2025 in Review - The World of Work

Updated / Thursday, 25 Dec 2025 07:00 The Government in November opened a public consultation seeking views on the right to request remote working Brian O\u0027Donovan By Brian O'Donovan Work & Technology Correspondent The impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace and ongoing battles to retain remote working were among the employment issues that came to the fore during 2025. There was a slight weakening in the jobs market towards the end of the year, with small increases in unemployment and a decline in advertised job vacancies. But despite this, the labour market is expected to remain tight next year and many employers may continue to struggle to fill key roles. There was a limited number of industrial disputes throughout the year but unions have warned of potential unrest in 2026. Pay demands amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures could be met with resistance from some employers who are already worried about increased costs in the form of pension auto-enrolment and another rise in the minimum wage. Remote working Within weeks of each other in the summer of 2025, the country's two biggest banks, AIB and Bank of Ireland, announced plans to increase the number of in-office days for their hybrid workers. The moves led to angry responses from staff and their representatives, with the Financial Services Union (FSU) describing the AIB announcement as "regressive, shortsighted and without justification". The FSU branded the Bank of Ireland decision as "problematic and at variance with the views of staff". It was a reminder of how important flexibility and remote working has become to so many employees, and a reminder also that they are willing to fight to keep it. In November, the Government opened a public consultation seeking views on the right to request remote working. It received more than 8,00 responses with the bulk of them coming from employees. The right to request remote working came into force in March 2024. It requires employers and employees to have regard to a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) code of practice when considering applications for remote working arrangements. Deirdre Malone, Partner and Head of Employment Law, EY Law Ireland, said conflict can arise because some employees incorrectly believe they have a right to remote work. "The code of practice is very much focussed on a right to request and once an employer satisfies its obligations under that code, that's it and the WRC isn't going to step into the shoes of an employer and say you should have given this person remote working," Ms Malone said. In November, a high profile and vocal critic of remote working made headlines. Businessman Denis O'Brien claimed there has been a "marked decline" in the efficiency of all parts of the Government due to remote working. "These problems are extremely serious and urgent," he said. In an address to the Business Post's Economic Outlook Forum in Dublin, Mr O'Brien described remote working as "a mistake". AI in the workplace The impact of artificial intelligence on employment came into sharp focus...

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