A recent survey of Fórsa members in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has highlighted access to remote work and funding for further study as issues that workers want addressed.

The survey, carried out by the Fórsa branch, also highlighted clarity on secondments, promotion opportunities, workplace morale, and opportunities for staff to use relevant specialisms as issues for consideration.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini said concerns on remote work were understandable, as members want an assurance that opportunities for continued remote working post-Covid will remain in place and be improved upon.

“In cases where staff can do their work from home and want to continue with remote working, access to it can be greatly beneficial and promote a healthy work-life balance. We will wait to see what the central guidelines from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform state and use them to develop good remote working options for IHREC members,” he said.

Seán explained that clear guidance on funding for remote working also arose as an issue in the survey. “Members are seeking clarity on this issue for long term educational commitments, such as third level courses, such as a degree or a master’s programme. We will raise this issue for discussion within the established Industrial Relations guidelines within IHREC,” he said,

The branch committee is currently considering the other issues highlighted by the survey.

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