Equality & Pay Transparency

Irish law prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. There are nine protected grounds of discrimination in Ireland: gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community, as well as additional protections for those on contracts of limited duration or who work on a part-time basis. 

Allegations centred on harassment are particularly sensitive and give rise to specific rights in relation to employer processes, including bespoke investigation procedures and forms of resolution, including rights impacting on the potential for NDAs.

Employers must also navigate requests (but not necessarily entitlements) to avail of specific working arrangements such as remote and flexible work and/or various types of protected leave.

In addition, there is an increasing focus on equal pay for work of equal value as between men and women and in relation to providing information on pay levels as well as reporting on the gender pay gap and, in some circumstances, implementing remedial measures. Employers need to be cognisant of changes affecting hiring, disclosure of information and in relation to reward more generally.