Message from / The CEO ISME Welcomes / New Members ISME / News Training Courses / Course Updates
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Dear Member, Unfortunately, as we enter March, war has commenced in Ukraine. Aside from the dreadful cost in human life, this war will greatly increase prices, especially for energy, it will hit asset values, and it will prompt a refugee crisis. It is very hard to predict downstream effects of conflict, but please conduct a risk assessment for your business. We have now seen the lifting of almost all pandemic restrictions with effect from 28th February. There are still some people who will have reason to carry on mask wearing in workplace settings, so please accommodate their wishes. In the meantime, we await an update in the Government’s Transitional Work Protocol to detail how employers are to accommodate the new arrangements. Given the fact that blended working, and working from home are going to be a feature of work patterns into the future, we look forward to guidance from the HSA, the WRC and the courts on how issues of responsibility and liability will be handles by employers and employees into the future. This is an area that employers cannot be asked to “fend for themselves” in terms of employers’ liability. If Government agencies do not give some comfort as to the limits of employer liability, employers are far less likely to be flexible in promoting working from home. Retail members in particular will be glad to hear that our pressure for Defamation Act reform is producing some results. However, we are not happy that the proposals go far enough. In particular, we need to see Government introduce “fair trial rights,” a serious harm test, and a cap on damages. Given the sheer number of developments on the HR law front over the last number of months, we have decided to organise a series of HR Monthly Updates. We encourage you lor a member of your staff to tune into these updates, where professional legal guidance on current topical issues will be given. From a 2019 that was blighted by Brexit uncertainty, which was followed by two years of pandemic restrictions, to a war in Ukraine, we have gone through an extended period of uncertainty. I hope things improve in the near future, and wish you all the very best.
Neil McDonnell | CEO | neil@isme.ie
NEW MEMBERS: NEW MEMBERS
New members:
Access Net Technologies Almotech Ltd Cafe Solo Casino Royale Courtmacsherry Machinery Ltd. DCS Group Players Leisure Limited Spice O Life Limited TONA Commercial Interiors Ltd t/a CBI
NEWS NEWS Networking online
ISME is coming to the North West
The first Pitch my business of 2022 will take place on Thursday 3rd March at 10.30am. This online networking event is free and open to all. As an attendee you can network and promote your company and your business logo and contact details are shared on screen. Register here.
We are delighted that our first in-room event in 2 years will take place in The Landmark Hotel, Carrickon-Shannon at 3.30pm on Thursday 7th April. The programme will include a discussion on key local issues, a session on PR Insights for SMEs from Heneghan Strategic Communications and will finish with Pitch my business networking event. We invite all businesses in the North West to attend and you can book your place here.
Pensions Equity Campaign Q&A View back here our webinar on 10th February with ISME CEO, Neil McDonnell and Eamonn Kielty, Managing Director, Money Plus who discussed why ISME’s Pension Equity Campaign is so important and how businesses can get involved. The discussion was chaired by broadcaster, Vincent Wall.
ISME’s Monthly HR Update Series Introducing ISME’s Monthly HR Update Series with Cait Lynch, ISME’s HR Advisor and Tracy O’Brien, ISME’s HR trainer. This 10-part series has been developed to help business owners and their staff deal with HR responsibilities in order to navigate the ever-changing HR landscape. The first webinar of the series was held on Friday 25th February and focused on Managing a remote or hybrid workforce. You can watch a recording of this session here. The next webinars in the series include: • Absence Management, Income & Sick Pay on Friday 25th March, 8.00-9.30 am, book here. • Contracts and Handbooks Wednesday 27th April, 8.00-9.30 am, book here. These events are delivered via Zoo with 45–50minute presentation followed by a Q&A session. Questions can be sent in advance when completing the registration form when booking the course. Each course is €30. To book click here.
View on demand If you missed our recent webinar on Returning to Work: New Guidance for Employers & What the Courts are Ruling with barrister Katherine McVeigh, you can view a recording of the seminar here. You can also view Managing a remote or hybrid workforce with Tracy O’Brien & Cait Lynch here.
NEWS NEWS Promote with ISME The next issue of The bISME is out in May and we are taking booking for ads now, view details here. We offer reduced rates for members. Don’t forget our Shop Local B2C and B2B platforms, advertise your products and services by completing the form here. This is a great opportunity to promote your business and inclusion is free with your ISME Membership. Take a look at the portal here You can also upload your business news and job vacancies in the Members Area. For further information please email Marketing@isme.ie
ISME responds to reports of Defamation Act Reform While ISME welcomes the announcement of measures proposed to reform the Defamation Act, we are concerned they do not go far enough, and will not address the adverse finding made by the European Court of Human Rights about our defamation laws. Recent media coverage indicates that Minister McEntee will shortly publish a report on defamation reform, which will include proposals for a Defamation Amendment Bill. Her report includes a recommendation to include anti-SLAPP provisions (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), which will be welcomed not only by the media, but by associations such as ISME which are regularly threatened with vexatious lawsuits as a result of lobbying activity. In order to be effective, an antiSLAPP provision needs to be robust, must fully reverse the burden of proof onto the plaintiff, and should include penalisation of the plaintiff where a court finds their lawsuit to have been abusive or vexatious. Read full details here.
ISME expresses concern over reports of scaled back Ministerial trips for St Patrick’s Day 2022 ISME has expressed its concern at reports that Government intends to pare back the number of Ministers travelling abroad for St Patrick’s Day this year. While acknowledging that the pandemic is far from over on a global basis, ISME believes that it is vital that our Government avails of the unique opportunity presented by the marking of St Patrick’s Day, after two years of restricted trade. Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME said: “We ask that media outlets refrain from portraying these visiting delegations as junkets: they are an essential part of selling Ireland abroad, a function which we consider to be a basic duty for the executive. Ireland is back in business, and St Patrick’s Day 2022 is the perfect opportunity for the Irish Government to deliver than message internationally.” Read more here.
COVID 19: Government Guidance Update On 22nd February the Government announced that most of the public health measures currently in place can be removed including the mandatory requirement to wear masks, however the public health advice that masks should continue to be worn on public transport and in healthcare settings remains. Read the full details here.
ISME in the news You can view a selection of ISME’s media coverage in January and February here.
NEWS NEWS Remote Working Bill 2021 On 25th January, An Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar TD published details of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021 which provides a legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing a request for remote work can be based. Details of the general scheme of the draft Bill, along with the regulatory impact assessment can be found on here.
ISME calls for integration of the Taxation and Social Welfare systems ISME sent a submission to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare calling for the integration of the taxation and social welfare system. ISME has highlighted how the taxation and social welfare system are inherently interlined for the taxpayingcitizen, but has noted that the pace of reform in Ireland is too slow. You can view the full submission here.
InterTradeIreland’s Venture Capital Conference 2022 - Opportunity Island Last chance to register for InterTradeIreland’s 21st Venture Capital Conference. The virtual event will take place on the 14th and 15th March and the theme for this year is ‘Opportunity Island – Scaling on the island of Ireland.’ Taking place over two half days, attendees will have the opportunity to gain insight into the Venture Capital Industry and hear from world-class companies which have started and are scaling from the island. Including insight into the entrepreneurial journey - sourcing teams, growing sales and raising capital while participating in workshops on the fundraising process, pitch decks, term sheets, EIIS and post investment investor relations. The two-day virtual programme includes: Insight into the Venture Capital Industry Monday 14th March, Live Broadcast from 2.45pm – 5.00pm. Speakers will focus on the current themes and trends in the venture capital industry in Europe and Ireland. •
Hear from the European Investment Fund and the Irish Venture Capital Association.
• Opportunity for live questions and online discussion
Upskill your employees with free online training supports from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland To help your business get started on your energy saving journey, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has developed free online training supports. The SEAI Energy Academy can help you reduce your energy costs by 10% or more by educating employees on changing their energy use behaviours and effective energy management. To register click here
Scaling journeys - For entrepreneurs planning to access capital for starting or scaling their business Tuesday 15th March, Live Broadcast from 9.15am – 2.30pm Hear about the entrepreneurial journey from speakers and panels in some of the leading best start-ups and scale-ups on the island. • Several of the most active sources of Accelerator,
Seed and Angel capital on the island will discuss their strategy, portfolio and how to approach them. • Experienced venture investors will deliver workshops
on Series A pitch decks and term sheets. • Opportunity to sit in an exclusive AMA (Ask Me
Anything) roundtable with scaling founders. Book your place here.
NEWS NEWS TV advertising for SMEs free webinar TAM Ireland – the industry body responsible for overseeing the measurement of TV audiences, has created a free webinar about TV advertising for SMEs on Wednesday 2nd March at 12.30pm. In this session they will focus on TV’s ability to generate growth with limited budgets. The speakers include with Mark Hopkins, Hopkins Communications, Emmet Reidy, Advantage Media, Fergal O’Connor, Buy Media HQ and Malcolm Murray, Sky Media
.
Sales Ireland. Book here
HSA’s COVID-19 Response Plan Supports The COVID-19 Response Plan template and Good Practice checklists, available to view here, have been prepared to help employers, business owners and managers to continue running their workplaces safely, and to help workers, in particular the Lead Worker Representative understand what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The template and checklists have been drafted, based on the Government’s advice and the Transitional Protocol – Good Practice Guidance for Continuing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. The Transitional Protocol reflects the most recent public health advice, and it is the current guidance for the safe return and continued safe operating of workplaces. The template and checklists should be read in conjunction with the guidance. Employers, workers and their representatives are encouraged to continue working together to help continue to keep workplaces safe. The Response Plan template and Good Practice Checklists will help you to do that.
Guide on EU funding for tourism This online guide highlights the wide range of funding programmes financed by the new budget, multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, and Next Generation EU. It contains links to relevant EU programme websites with the latest developments (such as annual work programmes or calls for proposals) and further details per programme. For inspiration, you can also see concrete project examples funded by previous EU programmes. Find out more here.
.IE Digital Town Awards 2022 People and towns across Ireland are being called on to enter the annual .IE Digital Town Awards 2022, which celebrate the digital achievements of local towns and citizens across the country. Now open for applications, the .IE Digital Town Awards has a total prize fund of €100,000 across 14 categories to honour local towns and people that, through digital projects and innovation, have contributed to enhancements in areas such as e-health, digital tourism, community, education, and digital business. The .IE Digital Towns Awards 2022 is an initiative of .IE, the managers of Ireland’s trusted online .ie address. Award categories • 10 of the awards will be for digital projects in local
towns. • Two special awards – Digital Changemaker and Digital
Rising Star. • Digital Hero Award - a person in your community who
is an unsung hero working tirelessly on initiatives to promote the digital enhancement of your town. • The overall winner will be selected from the category
winners. Entry to the Awards is free, applications close at 5pm on Friday 25 March 2022. ENTER HERE NOW
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Upcoming Short Courses PowerPoint Template Masterclass – how to create a template using the Slide Master Date: 02-03-2022 Microsoft Excel Refresher Essentials Dates 22-03-2022 Excel: Creating And Working With Pivot Tables – An Introduction Date: 29-03-2022 PowerPoint Video Creation Masterclass – how to create an MP4 video (PowerPoint version 2019, 2021, or 365) Date: 30-03-2022 to 01-04-2022 Creating Videos with your mobile phone Date: 04-04-2022 to 05-04-2022 Excel: Multiple Sheets And Charts – An Introduction Date: 04-04-2022 Excel: Dashboards And Data Visualisation Date: 27-04-2022 to 27-04-2022
Find out more >
ISME’s HR Update Series 2022 This newly created monthly HR update series has been developed to help business owners and their staff with HR responsibilities to navigate the ever-changing HR landscape. We will address new policy changes and provide learning on important topics to give businesses the confidence that they are following the correct procedures.
Your HR experts are ISME’s HR Advisor Cait Lynch, and ISME’s HR trainer, Tracy O’Brien Delivered via Zoom, they will give a 45–50-minute presentation, and we will facilitate a Q&A thereafter Cost for the entire series of 10 updates €200. Sessions can also be purchased individually for €30.
Information about the next two sessions: Absence Management, Income & Sick Pay | Friday March 25th, 2022 – 0800-0930 •
Learn how to manage absence due to illness effectively
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Get top tips on how to reduce absence in your business
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Understand what you need to have in your absence policy
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Know what your legal obligations are regarding sick pay
Contracts and Handbooks | Weds 27th April 2022 – 0800-0930 •
Understand which policies you need to update to ensure that your business is complying with recent changes to legislation
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Find out where to put your policies – which ones must be in your contracts of employment and which ones form part of a staff handbook
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Did you know that there are numerous pieces of legislation governing terms and conditions of employment? – find out how to ensure that you are compliant with all of these with two easy steps
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Learn about the steps to follow to change terms and conditions
BOOK HERE