CPDStore Ireland

Employment law and HR continue to evolve rapidly, with a number of significant legislative developments and emerging workplace issues affecting employers in Ireland during 2026.

This webinar will provide a practical overview of the key HR and Employment Law developments in 2026, focusing on the issues that are currently topical and the changes that employers need to be aware of. We will also look ahead to forthcoming developments and what employers should be preparing for as we move into 2027.

The session will cover a range of important developments, including Employment Permit changes, Gender Pay Gap Reporting and the move towards greater pay transparency, retirement age and longer working, statutory leave developments, collective redundancies and restructuring, protected disclosures, and the growing HR and employment law implications of AI and employee monitoring.

We will consider not only what the legislation says, but also what these developments mean in practice for employers and HR professionals, including key compliance considerations, potential areas of risk and practical steps organisations should be taking now.

The webinar will also highlight what is coming next, including forthcoming legislative and regulatory developments and emerging issues that are likely to shape the Irish employment landscape.

The webinar will cover the key developments affecting employers in Ireland during 2026, including:

• Retirement Age & Longer Working: The new rules and what employers need to consider when managing retirement and requests to work beyond contractual retirement ages.

• Employment Permits: Key changes to the Employment Permit system and what employers need to know.

• Gender Pay Gap Reporting: Current obligations and what employers should be doing with their results.

• Pay Transparency: Preparing for the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the implications for Irish employers.

• Statutory Leave Developments: Key updates to family, sick and other statutory leave entitlements.

• Collective Redundancies & Restructuring: Key employer obligations and common areas of risk.

• Protected Disclosures: Current obligations and managing protected disclosure complaints.

• AI in the Workplace: The impact of the EU AI Act and the growing employment law implications of artificial intelligence.

• Employee Monitoring & the Right to Disconnect: Managing the balance between workplace oversight, employee privacy and working time obligations.

• Independent Contractors v Employees: Employment status, associated risks and recent developments.

By attending this session, you will gain an understanding of the key employment law and HR developments during 2026, together with the practical implications for your organisation.

The session will help employers identify areas where policies, procedures and contracts may need to be reviewed or updated to reflect current legal requirements. Keeping these areas under review can help organisations manage compliance risks and reduce the potential for employment disputes and WRC complaints.

The webinar will also provide an opportunity to consider what is coming next, helping employers to prepare for forthcoming legislative and regulatory developments rather than responding to changes after they take effect.

Course level: Intermediate