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Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.
View all Q4 2019 Global Guide Quarterly updates Download full Q4 2019 Global Guide Quarterly
Supreme Court Confirms When an Employee is Entitled to Legal Representation
Precedential Decision by Judiciary or Regulatory Agency
Author: Emmet Whelan, Partner - ByrneWallace
On November 11, 2019, the Supreme Court upheld last year's decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail v Barry McKelvey. The Supreme Court has confirmed that employees are not normally entitled to legal representation in disciplinary proceedings. Entitlement to legal representation will arise only in exceptional circumstances.
High Court Issues Judgment in Important Restrictive Covenants Case
Precedential Decision by Judiciary or Regulatory Agency
Author: Emmet Whelan, Partner - ByrneWallace
On December 23, 2019, the High Court dismissed a former employer’s attempt to prevent its departing chief operations officer (COO) from joining a rival company. The restrictive covenant stated that the COO would not join competitors for a year following termination of his employment. The High Court held that the clause was unenforceable, as it went beyond what the former employer had shown to be justified. The written judgment has not yet been released; we will provide a report as soon as it is.
High Court Clarifies an Employer’s Obligation in Respect of Sunday Pay
Precedential Decision by Judiciary or Regulatory Agency
Author: Emmet Whelan, Partner - ByrneWallace
Irish law provides that where an employee is required to work on a Sunday (and that fact has not otherwise been taken account in the determination of pay) the employee must be compensated by way of a Sunday premium payment, or paid time off in lieu. In a recent case, the High Court clarified that a statement in the contract that the rate of pay takes account of the requirement to work on Sundays was good evidence of compliance with Irish law on Sunday pay.