Cost for small businesses would be too high: ISME

WHILE a four-day working week would certainly appeal to many employees, small businesses fear it could be a cost too high for them to bear.

According to the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME), it could be like giving employers a 20% pay rise in some cases.

ISME chief executive Neil McDonnell also pointed out that a four-day week for service industries such as hairdressers, pubs or GPs’ surgeries is simply not feasible.

Mr McDonnell told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘We’re not against a four-day week in theory, but employers are already bending over backwards to accommodate workers in the pandemic, with working from home and flexible hours.

‘Government needs to remember when drafting any legislation on this or the right to remote work that 96% of businesses in Ireland employ fewer than 19 people. The big companies are about 1% of employers.’

In its submission to the Oireachtas committee meeting this week on the Right to Request Remote Work Bill, ISME noted, ‘Remote working is already a fact of life in many thousands of businesses, and blended working arrangements are already being entered into contracts of employment. While we all, including employers, want to see living standards and work practices improve for employees, it cannot be at any cost’.