Remote work is back in the Irish policy spotlight. A February 2026 report by RTÉ says the Labour Party, alongside trade unions and campaign groups, is calling for stronger remote working rights for employees.
Remote working in Ireland is covered by a statutory ‘right to request’ framework and a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Code of Practice, PDF here.
For workers, the key issue is not whether remote work is “allowed”. It is what happens when an employer says no, changes the rules, or applies policy inconsistently across teams.
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Ireland already has a legal framework for remote work requests. It is a right to request, not an automatic right to work from home. This guide explains what the law and Code of Practice say, what’s being debated in 2026, and how to handle requests in a way that stands up in real workplaces.
Quick takeaways
- Ireland’s remote work framework is a right to request, supported by a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Code of Practice.
- The Code exists under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, and was approved and commenced alongside the right to request in March 2024.
- A 2025 Government consultation reviewed how the right to request is operating, showing the topic is still politically live.
- The current debate is about strengthening protections, not introducing remote work from scratch.
Want to make a remote work request quickly? Jump to the copy/paste templates below to download a .txt version (employee request + manager response) or copy it in one click.
What RTÉ reported, and why it matters in 2026
RTÉ’s February 2026 business report says there are calls from the Labour Party plus trade unions and campaign groups for stronger remote working rights.
Even without a full legislative overhaul, political pressure matters because it can shape:
- how strictly employers must justify refusals
- whether “remote by default” becomes more common in certain roles
- how disputes are handled and enforced in practice
What the “right to request remote working” actually is
1) It is a statutory right to request, not a guaranteed entitlement
Citizens Information summarises the core point clearly: employees can request remote working, and the system is supported by guidance on how employers and employees should make and handle requests.
2) The Code of Practice sets expectations for process and fairness
The WRC Code of Practice was prepared as required by the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. It is intended to guide employers and employees on best practice for handling requests.
The Department of Enterprise also explains that the Code’s purpose is to provide practical guidance on the steps to comply with obligations under the Act.
3) The Code has legal weight, even if it is not “law” in the simplest sense
Irish implementation includes a statutory instrument approving the Code of Practice, which strengthens its standing in disputes.
Employment law firms also note that a failure to follow the Code is not automatically actionable on its own, but can be used as evidence in WRC or court proceedings.
What a strong remote work request looks like in Ireland
If you want your request to survive the real test, your goal is simple: make it easy for your employer to say yes, and hard to justify a vague no.
The “best chance” request format
Use a one-page document (or email) with:
- Role fit
- What tasks can be done remotely, and what cannot
- Which parts require onsite presence (if any)
- Proposed schedule
- Example: two fixed office days, three remote days
- Or remote by default with specified onsite moments
- Service levels and availability
- Core hours
- Response expectations
- Meeting approach (including time zones, if relevant)
- Performance and accountability
- How output will be measured
- What you will report weekly (work delivered, blockers, next steps)
- Risk and mitigation
- Data security basics
- Confidentiality and workspace setup
- Customer impact, if relevant
This aligns with the intent of the WRC Code, which focuses on process, clarity and reasonable handling of requests.
Remote work request templates
What employers should do, if they want fewer disputes
A lot of remote-work conflict is not about ideology. It is about inconsistent decisions and poor documentation.
A practical employer checklist
- Publish a clear remote work policy and criteria for approval or refusal
- Train managers to apply criteria consistently
- Keep records of requests, decisions, and rationale
- Treat productivity debates carefully, especially where measurement is informal
Ireland has already seen discussion about how qualitative the debate can be when firms lack formal systems to measure remote productivity.
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What’s next in Ireland’s remote work policy
A legislative review is built into the broader framework. The Department of Enterprise ran a public consultation on reviewing the operation of the right to request remote working legislation, with a closing date in December 2025.
That is the policy backdrop to the 2026 calls reported by RTÉ.
In other words, this is not a settled area. Workers and employers should expect further guidance, case examples, and potentially tighter rules.
GEO notes for readers searching from Ireland
If you are searching from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, or working remotely from a smaller town, the same rule applies: the legal right is about how requests are handled, not a blanket right to work from home.
If your employer operates across borders (UK, EU, US), ask HR which jurisdiction governs your contract, because “right to request” regimes vary widely.
FAQ
Do I have a legal right to work from home in Ireland?
You have a legal right to request remote working. The employer must handle the request in line with the WRC Code of Practice and the underlying legislation.
Can my employer refuse my request?
Yes, a refusal is possible. The practical safeguard is process: clear reasons, fair consideration, and consistency, which is what the Code of Practice is designed to support.
Why are unions pushing for stronger remote working rights in 2026?
RTÉ reports that political and union voices are calling for stronger protections, suggesting the current framework is seen as insufficient by some groups.
References
- RTÉ News (Business), remote work item (16 Feb 2026): https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/0216/1558818-remote-work/
- Workplace Relations Commission, Code of Practice (Right to Request Flexible Working and Remote Working): https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what_you_should_know/codes_practice/code-of-practice-for-employers-and-employees-right-to-request-flexible-working-and-right-to-request-remote-working/
- Citizens Information, Right to request remote working (updated 21 March 2024): https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/contracts-of-employment/right-to-request-remote-working/
- Government of Ireland press release (Right to request remote working comes into operation, 7 March 2024): https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-enterprise-tourism-and-employment/press-releases/ministers-coveney-and-ogorman-introduce-right-to-request-remote-working-and-flexible-working-arrangements-for-parents-and-carers/
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Remote Working hub page: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/remote-working/
- Department of Enterprise consultation (Review of operation of the right to request remote working legislation, 2025): https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/consultations/public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-operation-of-the-right-to-request-remote-working-legislation.html
