Thankfully the past few years have involved much discussion about the need for, and the benefits of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. It is wonderful hear of people with disabilities and people from traditionally marginalised backgrounds being finally offered true equality of opportunity in the work place.
Tag: Employment Law
Constructive Dismissal is where the employee leaves his or her role as the employer has made it untenable for him or her to continue working.
There is a high threshold for an employee to prove their case. The employee must first have put the employer on notice of his or her dissatisfaction by way of the grievance procedure, in writing. He or she must then await the outcome of any investigation. If the situation remains intolerable, he or she can resign their role and make a claim under Section 2 of the Unfair Dismissals Act. It would be unwise of any employee to resign their role in such circumstances without first taking legal advice.
Our Lisa Quinn O’Flaherty shared her opinion on accommodations for breastfeeding in the workplace in the Irish Times (28th October 2020). The letter can be read here.
As we celebrate this years World Breastfeeding week, I am conscious of the inequalities of opportunity for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace and their babies. I am lucky enough to have recently returned after maternity leave to a workplace that is wholly supportive of breastfeeding. I have a nice private office where I can comfortably express milk as I work away, and colleagues who are unfazed by the whir of my double electric pump, as they pop in to my office for chats, and even bring documents from the printer so that I don’t have to unlatch the pump to do it myself. It feels uncomfortable to me that this is not a universal experience, given that breastfeeding up the age of two and beyond is both biologically normal and recommended by the World Health Organisation and most health experts. Continue reading