Employment Country Comparative Guide 2018

This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to employment and labour law in Ireland.

It will cover termination of employment, procedures, protection for workers, compensation as well as insight and opinion on the most common difficulties employers face and any upcoming legal changes planned..

1. Does an employer need a reason in order to lawfully terminate an employment relationship? If so, describe what reasons are lawful?

Under statute, Irish employees with more than one year's continuous service (inclusive of their notice period entitlement) are protected against the termination of their employment without fair reason (an "unfair dismissal"). In certain circumstances, the employee does not require one year's continuous service to be protected under statute, for example dismissal by reason of unlawful discrimination.