Every three months we update you with some of the key developments in employment law and practice affecting the Northern Ireland workplace in the quarter.

You’ll find many more learning points on the Northern Ireland Employment Law Hub, but here are a few highlights from quarter 4 of 2021 - click on the links below to find out more:

• It's back! Legal Island's Comparative Employment Law Table made a welcome return to the NI Employment Law hub. It was originally published for our Annual Review of Employment law in November. If you missed this event, there’s still time to purchase a digital video and notes bundles of all the engaging sessions. Just contact vanessa@legal-island.com.

• Vaccines dominated the news in Quarter 4 with 7 in 10 HR Directors mandating staff covid vaccinations, regardless of legal advice to the contrary.

• Working from home is good for you, no wait……… it’s bad……………..conflicting views across Quarter 4 with articles saying that commuting can help improve work-life balance but on the other hand, working from home boosts career progress! With that in mind, maybe a hybrid approach suits you better? The Labour Relations Agency published their helpful guide to hybrid working. And be sure to check out the Employment Law at 11: Hybrid Working Special.

• Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins, never shy of courting controversy, claims parents who work from home are as bad as benefits cheats. While another (more sympathetic) article suggests that parents productivity drops if they feel ashamed over their parenting duties.

• Mr Mullins may want to beware as it’s reported that workers call the shots as job vacancies boom in what has been termed the ‘Great Resignation’ with a quarter of employees planning to move jobs within 6 months. Staff shortages are particularly bad in the hospitality sector with multiple 13-hour shifts becoming the norm. Catch up with the Employment Law at 11 webinar on the Great Resignation with Seamus McGranaghan of O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors.

• The Assembly made some moves towards implementing the long-awaited Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill 2021.

• Elsewhere in Stormont Junior Ministers Declan Kearney and Gary Middleton welcomed the inaugural Disabled People’s Parliament as a powerful new platform for people with disabilities.

• The Autumn Budget 2021 was published and there were many employment-related changes announced to keep an eye on in the coming year. Meanwhile, south of the border, the Irish Government published its (very impressive) legislative programme for Autumn 2021

These and many more stories can be found on the Legal Island Employment Law hub here.