Recruitment Trends
The future of flexible and home working has been a hot topic since the pandemic forced workers out of offices almost two years ago.
This month, the approval by the Cabinet of The Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 gives people the right to request remote working, with an independent appeals mechanism proposed if an employee is refused a request.
As part of the proposed legislation, employers will be required to publish a written policy on the right for employees to work remotely. Employers must also give “due consideration” to the request for remote working but may decline the request on “reasonable business grounds”.
An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar is reported as saying that the “presumption is that an employer should facilitate remote working but that otherwise a reason is required”, with 13 potential reasons proposed for an employer to refuse the request.
This bill comes at a time when, with almost all Covid-19 restrictions lifted, employers and workers are looking towards a reopening of offices.
A recent CSO Pulse Survey, carried out in November 2021, shows that 80% of respondents have worked at home at some point since March 2020, with 65% working remotely at the time of responding.
Those who were working remotely reported a higher quality of work-life balance, with 81% reporting having more free time due to working from home.
In fact, a recent survey by Indeed found that 56% of people polled would only apply for flexible jobs, or those that allow them to work remotely.
We’ve previously reported that the National Recruitment Federation found that job seekers now rate flexible working more highly than bonuses, with the majority giving flexible working equal importance to the salary on offer.
In the meantime, this week has seen the release of return to work guidance by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The guidance advises consultation with worker representatives, consideration to be given to permanent hybrid working arrangements, as well as supports for employees nervous about returning to the office.
The guidance urges a cautious approach and, while the requirements to maintain a two-metre physical distance and to adopt pods of six for indoor events have been removed, good practice around distancing and ventilation continues to be encouraged.
Here at Spot we foresee that the ability to work remotely, whether on a full-time or hybrid basis, will continue to be a key negotiation discussion in recruitment activity for the foreseeable future.
In The Market
Fenergo, the Dublin-headquartered Fintech set to create 61 new Irish roles
The Fintech is creating 100 roles globally on the back of strong financial growth. The Irish roles are set to be “borderless”, which means that they can be carried out anywhere in Ireland.
IDA reports strong Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) job creation in 2021
A recent press release by the IDA highlighted “substantial growth in FDI in 2021 with highest employment creation figures ever in a single year despite the continued impact of Covid-19.”
Ireland won 249 investments in 2021, 104 of which were new entrants to the Irish market, with a net increase of almost 17,000 jobs.
Revolut set to step up in the wake of the exit of Ulster Bank and KBC, with banking operations to be extended to Ireland
Revolut has decided to expand its banking operations to Ireland under its full ECB bank license, which was granted in December of 2021. The first product to be offered will be a personal loans service, with other lending products, such as credit cards, likely to follow later this year. It will also be able to offer bank accounts that are backed by the €100,000 Lithuanian deposit guarantee scheme.
With the departure of Ulster Bank and KBC from the Irish market, competitiveness (or lack of) has been a frequent discussion point — therefore, Revolut’s extension of its activities to encompass day-to-day banking is likely to be welcomed.
New Dublin Campus for Google to accommodate 1,700 workers
Google’s EMEA headquarters are in Dublin, with 8,000 employees. Dublin City Council has, this week, granted planning permission to Google to develop and increase capacity in a campus at Grand Canal Street Lower, with an additional 7,802 sqm of office space to be added.
Two new tech “unicorns” to create Irish jobs following successful fundraising
Flipdish, the digital food-ordering platform, earlier this month secured $100 million investment from Chinese conglomerate Tencen, with the company now valued at $1.25 billion. The business is reportedly set to create 700 new tech jobs, many of which will be in Ireland.
And, this week, Dublin-based Wayflyer, which provides e-commerce financing, was valued at $1.6 billion following a $150 million investment. The company expects to double its headcount to 500 people by the end of the year, with many of the new roles expected to be based in Ireland.
SPOTlight on…
The Great Resignation and its impact on recruitment in 2022 (and beyond).
Upward pressure on salaries expected, as job vacancies soar.
The term “Great Resignation” is said to have been coined in 2021 by Anthony Klotz, an associate professor at Texas A&M University.
With the Covid pandemic causing countless workers to re-evaluate the design of their work and life, the increasing trend of resignations, with the resulting growth in job vacancies, has been seen across many countries — including Ireland.
We’ve previously highlighted the unprecedented growth in Irish job placements in 2021, which appears to be continuing unabated into 2022. In fact, Sigmar is predicting the biggest challenge to the jobs market in 2022 to be a shortage of talent.
And, of course, with talent shortages, comes salary pressure.
Morgan McKinley has recently published their 2022 salary guide, which expects salaries in certain sectors to rise by 5-10% this year, with rises of up to 15-20% for particularly in-demand niches.
Key insights from the same report support the key themes of the Great Resignation, including:
82% of Irish professionals are considering changing job in the next 6-12 months.
75% of professionals would consider leaving their role if their flexible working preference wasn’t granted.
Recent data from the irishjobs.ie jobs index shows that employers are paying attention to the trend, with a 420% increase in talent acquisition and HR-related roles on the site in Q4-2021, as companies look to bolster their recruiting teams.
Although we’re only a month into 2022, all indications point to the fact that we’ll continue to see a candidate-led market this year.
While the shortage of talent and upward pressure on salaries is undoubtedly a challenge for business, there is also an opportunity for employers to attract talented candidates who are seeking flexibility and a positive working culture.
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Here at Spot, we’re on hand to support you in your talent acquisition in 2022.