Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act commenced on 7 March 2024 and provides the right to request remote working arrangements for all employees and the right to request flexible working arrangements for parents and carers. The Code of Practice for Employers and Employees Right to Request Flexible Working and Right to Request Remote Working was also published on that date.

Employers and employees are obliged to have regard to the Code of Practice when considering applications for remote working arrangements. The legislation provides that an employee may refer a dispute to the Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) where an employer fails to fulfil their obligations under the Act and the Code will be admissible in evidence in proceedings before a court, the Labour Court or the WRC.

On 7 March 2024, the WRC updated the online complaint form on the home page of its website (www.workplacerelation.ie) to allow for the submission of complaints in relation to contraventions of, and disputes as to entitlements under the above mentioned legislation and Code, including a complaint about an employer who is ignoring a remote working request.

The WRC operates an information service (Tel: 0818 80 80 90) which can provide information on the completion of the online complaint form.