As Irish employers consider increasing office days, the question remains: how much time should people spend in the workplace? For some, the office fuels collaboration and culture; for others, flexibility is too valuable to lose.
Employees cite commuting costs, time, and caring responsibilities as key concerns. Whilst there can be clear operational reasons for businesses to require in-person presence, office days must be purposeful. Clear communication around the “why” helps align expectations.
Under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2023, employees now have the Right to Request Remote Work and to Request Flexible Work for Caring Purposes. Employers must respond within a specified time frame using a defined process, taking into account both the needs of the employee and reasonable business grounds. This reflects the changing work environment and the growing emphasis on supporting employees with work-life balance.
Examples which show contrasting approaches:
- AIB plans to require hybrid staff in-office 3-days weekly from January 2026, sparking criticism from the Financial Services Union over work-life balance and costs.
- Aerlytix offers remote work and a “work-from-abroad” allowance, with strong engagement results.
The return-to-office debate isn’t about reverting to 2019—it’s about designing work for today. Employers who treat hybrid as a strategic choice, not a compromise, will be best placed to retain talent and drive results. Check for more The HR Suite
Supporting Remote & Hybrid Teams – Time Point Solutions
To help organisations effectively manage flexible and hybrid work arrangements, Time Point provides a comprehensive suite of workforce management solutions designed to simplify administration, ensure compliance, and improve visibility across all working models.
1. Time & Attendance
Automate the tracking of employee working hours whether they’re on-site, hybrid, or fully remote. The system offers real-time visibility into attendance patterns and enables accurate reporting for payroll and compliance. Managers can easily monitor hours worked, overtime, and breaks—ensuring fairness and consistency across the organisation.
2. Absence Management
Streamline how you manage annual leave, sick leave, and other absences. Timepoint’s absence management module reduces administrative burden by allowing employees to submit requests online while giving managers instant approval workflows and absence trend insights. This ensures compliance with Irish labour regulations and supports better workforce planning.
3. Employee Self-Service
Empower your workforce by giving employees control over their schedules, time-off requests, and attendance data through an intuitive online portal. This transparency fosters trust and accountability, reducing manual queries to HR and enhancing employee engagement—particularly valuable in distributed teams.
4. Access Control & Payroll Integration
Integrate secure access systems with attendance and payroll data to maintain full control over who enters specific locations and when. Seamless integration with payroll software ensures accurate wage calculations, eliminates duplication of effort, and reduces costly errors—all while strengthening data security and compliance.
Together, these solutions enable Irish employers to confidently navigate the evolving world of hybrid and remote work—balancing flexibility, accountability, and operational efficiency.