This area of the Law has been rapidly developing in recent years with the increase of discrimination and harassment in the work place.

We provide advice in respect of all the following areas of Employment Law including the following:

• Discrimination/Harassment.
• Maternity Rights
• Potential Leave.
• Unfair Dismissal/Redundancy.

Discrimination and Harassment

The Employment Equality Act, 1998 prohibits discrimination on any of the following grounds:

• Gender
• Marital Status
• Family Status
• Sexual Orientation
• Age
• Disability
• Race
• Religion
• Membership of the Travelling Community.

All complaints should be referred to the Director of Equality Investigations or to Labour Court within six months of the most recent occurrence of discrimination.

Redundancy:

Under the relevant Legislation, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment, 1973, an employee is entitled to notice in the event of being made redundant e.g. and employee who has worked between 13 weeks and 2 years with their Employer is entitled to one week's notice, unless particular provisions as to amount of notice to be provided is contained in the employee's Contract of Employment.

Maternity Rights:

The basic period of Maternity Leave is 14 weeks, of which 4 weeks has to be taken before the end of the week of the expected date of the birth and 4 weeks after.

In addition to the Statutory 14 week period, a further 4 weeks of unpaid leave can be taken.

Parental Rights:

The Parental Leave Act, 1998 has introduced a limited right to leave from work in time of a family crises, known as 'force majeure leave'. It ??? where for urgent family reasons, the immediate presence for the employee is required, owing to an injury or illness of a close family member. The extent of such leave is 3 days in a 12 month period or 5 days in such 36 month period.

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