This Working Life: Lowering the risk of workplace discontent

The Workplace Relations Commission will doubtless deal with new issues in the wake of Covid-19, but some can be anticipated and prevented now

It is so far difficult to predict the impact of Covid-19 on workplace relations. Picture: Getty

While the long-term impact of Covid-19 on employment rights and workplace disputes in Ireland has yet to be revealed, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is already grappling with a burgeoning workload.

The WRC’s most recent annual report, published last month, revealed a 36 per cent jump in the number of complaints handled by the statutory body in 2019. It received 21,000 workplace-related complaints from employees last year, up from 15,451 in 2018 and 14,001 in ...