Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Workers’ Rights Maurice Quinlivan TD today said the results from a survey conducted by Irishjobs.ie shows the necessity for legislation to govern remote working, and also proves the need for a right to disconnect to be introduced in Irish law.

Speaking today, Deputy Quinlivan said;

“This survey by Irishjobs.ie has found that over forty percent of employees now working from home, are working longer hours than their normal working day.

“With advances in technology, workers have been finding it more difficult to leave their work at the office, in normal circumstances, but with that office now being the kitchen for most of us, this is even more challenging.

“Unfortunately, most businesses do not have a remote working policy for their employees, which can lead to issues between employers and employees down the line.

“Sinn Féin in government have committed to introducing legislation to govern remote working, but also to introducing a right to disconnect for employees.

“Since the beginning of this year, workers in France have been given a right to disconnect to ensure those working remotely can enjoy a healthy work life balance.

“With this survey showing over a fifth of Irish workers feeling like they cannot switch off from work, clearly similar legislation is urgently needed here.

“Although there are a host of benefits to remote working, some pitfalls have been exposed in the past few weeks.

“Workers cannot be left out of pocket either for hardware like laptops or printers, or services required like broadband and electricity, when asked to work from home. Employers need to provide the equipment required if they want staff to work remotely.

“Data protection and the handling of sensitive information is another key issue that needs to be covered, to ensure the protection of employees, employers and third parties.

“With working from home now the new norm for most, such legislation should be prioritised in the new Dáil term.”