available to help employers plan for its implementation.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, reviews the Irish High Court decision of Philip Nolan and Science Foundation Ireland from last June. This was an application for an injunction to restrain a dismissal, following an investigation into certain allegations against the plaintiff. The case, however, addressed the question of whether an employer can dismiss an employee arising out of an investigation without applying fair procedures, so long as it can show the basis for the dismissal was not misconduct. Bryan takes a look at the various employment law issues arising out of this case, including further clarification on when an employer must apply fair procedures, and whether there are circumstances where an employer is better off strategically to call out performance or other workplace issues relating to the employee, rather than take a pure no fault termination approach.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes a detailed look at the recently published Workplace Relations Commission Code of Practice on the Right to Request Remote and Flexible Working, what exactly it provides for and what this means for employers. Bryan also reviews a recent decision from the WRC which now sets the record for the highest unfair dismissal award granted by the WRC since it was first established in 2015 at €440,000.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, looks at key changes set to take place in 2024. Discussed in the episode are recent developments in regard to several key areas of employment law, specifically changes in the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act, the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wage (due to be in legislation November 2024), Statutory Sick Pay, Gender Pay Gap Reporting, national pension age and auto-enrolment, Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Act and anticipated regulation of using AI in the workplace.

In this latest episode Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes you through some of the latest employment law developments. He also explores the recent Irish High Court decision of Buttimer and Oak Fuels Supermarkets Limited where the High Court reconfirmed the position that an employee's right to fair procedures are not triggered where they are being terminated within their probationary period for performance related reasons or for no reason, in accordance with their employment contract (i.e. a no fault termination). Bryan also considers how an injunction works in practice and considers the implications for both employees and employers of seeking such relief.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, takes you through a recent whistleblowing penalisation claim. The existing protected disclosures framework was significantly enhanced by the recent enactment of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 which came into effect on 1 January this year. This case, although heard under the previous legislation, illustrates how extensive the protection is for whistleblowers against acts constituting penalisation. Given the broader definition of penalisation under the 2022 Act, employers should take particular note of this case!

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, we share with you a recording of our recent webinar "Individual Accountability Framework: What actions must employers take now?". Moderated by employment partner Geraldine Carr, our specialist panel comprised of Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, Niamh Mulholland, partner, Financial Institutions Group, Susan Doris-Obando, senior associate, Employment and Majella Walsh, Head of Compliance, Europe at Scotiabank. The panel provided practical guidance for in-scope firms on the requisite actions and steps to be taken from an employment / HR perspective to ensure compliance with the obligations imposed.

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, we share with you a recording of our recent Knowledge Insights series webinar "Employment Law 2023 - The Year Ahead". Key legal developments and themes explored included the new recently enacted Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Regulations 2022, the current status of the legislation introducing new rights in respect of requesting remote and flexible working arrangements and additional statutory leave periods. In addition, we focussed on new legislative developments which continue to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace including an overview of the proposed EU Pay Transparency Directive which is coming down the tracks as well as an overview of the actions employers should take now to narrow any Gender Pay Gap identified. Lastly, we looked at the new obligations on employers in managing whistleblowing complaints under the Protected Disclosure (Amendment) Act 2022.