Employers have had to act quickly to manage the numerous workforce-related issues that arose as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If employees were to be retained during the lockdown, employers needed to consider whether any adjustments to the existing employment arrangements were desirable.

The Employment Relations Authority (the Authority) has recently considered two cases relating to actions taken by employers during the early stages of the Level 4 lockdown. The Authority’s determinations in these cases serve as a reminder that despite the challenges facing businesses, it is important not to lose sight of the need to comply with fundamental contractual and statutory employment law obligations.

By Michelle Hall Collins, Senior Associate