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Paying people to turn up to work could sent unintended signals. Illustration: Getty

4:41 Bonuses are outdated in the age of knowledge work

Pilita Clark
May 16, 2022

Research suggests bonuses have little obvious positive effect on worker performance

Some of the biggest brands – Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and McDonald’s – were not in the first exodus to exit the Russian market. They withdrew just as calls for a global boycott became audible. Photograph: Regis Duvignau/Reuters

Companies’ flight from Moscow sets some hard precedents

Work
Andrew Hill
March 18, 2022

Re-entering Russian market – if and when it becomes feasible – will be no easy feat

Sara Hayden: ‘Norwegians are not known to be the world’s chattiest, but when you speak their language they do talk’

‘You can leave the office by midday on Friday and no one bats an eyelid’

Work
Barbara McCarthy
March 18, 2022

Wild Geese: Sara Hayden, Norway

Companies are already experiencing resistance from those who don’t ever want to go into the office again. File photograph: Getty

Making remote and hybrid workplace models work is challenging

Work
Olive Keogh
March 18, 2022

Firms must align commercial imperatives with possible conflicting employee preferences

The WRC heard some founders at Gecko Governance switched focus away from governance software for hedge funds in order to pursue blockchain technology and minting a crypto-currency. Photograph: iStock

Dundalk regtech start-up must pay €8,000 to co-founder over redundancy

Work
Stephen Bourke
March 16, 2022

Former CTO told WRC redundancy had been a ‘sham’

‘Refugees have typically struggled to get a foothold in Europe’s labour markets.’ Photograph: Omar Marques/Getty

4:28 Europe has done the right thing by allowing Ukrainian refugees to work

Work
Sarah O'Connor
March 16, 2022

Offer needs to be underpinned with language lessons, housing, school places and health services

Seventy per cent of employees surveyed said they preferred a hybrid approach to work practices, with only 15 per cent opting for remote only or a full-time office position

More than half of employers plan pay rises in 2022

Work
Ciara O'Brien
March 15, 2022

But recruitment survey shows pay is not the only factor in attracting employees

The rise of homeworking saw formal menswear for work replaced by a jacket or blazer.

Suits lose out in post-Covid reshuffle of UK inflation ‘shopping basket’

Economy
Bethan Staton
March 14, 2022

Sports bras, pet accessories, antibacterial wipes and meat-free sausages added to list

Having discovered the pleasures of the polo shirt at home, some attendees were wondering if they really had to gussy up in a suit and tie again. Photograph: iStock

Has Covid changed how we dress for work forever?

Work
Pilita Clark
March 14, 2022

Attendees at a recent conference in London had one question: what should I wear?

A four-day work week wouldn’t necessarily mean Fridays off for all. Photograph: iStock

We urgently need a four-day working week to prevent burnout

Work
March 11, 2022

International trials and case studies of shorter work week are starting to pile up

The 4 Day Week Global campaign favours the 100:80:100 approach – 100 per cent of the pay for 80 per cent of the hours with 100 per cent of the output

5:47 Movement for four-day week gathering momentum in wake of pandemic

Work
Olive Keogh
March 11, 2022

Campaign for four-day-week seeks to increase ‘me time’ and maintain productivity

The complainant said other staff told her it didn’t matter how long she worked but rather the focus was on the weight of mushrooms picked. Photograph: iStock

Mushroom farm must pay worker €15,000 over minimum wage breach

Agribusiness & Food
Stephen Bourke
March 10, 2022

Woman working an 80-hour week, WRC hears

Gavin Williamson was sacked as education secretary last year after bungling the handling of school exams during the pandemic. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

4:31 Time to end toxic practice of rewarding people for failure

Work
Andrew Hill
March 9, 2022

Handing out knighthoods and bonuses for screwing up is demoralising and poisonous

US workers think the absence of a commute is the top benefit of home-working. Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty

Battle to get workers back in the office faces a powerful foe: the dreaded commute

Work
Pilita Clark
March 7, 2022

Pilita Clark: Some bosses are trying to entice staff back to the old ways with free lunches

We still have a way to go to tackle barriers to women’s participation at work, particularly availability and affordability of childcare. Photograph: iStock

Why are there not more women workers in Ireland?

Economy
John FitzGerald
March 4, 2022

Our female labour-force participation rates are below those elsewhere in northern Europe

Spanish retired doctor Carlos San Juan, who raised over 640,000 signatures for his petition ‘Soy mayor, NO idiota’ (I’m a senior citizen, NOT an idiot). Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images

‘I’m old, not an idiot’: Older customers are ill-served by online strategies

Work
Andrew Hill
March 4, 2022

Older customers are suffering because of organisations’ failure of customer strategy

Let’s talk. Two words that can be loaded. Photograph: iStock

Employers need to listen to staff on return-to-office concerns

Work
Olive Keogh
March 4, 2022

Before new working practices are set in stone firms need to be sure what workforce wants

Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Patricia King: ‘Awful pity’ there as not more engagement on Right to Request Remote Work Bill. Photograph: Dara MacDónaill/The Irish Times

Government should have consulted more on ‘useless’ remote work Bill, Oireachtas hears

Work
Laura Slattery
March 2, 2022

Tánaiste has ‘listening ear’ and consultation conducted in ‘usual way’, says Department

Before the pandemic, workers only received statutory sick pay from the fourth day of their illness. File photograph: Getty

Improved sick pay will help us live with coronavirus

Work
Sarah O'Connor
March 2, 2022

Much easier to exercise ‘restraint and responsibility’ when ill if you can afford it

Cleaning supervisor Olivia Quinn was moved for making a complaint about a civil servant. Photograph: iStock

Cleaning group must pay €21,000 after bowing to civil servant pressure

Work
Stephen Bourke
March 1, 2022

Grosvenor Cleaning relocated employee after she complained about picky client

Shareholder votes on Apple’s executive packages are advisory only and do not require its board to take action in response.

World’s largest sovereign wealth fund to vote against Apple’s pay policies

Work
Richard Milne
February 28, 2022

Move by Norway’s $1.3tn oil fund marks growing shareholder backlash against tech group’s remuneration

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