The Government has opened a public consultation on the right to request remote working, inviting submissions from workers and employers ahead of planned changes to the existing framework. The consultation, launched this week by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, will run until Monday 9th December.

Fórsa has urged members to take part, describing the consultation as a critical opportunity to shape policy following five years of unprecedented change in how work is organised. The union said the pandemic-triggered shift to remote and blended arrangements had permanently altered assumptions about productivity, service delivery, workplace location and work–life balance.

The union will host an online briefing for members to talk them through the consultation and the key points Fórsa will make in its submission. The briefing will take place on Tuesday 2nd December at 1pm. 

Fórsa campaigns director Kevin Donoghue said the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures underline the scale of this shift: “Despite slight decreases in the most recent figures, CSO statistics reveal that the proportion of people who work from home, at least sometimes, has risen from 20% in 2019 to nearly 36% in mid-2025. 

“The number who sometimes worked from home increased by 14% between early 2024 and the same period this year,” he said.

Kevin added that public debate remains vulnerable to distortion, pointing to widely criticised remarks by businessman Denis O’Brien last week, who claimed remote work has made graduates ‘entitled’: “These comments illustrate the risk of sliding back into old assumptions rather than learning from our shared experience. Too often, the debate reduces to a crude argument between those who recognise the opportunities remote work presents and those who portray it as a threat to productivity.

“Over the past five years, workers across every sector demonstrated innovation, flexibility and resilience, delivering services in new ways without any loss to the high productivity that characterises the Irish workforce. That lived experience should inform policy, not be dismissed for convenience,” he said.

He said the union acknowledges that remote work does not suit every role, but that Fórsa’s experience shows that well-designed blended arrangements support both service delivery and staff wellbeing. Younger workers, for instance, benefit from in-person mentoring, while hybrid models can reduce long commutes and ease housing-related pressures.

Fórsa also highlighted wider societal benefits, including easing congestion, supporting climate targets and enabling more balanced regional development. Local businesses in commuter towns have seen stronger weekday footfall as more people work closer to home.

Kevin said the Government’s existing legislation continues to prioritise the employer’s ability to refuse a request: “This consultation is a chance to reset the conversation.” 

“Remote and hybrid working has radically altered our view of where and how we work, and has revealed significant potential benefits to workers, families, our climate and regional economic development. The consultation process is a welcome one, providing an opportunity for workers to express their views and shape the future of work.”

You can access the consultation via the Department’s website here.

Register to attend Fórsa's online briefing on the consultation on Tuesday 2nd December here.

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