The Government is facing renewed calls to change its proposed law on remote working.
A meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has heard concerns about the draft bill, which is designed to give employees the right to request remote working.
Remote working body Grow Remote told the committee that the Government should consider financial supports for businesses, should make drastic changes to the list of reasons for refusal and should broaden the grounds for appeal.
"We encourage the committee to allow for appeals to the WRC to be based on the substantive decision of the employer, not merely on procedural grounds," said Joanne Mangan of Grow Remote.
"There are many employers who are still sceptical about remote work and we urge the committee to strengthen the legislation so that employers must have a firm rationale for refusal that is based on objective and measurable reasons," she said.
The concerns were echoed by committee member and Labour Senator Marie Sherlock who criticised a measure in the proposed bill that requires workers to be employed with a company for six months before they can request remote working.
"This is simply unacceptable and fails to grasp the reality of how work in Ireland is organised," Senator Sherlock said.
Unions have said that the 'Right to Request Remote Working Bill' is stacked in favour of the employer when it comes to grounds for refusal and grounds for appeal.
Employers have questioned the need for the legislation and have warned that it may result in additional administrative burdens for businesses.
The Government has said that it will listen to the concerns of stakeholders as it prepares its remote working legislation.
It is currently expected that the new law will be enacted by the summer.
