Employers are not fully adhering to ESG-related employment legislation and guidance, write William Fry lawyers Catherine O'Flynn and Eimear O'Leary
All employers have social obligations to their employees. These vast obligations range from ensuring employees receive a minimum wage to implementing whistleblowing procedures, all of which fall under the ESG (environmental, social and governance) umbrella.
However, a recent survey of more than 1,000 employees and 400 employers conducted by William Fry in conjunction with Behaviour and Attitudes, highlights that only 17% of employers understand their obligations. This should serve as a wake-up call to employers to implement policies to satisfy their legally-mandated ESG obligations to their employees.
An EU Social Taxonomy will be published in the near future, which will assess and ascertain certain employers' social credibility. Presently, an employer's ESG social obligations include adherence to the Organisation of Working Time Act, Terms of Employment (Information) Act and Employment Equality Acts.
Find out how key jurisdictions are responding to the ESG movement. Click here to read the ESG Law Over Borders ESG comparative guide
Significant recent and upcoming developments in domestic and EU employment legislation set the baseline for an employer's social obligations. These legal developments prioritise employee welfare, which place additional obligations on employers. By way of example, recently introduced regulations...
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