Sir, – In March 2020 the Covid outbreak saw employees being sent home from their workplaces for what was expected to be a relatively short period. Half a decade later a large number still haven’t gone back full-time. Blended or hybrid working now seems to be the new norm. With new legislation, workers have a right to request remote working, but it is at the employers’ discretion to agree to such a request. Remote work does not need to be carried out from Irish homes, it can be undertaken from any country in the world, where workers can be employed on lower salaries.

Source: The Irish Times January 27, 2026 12:06 UTC