When starting a new job, employees should be familiar with a number of basic provisions under Irish employment law. Below is a brief guide for employees starting a new job. Please note that this is not a legal interpretation of the legislation.
Employment Status of Employee
Employees are engaged on either contracts of service or contracts for services. (Only a person engaged under a contract of service will be an employee and therefore protected by the full range of employment legislation; an independent contractor or self-employed person will have a contract for services with the party for whom the work is being done.) The distinction between a contract of service, on the one hand, and a contract for services, on the other, is sometimes unclear but the type of contract a person is engaged under can have serious implications for both employer and employee in matters such as employment protection legislation, legal responsibility for injuries caused to members of the public, taxation and social welfare. For further information, please see the “Code of Practice on Employment Status”, which was agreed between the Social Partners, with input from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social Welfare and NERA.
Atypical workers
Atypical workers include part-time employees, fixed-term employees and temporary agency workers. The first two mentioned categories already benefit from specific statutory protections. There is also legislation setting out the rules for employing young persons.
Written Terms and Conditions
Whilst the full contract of employment does not have to be in writing, certain terms and conditions of employment must be stated in writing within two months of starting employment. These would typically include the method of calculating pay and whether or not there is a sick pay scheme in operation. (For fixed term employees it would also include in what circumstances their employment will come to an end.)
National Minimum Wage
Most experienced adult workers in Ireland are entitled to be paid €8.65 per hour. There are however, some exceptions to the Minimum Wage, including those employed by close relatives, those aged under 18 and trainees or apprentices.
There are also certain industries in Ireland where a higher minimum wage applies, including the construction industry.
Working Time Rights
Employees are entitled to be given adequate rest by their employers. The Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, sets down the rules governing maximum working hours, daily and weekly rest breaks, annual leave and public holiday entitlements.
Protective Leave
Employees (who meet relevant qualifying criteria, if any) are entitled to avail of certain statutory protective leaves, such as maternity leave, health and safety leave , parental leave, adoptive leave, and carer’s leave. There is specific legislation setting down the rules for each entitlement.
Record Keeping
Many pieces of legislation establish clear statutory timeframes during which employers must maintain certain records relating to employees and former employees.
Termination of Employment
Employment contracts can be terminated in a variety of ways, such as dismissal, redundancy, or insolvency. Employees should be familiar with their rights and obligations relating to termination of employment in any of these contexts.
Policies and Procedures
The establishment by employers of certain policies and procedures, such as discipline and grievance, dignity at work (including bullying and harassment) policies, is considered necessary for fulfilment of their employer duties. While the establishment of others, such as data protection and absence policies, is considered best practice. Employees’ entitlements in this regard will vary depending on the type of business involved.
Please note that there are a range of other matters which should also be considered when starting a new job including tax and social welfare, pensions, equality , data protection and health and safety issues.
Source: Employmentrights
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