The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment requested the WRC, under Section 20 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, to prepare this Code of Practice.
The WRC has prepared this Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Right to Request Flexible Working and the Right to Request Remote Working, as required by Part 4, Section 31, of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. When preparing the Code, the WRC sought representations from trade unions and employer representative bodies and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
The purpose of the Code is to provide practical guidance to employers, employees and any other persons as to the steps that may be taken for complying with one or more provisions of Part 3 of Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 Act, which includes provisions regarding requests for remote working arrangements, and also with Part IIA of the Parental Act 1998-2023, which includes provisions regarding requests for flexible working arrangements for caring purposes.
As set out by Part 4, Section 31, of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, the Code of Practice shall be admissible in evidence in proceedings before a court, the Labour Court or an adjudication officer appointed under section 40 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015.