The Times reports that trade unions are to begin talks with the Department of Public Expenditure about the potential of reaching a new pay deal for the country’s 340,000 State employees.

The Revenue Commissioners has denied the existence of a gender balancing policy in its recruitment after figures revealed that women are taking the vast majority of Principal Officer positions in recent times.

A “zero tolerance” policy and a new concept of disclosure are among proposals that University College Dublin (UCD) has put forward to deal with sexual harassment in the university. The university acted after the publication in 2019 of a national consent framework on ending sexual harassment and sexual violence in third level education.

The Cabinet is expected to finalise the date on which all pubs can reopen, which is likely to happen later this month. It comes as publicans, hoping to reopen their premises, yesterday protested outside the offices of some Government ministers.

The Indo reports on Spain’s introduction of legislation to give remote workers the right to disconnect, flexible work hours, equal promotion opportunities & to require companies to pay for home-office equipment.

KPMG have formally withdrawn their settlement offer to Debenhams workers. Debenhams shop stewards had earlier this week written to their union Mandate describing a potential deal with the liquidator to give workers additional redundancy payments as "an insult to members" which should be rejected. 

Production of Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodger biscuits could be halted at an Edinburgh factory this month as staff strike over pay, the GMB union has warned. The union accused Burton's Biscuits, which also makes Maryland cookies, of making a "derisory" pay offer that had "insulted" workers.

SIPTU has included a demand for a mandatory Living Wage and sick pay scheme for workers as part of its pre-budget submission for the childcare sector, launched yesterday.

Google has abandoned plans to rent office space in Dublin's Docklands for 2,000 employees. The global tech company has confirmed reports that the lease will not now go ahead. In July, Google extended its work-from-home policy until the summer of next year, in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

And finally,  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that Mairead McGuinness is to be Ireland's new European Commissioner. She will take over the Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union portfolio.

Our zen this morning is both entertaining and educational.See the short clip below. 

Have a good day folks.