Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series

Episode 70 (Part Two): Key Employment themes and trends for 2026

In this two-part episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by senior associates Rachel Kenny, Jennifer Bassett, Colum Holland, Trina Dzidonu and Ciara Taggart to examine the key employment law changes and themes that will likely be across the desks of employers and HR professionals in 2026.
 
In Part Two, Bryan, Trina, Colum, and Ciara discuss recent developments in global mobility and immigration, trends in whistleblowing, and the growing impact of AI on WRC litigation, workplace processes and employer compliance.

Episode 70 (Part One): Key Employment themes and trends for 2026

In this two-part episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by senior associates Rachel Kenny, Jennifer Bassett, Colum Holland, Trina Dzidonu and Ciara Taggart to examine the key employment law changes and themes that will likely be across the desks of employers and HR professionals in 2026.
 
In Part One, Bryan, Rachel and Jennifer discuss the Pay Transparency Directive and the evolving landscape around return‑to‑office practices, flexible working arrangements and managing poor performance.

Episode 69: AI in employment disputes - challenges for employers

In this episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by partner Alice Duffy to examine the growing trend of employees using generative AI tools to draft workplace grievances, disciplinary responses and appeal submissions. The discussion explores the practical impact this is having on employers, recent WRC and Irish High Court decisions involving AI generated legal submissions, and the WRC’s new guidance on the responsible use of AI.
 
Bryan and Alice also outline practical steps for employers in managing AI generated complaints, the risks for employers deploying AI within HR processes, and the implications of the EU AI Act for workplace decision making.

Episode 68: Navigating the new EWC Directive

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment is joined by our newest partner, Rachel Barry, and senior associate, Colum Holland, to explore two significant developments for European Works Councils: the new EWC Directive and the landmark Irish High Court decision in the Verizon case.  The discussion covers changes to EWC rights, enforcement, cost awards, and practical steps for employers preparing for legislative change.

Episode 67: Protected disclosures explained – by the WRC

In the latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, explores a whistleblowing case in ‘A Finance Manager V A Charity’. The decision offers valuable insights into how an Adjudication Officer assesses whether a communication qualifies as a protected disclosure, and crucially, how they determine if an employee has been penalised for making one. It also sets out some of the key principles from the main case law in this area for employers to be aware of when assessing whether a protected disclosure has been made and also how to successfully defend any consequent penalisation claims.

Episode 66: Mandatory Retirement Clauses – the Employment and Pensions Law Issues for Employers

In the latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan and employment partner Ailbhe Dennehy to delve into the topic of mandatory retirement in the workplace.  The podcast looks at this issue from both an employment law and pensions law perspective.
 
This discussion addresses the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Mallon v The Minister for Justice, which appears to make implementing a mandatory retirement age more straightforward for employers. It also consider the pending legislation intended to regulate the use of mandatory retirement clauses and whether there is any major change for employers in this.

Episode 65: Pensions Auto-Enrolment

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow partner and Head of Pensions, Lorcan Keenan, senior associate, Conor Woods and associate, Trina Dzidonu on a special episode looking at the new Irish pensions auto-enrolment system, My Future Fund, due to launch in September 2025.
The discussion explores all aspects of auto-enrolment, including the eligibility and the enrolment process, the key differences between the auto-enrolment system and traditional pension arrangements, and key considerations and decision points for employers ahead of the new system going live.

Episode 64: Key Employment Law Themes for 2025

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by senior associates Ellen Nolan, Shane Gallen, Rachel Barry and Jill Barrett to discuss what we see as the key employment law and HR themes for 2025. The themes discussed include: the Pay Transparency Directive and how to prepare for these changes, the HR aspects of CSRD, new rules on the use of non-disclosure agreements, the changes at US parent level on D&I programmes, trends in remote working and finally anticipated new legislation in relation to mandatory retirement.

Episode 63: Executive Derailment

In the first of our Matheson Employment Law podcasts of 2025, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by two financial services industry specialists, Enda Allen and Una Hassett, on a special episode looking at recent research on the area of executive derailment in the workplace. The discussion explored what executive derailment is, why it happens, and preventative measures to help reduce it occurring, with a particular focus on how employers can significantly benefit from a greater awareness of how executive derailment can arise and how to address it early on.

Episode 62: AI In The Workplace: What Employers Need To Know

In this latest episode of the Matheson Employment Law Podcast Series, Bryan Dunne, Head of Employment, is joined by fellow employment partner, Alice Duffy, on a special episode looking at AI in the workplace. In particular, Bryan and Alice discuss how AI uses may pose a risk for employers. Also discussed is the new AI Act and resources available to help employers plan for its implementation.