Rowing back on flexible work options

Sir, – Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s half-measured approach to flexible and remote work represents a real missed opportunity to modernise the Irish workplace (John McManus, “WRC ruling is final nail in coffin of the right to remote working”, Business, Opinion, January 8th). Their collective reluctance to embrace and now to facilitate the rowing back of flexible work options would appear driven by the interests of big business and the commercial property market.

Instead of prioritising the wellbeing of working people and the climate, they are more concerned with maintaining the status quo and the politics of presenteeism. Ireland had a unique opportunity to become a global leader in flexible work following the pandemic, with primary right to flexible work legislation, but ultimately fell short, as we do all too often.

By embracing a real right to flexible work, we could boost productivity, reduce our environmental impact, and create a more equitable society. Instead, it is now likely that the incoming Government will accelerate down the path of eroding even the small pandemic gains made by working people. – Yours, etc,

PADDY COLE,