James Cox

While the mandatory mask-wearing requirement is set to lift from Monday, February 28th, some employers will continue to require their staff to wear a mask and are within their rights to do so, according to an employment law solicitor.

A recent survey from human resource consulting firm Peninsula Ireland asked employers what their stance would be when the mask mandate is lifted.

Thirty-eight per cent said they would leave it up to staff on whether they would continue to wear a mask in the workplace, 32.7 per cent said they would keep masks as a requirement, and 28.5 per cent said they would ditch the old Covid rules.

Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan told BreakingNews.ie that employers who choose to continue with a mask-wearing requirement in the workplace are within their legal rights to do so.

He said all they have to do is conduct a health and safety assessment.

"The employer has to put in a health and safety assessment, but that’s not the hardest thing to do, they simply say we have immunocompromised people, we don’t know if everyone is vaccinated, and I can’t ask, therefore I’m taking a conservative line on it," he explained.

"They’re entitled, if the employer says this is a health and safety issue, they are entitled to be conservative, being conservative is the basis for health and safety, that’s why there are screen guards."

He added: "They won’t be getting rid of hand sanitiser, this is just another level where some employers will be looking to...

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