Ireland Update: Latest Guidance On Office Return

Since 20 September, employees have been permitted to return to Irish offices for specific business requirements on a phased and staggered basis. Further restrictions were scheduled to be lifted from 22 October, allowing for a full return to the office and removing the requirement for physical distancing. However, a significant increase in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks has meant that the current guidance for offices is likely to remain in place until spring 2022.

There has been some inconsistency between advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team ("NPHET"), comments made by individual members of the Cabinet sub-committee on COVID-19 and Government guidelines. The purpose of this article is to explain the steps office-based employers can take to manage a phased and cautious return to the office for specific business requirements.