Fórsa has welcomed the publication of a new Government ‘Blended Working Policy Statement,’ which would see the civil service switch from pandemic-related remote working provisions to long-term ‘blended working’ arrangements between September 2021 and March 2022.

Completing the full implementation of the Fórsa-won health and social care professional career pathway review, and achieving the appointment of an autonomous HSCP policy advisor in the health department, will be top priorities in a Fórsa HSCP strategy, to be unveiled at the end of the summer.

Discussions on the implementation of new hospital pharmacy structures, and associated pay scales, got underway between Fórsa, the HSE and the health department earlier this week.

Home help coordinator posts currently at grade VI level are to be upgraded to grade VII, following a successful claim by Fórsa utilising the HSE clerical administration job evaluation scheme. The new grading is effective from 9th October 2019.

Micheál Martin has said the Government is giving "active consideration" to some tangible recognition for healthcare workers' efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. It’s been speculated that this could come in the form of additional leave, though no specific offer has been made.

Employers with more than 250 staff will now have to report on the gender pay gap in their organisation after President Michael D Higgins signed the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill into law earlier this week.

Struggling renters are being left financially crippled by high housing costs, while affordability remains a significant issue, according to new research by the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB).

Fórsa has warned that strong State measures will be required to ensure that everyone shares in the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and other new technologies.