Mental health, work-life balance, and environmental sustainability are top concerns amongst Irish workers as yet another survey reveals people are opting for the benefits of hybrid working en masse. 

A recent report by the parent company of IrishJobs.ie, highlights that a good work-life balance remains a top priority, a sentiment echoed in numerous other studies to date.

This latest report found that nearly half of Irish jobseekers (47%) would turn down a role if it didn't offer hybrid or fully remote working options, a significantly higher proportion than the global average of 29%. Additionally, 61% of Irish jobseekers would reject an attractive job offer if they were left with negative impression during the interview process. 

Environmental and sustainability initiatives are also important, with nearly one in five jobseekers willing to reject a job offer from employers lacking such initiatives. Furthermore, 30% would decline a job that doesn't include mental health or wellbeing benefits. 

The report, titled How Work Preferences Are Shifting in the Age of GenAI, draws on survey data from over 150,000 respondents across 188 countries, including 1,746 from Ireland.  

This most recent report adds to a series of findings underscoring the importance of flexible and hybrid working patterns for Irish workers.  

The 2023 Remote Working in Ireland survey, conducted by the University of Galway and the Western Development Commission, found that 92% of respondents considered remote and hybrid working a key factor in their decision to change employers. Over half (55%) said they would switch jobs if their preferences weren't accommodated, even at the cost of promotion opportunities. 

Fórsa’s policy and research officer Aisling Cusack, commented: 

“Much of this research matches what we already know in the union.  A revealing survey of 1,058 Fórsa Revenue branch employees in December 2023 showed the widespread normalisation of hybrid working in the department.”

“A majority of 803 participants spent only 1-2 days per week in the office, while just 93 adhered to a full-time office-based schedule. Most participants attributed blended working options to improvements in their work and personal lives and believed that a four-day work week would further improve their quality of life.” 

The Irish trade union movement has been at the forefront of pushing for a legal framework enabling flexible working arrangements. Initially, the original Work Life Balance Bill was criticised as "fundamentally flawed" by Fórsa and ICTU, citing the 13 grounds for refusal gave employers with an “unfettered ability to turn down a request," without considering the interests of the employees.  

The Work-Life Balance Bill enacted in March 2023 aligned Ireland with other European countries regarding the right to request remote work. This act provides the right to request remote working for all employees and flexible working arrangements for parents and carers.   

Aisling continued: “Though we all know the benefits of these new models of working, workers in Ireland don’t have a guaranteed right to work from home—the final decision still rests with the employer.

“There’s also a danger with remote work that employees will be expected to pick up on tasks or check in on messages at all times and that brings with it the potential for serious stress.  Trade unions were intrinsic to the development of a Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect, which sets out a code of practice to protect staff from work encroaching too much into their lives.” 

“Workers have fought hard to strengthen their legal protections to a healthier work-life balance, and recent improvements to legislation and the Code of Practice means that employers can no longer ignore a worker’s individual needs with regards to when and where they work. Anyone facing pushback on these rights should contact their union.” 

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