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38% of Irish don’t feel appreciated in their workplace

New research conducted by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) for World Employee Appreciation Day, March 4th, indicates that over a third of Irish employees (38%) don’t feel appreciated in their workplace.

The NSAI survey also found that 73% of workplaces do not provide regular team building activities, while almost a quarter (21%) said they feel their organisation is not committed to health and safety in the workplace.

Half of all respondents said they do not know what their organisation’s strategy is for the next three years.

This is according to a survey of 219 people who took part in an online survey, 156 are employees, 45 are managers, while 18 described themselves as an employer.

Thirty two percent admitted they are not offered any training or upskilling opportunities in their workplace, while a quarter (25%) said they do not have the opportunity to give their manager feedback on their job.

NSAI is running information seminars throughout 2016 for organisations who wish to learn more about Excellence Through People. This guide provides organisations with the tools they need to ensure their employees are motivated, developed and working to their full potential. It is Ireland’s only certification scheme for effective human resource development.

The scheme is available to all organisations, regardless of size, in both the public and private sectors. Certification is achieved by organisations that have best practice human resource systems in place, particularly in the area of staff training and development, communication, and staff involvement in the decision making processes in the organisation.

Head of Excellence Through People at the NSAI, Michelle Browne said, “Training new staff is costly, and employers use all manners of techniques to boost worker morale and help retain employees and their valuable expertise. As the Irish economy recovers and more companies set up in Ireland, it is vital organisations invest in their greatest asset, their employees.

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Ireland stands at a crossroads in terms of tax policy warn experts

The President of the Irish Tax Institute, Mary Honohan, has claimed that Ireland’s income tax policy must be geared towards attracting the talent needed to match the substance requirements for companies operating here.

Honohan has also claimed that key policy platforms in the EU and the OECD are moving in parallel. This means the tax decisions that Ireland makes at home is increasingly important.

Ms. Honohan made these comments to the 1,000 tax advisers, business leaders and policy makers who attended the Annual Dinner of the Irish Tax Institute at DoubleTree by Hilton, Dublin.

Ms. Honohan further claimed that a personal tax regime that keeps Irish business competitive and meets the needs of both employers and employees is paramount.

For more on this article, please visit: Business World

Employment levels could reach pre-recession peak

One of the longest-established economic research firms in Ireland , DKM, have today released their ‘Snapshot of Economic Forecasts’ which gives a comprehensive outlook for the Irish economy based on the latest projections from 13 leading sources, including both Irish and key international bodies such as the IMF, EU and OECD.

The report forecasts that GDP will grow at a higher rate than any other Eurozone member at 4.7% in 2016 and 3.9% in 2017. The growth is primarily driven by consumption, investment and exports.

Exports are set to grow strongly in 2016 and 2017, at 5.6% and 5.4% respectively, as net exports are set to contribute positively to growth.

Furthermore, the report indicates that unemployment should fall to 8.1% and 7.3% in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Youth unemployment is additionally on a downward trajectory reaching 20.3% in January 2016, down from the 2012 peak of 30.9%.

Domestic demand growth is taking over from export growth as the main driver of increased incomes and employment. Domestic demand is set to expand by 5.1% and 4.0% in 2016 and 2017, which is the fastest in the Euro Area.

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ISME call for legislation to prohibit strikes in public utilities and essential services

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) yesterday condemned unions for making “unrealistic” pay demands and holding employers and the general public to ransom in pursuit of “unsustainable” claims.

Speaking after the release of the CSO Industrial disputes figures yesterday, the ISME have called on the Government to legislate to prohibit strikes in public utilities and essential services.

During 2015 there were 32,964 days lost to industrial disputes. This compares with 44,015 days lost in 2014 according to Central Statistics Office figures.

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50% of Irish don’t believe any political party has a strong job creation policy

IrishJobs.ie have released new research which shows that almost 50% (49.2%) of people (both employed and unemployed) don’t believe any political party has a strong job creation policy.

This is according to their latest Jobseeker Sentiment Survey which has been released a day before the general election. It shows that 36% of people feel that a new Government will not have an impact on job creation while only 20% feel our political parties are equipped with adequate job creation strategies.

Twenty eight per cent believe Fine Gael are the best party to create employment. Ths is followed by Sinn Féin on 16% with Fianna Fáil and the Social Democrats tied on 12% and Labour on 8%.

In total, 46% of people believe the jobs market is continuously improving and 60% of unemployed people said they will not emigrate for work in 2016.

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Clare Local Enterprise Week 2016

It was announced yesterday that Clare Local Enterprise Week 2016 will take place from March 7th to 11th at various locations around the county.

The weeklong series of business training workshops and networking events is aimed at informing, advising and motivating businesses and potential entrepreneurs in relation to the range of supports and opportunities in Clare and is the first to be hosted by Local Enterprise Office Clare.

It will kick off on Monday 7th March with a Primary Course in Food Safety at Scariff Co-Op (09.30am-1pm), Start Your Own Business Programme at Westpark Shannon (9.30am-4.30pm) and a Patents Workshop at Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis (midday-4pm).

On 8th March there will be a Business Breakfast at the Oakwood Arms in Shannon (7am-9am) followed by the Student Enterprise Awards County Final at Treacy’s West County Hotel (9am-2pm) and a Local Enterprise Office Clare information event in Kilrush (7pm-9pm).

The 9th of March will see a Facebook Adverts Workshop in Miltown Malbay (09:30am-4.30pm), Business Clinic for Owner/Manager of Food Businesses at The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon (5pm-8pm) and a Start Your Own Business Programme at The Junction Building in Ennis (6-9pm).

On 10th march, a Discover Lough Derg Enterprise Bus will travel around the Lough Derg Area (9.30am-5.30pm), Áras Contae an Chláir hosts an event entitled ‘Why set up a technology business?’ (10am-1pm) and ‘Funding Options to Grow Your Business’ is the theme of an event at Treacy’s West County Hotel (5pm-7.30pm).

Finally, the National Enterprise Awards County Final will be held in The Rowan Tree, Ennis from midday to 3.00pm on 11th March where Clare’s representative for the National event will be selected. Last year, Clare’s representative Aine Knitwear, Clonlara won the National Best Design award.

For more on this article, please visit: Business World