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The Government has begun a public consultation inviting individuals, employers and interested organisations to share their views on how the right to request remote working is functioning in practice.

The current framework, which took effect in March 2024, places a clear obligation on both employers and employees to follow a code of practice issued by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) when handling applications for remote work. While the legislation does not give an automatic entitlement to work remotely, it does set out detailed rules for how requests should be made, considered and responded to within defined timeframes.

Where an employee believes that these procedures have not been followed, they can bring a complaint to the WRC. Since the system was introduced, the WRC has received 60 complaints. Of these, 36 have been closed. One complaint has been upheld, 11 were rejected, five were settled through mediation and 19 were withdrawn. Twenty four cases remain open and are awaiting hearings or decisions from an Adjudication Officer.

The legislation requires that the overall operation of the right to request remote working be reviewed within one to two years of its introduction. As part of this review, the Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, has launched a public consultation aimed at assessing how well the framework is working.

He noted that this review offers an opportunity to understand whether the rules are clear, accessible and working as intended, while also identifying any difficulties or unexpected outcomes that may have emerged. He also highlighted the wider value of remote work in improving labour market access, reducing commuting pressures and supporting better work life balance.

Members of the public and stakeholders can take part in the consultation through the Department of Enterprise website. Submissions will remain open until 9 December.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and is intended for general guidance only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, details may change and errors may occur. This content does not constitute financial, legal or professional advice. Readers should seek appropriate professional guidance before making decisions. Neither the publisher nor the authors accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this material.