Sir, – In March 2020 the Covid outbreak saw employees being sent home from their workplaces for what was expected to be a relatively short period.
Half a decade later a large number still haven’t gone back full-time. Blended or hybrid working now seems to be the new norm. With new legislation, workers have a right to request remote working, but it is at the employers’ discretion to agree to such a request.
Now we are seeing trade unions representing employees of semi-State bodies and major international organisations who are rebelling against being asked to return to their offices three days a week instead of the present one or two days.
Companies that have leased or built large premises in Ireland must be asking themselves “why are we maintaining these facilities if employees are not using them?”
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Globalisation, tariffs and trade wars are adding to the uncertainty of the jobs markets and employees should be looking at the bigger picture.
Remote work does not need to be carried out from Irish homes, it can be undertaken from any country in the world, where workers can be employed on lower salaries. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN LUBE,
Co Meath
