The Government has announced a new strategy to make working from home a permanent option for worker all around the country.

The Remote Work Strategy will give employees a legal right to ask to work from home and introduce a legal code of practice on the right to disconnect from work.

Workers are already legally entitled to request remote working; however, new legislation to be introduced by September will force employers to give good reasons for refusing the request.

Workers will be entitled to take a case to the Workplace Relations Commission if they are not happy with the reasons for the refusal.

Under the strategy, the Government will also commit to investing in remote work hubs around the country, ensuring they are in locations that suit commuters and families.

"New and better normal"

Announcing the plan, the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the strategy will help people look forward to a “new and better normal incorporating all that we have learned from living our lives and doing business in a very different way” through the pandemic.

“Working from home has become the norm for many in 2020. We want to make remote, blended and flexible working arrangements a much bigger part of life after COVID,” he said.

“We’ve seen that there can be huge benefits – more flexibility, less commuting, more time for family and friends – and it’s better for the transport emissions and quality of life, but it has to be done right.

“Employment rights need to be updated, we need to give guidance, and in many cases, we need to provide actual physical working space.

“It also requires a cultural shift in favour of facilitating it as an option. This plan shows how we will bring all those parts together. I think it will make a real difference to people’s working lives.”

Remote work Strategy

Under the strategy, the Government will also “explore” the acceleration of the National Broadband Plan.

It will review the tax rules surrounding remote working and will lead by example in the public service – making home and remote working the norm for one-fifth of public workers.

The actions are all due to completed this year.