Question 1

What does the Work Life Balance Bill 2026 do?

Accepted Answer

Employees gain day-one right to request flexible and remote working; employers must approve or reject within 4 weeks based only on specified business grounds, replacing current discretionary refusal rules. Repeals Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 and Part IIA of Parental Leave Act 1998; amends redundancy, dismissal, and working time laws to protect flexible work arrangements. Protects employees from penalisation for requesting flexible work; disputes resolved via adjudication officer or Labour Court with remedies including compliance directions and compensation.

Question 2

What stage is the Work Life Balance Bill 2026 at?

Accepted Answer

As of 8 May 2026, the Work Life Balance Bill 2026 is at Second Stage in 34th Dáil. Once a bill passes every stage in both Houses of the Oireachtas and is signed by the President, it becomes law.

Question 3

Who introduced the Work Life Balance Bill 2026?

Accepted Answer

The Work Life Balance Bill 2026 was sponsored by Sinéad Gibney, and was introduced on 7 May 2026.

Work Life Balance Bill 2026

What this bill doesAI · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

Stage timelineWhat do these stages mean?

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