Union sets out key demands for an agreement on remote working

Ireland

Public services union Fórsa has asked the government to open negotiations over an agreement on remote working. The union notes that there have been some positive outcomes from the recent increase in telework as a result of the pandemic, but an agreement is needed to regulate what could be a long-term shift in the organisation of work across the public sector. Fórsa has set out some key elements for the agreement which include, among others: agreed guidelines for identifying functions that can be performed remotely; fair access and the right to request remote work; right to decline remote work; compliance with health and safety legislation; advice on compliance with working time legislation and the ‘right to disconnect’; promotion of regular, quality communications between line managers and their staff; and full transparency and agreement over the use of any surveillance systems.

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