Sir, – Having read the proposed terms and conditions of the working from home legislation, I suspect the chances of qualifying are very remote indeed. – Yours, etc,
FIONNTAN GOGARTY,
Ballina,
Co Mayo.
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Sir, – I’m baffled as to why the Government needs to set out rules on the “right to work from home”.
In the private sector, if an employee wants a pay rise, change in terms, etc, the employee can find a potential alternative employment and use that to negotiate with his or her current employer.
Employers are often glad to consider working from home if this makes employees happier and or more productive. Employers are happy to save office expenses but must consider the loss of in-person benefits such as team creativity, training and mentoring of colleagues or more ephemeral factors such as company culture and esprit de corps. These are valid concerns, not just for management but also employees, particularly inexperienced staff.
If an employee was hired to work in an office, the status quo applies. There is simply no automatic right to change, and employees who feel otherwise can vote with their feet.
Employees must be careful what they wish for; if they argue a “Dublin” job can now be performed adequately from Ballina, the employer will soon start to wonder if it can be done from Bangalore. – Yours, etc,
MATTHEW GLOVER,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.