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Dealing with Pokémon GO at Work – A Guide for Irish Employers

Virtual reality games like Pokémon GO are increasingly raising concerns for employers about productivity and safety.  The groundbreaking smartphone app, Pokémon GO, has undoubtedly become a craze across Ireland and beyond. The app allows players to explore the real world with their smartphones in the hunt for virtual Pokémon characters. A recent Forbes poll shows that 69% of Pokémon GO …

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Managing Attendance While Controlling Absenteeism: A Guide for Irish Employers

What is absenteeism?  At its simplest, it’s when an employee is not physically present – though there is also the “presenteeism” of employees being physically present but not adequately focussed on their work.  This could result from a lack or limit on paid sick time, or indeed worry at how their absence would be perceived.  According to Professor Ciarán O’Boyle, …

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Be very careful when moving to dismiss!

An employer had an employee about whom a colleague has made a complaint.  The nature of the complaint?  The employee was “preaching religion to his work colleagues and to members of the public”.  The employee did not deny this. The employer gave him a verbal warning and told him that it was unacceptable for him to preach to colleagues or members …

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The Role of the HR Function in Fraud Prevention and Detection

This post is the 2nd in a series on workplace fraud.  The first post outlined how a company should deal with a fraud that they believe has been perpetrated against them by one of their own employees. This article will examine how the HR function can play a pivotal role in helping to prevent or at least significantly reduce the risk …

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The Enemy Within: How Should a Company Handle a Case of Suspected Fraud?

The economic downturn in Ireland has increased the financial pressure on people.  PwC partner Bob Semple said in 2009 that “No organisation or industry is immune from the threat of fraud….In these tough times, the temptation to take part in a fraud may overcome ethical values.”  Or as Andrew Brown from Deloitte put it, “think of the current pressures that …

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Where is the ROI in having an Information and Consultation Forum?

This post is the 4th in a 4-part series on Information and Consultation Forums (ICFs).  The first post outlined some reasons for proactively establishing an ICF and also described the benefits that can flow from having an ICF in the workplace.  The second post discussed how to set up a robust ICF that is fit for purpose.  The third post …

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Information and Consultation Forums Positively Impact in the Workplace

Irish employers are faced with a large and increasing raft of employment legislation. These pieces of legislation can result from Government initiatives. Others have arisen from the need to update or replace earlier legislation. But the triggers are not all internal to Ireland. Some arise by virtue of our membership of the EU. For example, an EU directive from 2002 …

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Workplace Stress: Can Your Business Afford a Personal Injury Claim?

Mental health conditions include stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.   In extreme cases there is also the risk of suicide. Employers have a duty towards their employees – to protect them from injury and to provide them with a safe environment in which to work. These are not un-related.  The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act of 2005 …