The Irish Times reports that the HSE is to hire a contractor to help pay healthcare workers still awaiting the Covid-19 pandemic bonus. The Department of Health says 121,487 workers have received bonuses, including 85,012 HSE staff and 36,475 at section 38 organisations. Staff at section 39 organisations have not been paid.  

The Irish Examiner reports some good news for workers at An Post, as the DPER minister approves a pension increase, backdated to the start of the year.

Elsewhere, the Business Post reports on Fórsa's letter, criticising a decision to unilaterally outsource some of the work carried out by members at An Bord Pleanála: "Fórsa, the trade union, hit out at what it claimed was a breach of local and national agreements, saying members would not cooperate with plans to hire external advisors to provide guidance to the board’s audit and risk committee on a contractual basis, and that such a move would “alienate” staff from senior board officials."

Meanwhile, the Limerick Post reports that the University of Limerick Hospitals Group has been fined €219,00 in 2019 for breaches of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) which stipulates that staff should not work shifts longer than 24 hours or more than 48 hours in a week. 

Zen

I had the misfortune of getting stuck on the M50 northbound on Saturday afternoon. I couldn't understand what was going on...then I noticed some of the occupants of the other gridlocked vehicles were dressed for what I could only assume was some sort of rodeo...

Have a great week.

Niall