CIPD Ireland, the organisation representing HR professionals, said that winter may be the start of a new phase of remote working, shaped by soaring energy bills.
CIPD said the prospect of working in the office may become more attractive than ever to some people who are trying to bring down the cost of running their home, even if they have been happy to work remotely up to now.
This comes amid ongoing concerns about the cost of living in Ireland and how business is recovering from the worst of the pandemic.
The organisation's director, Mary Connaughton, says looming energy increases are giving employees and enterprise a lot of food for thought.
"We could be looking at a situation where workers want to spend more time in the office to better manage their domestic energy and electricity costs," Ms Connaughton said.
"We could see a situation where there is a seasonal aspect to demand for remote working - where more people want to be in the office in the winter to cope with their bills, but that’s less of a concern during warmer months," she stated.
She said this marks another aspect to the future of working in Ireland that employers and workers are navigating and which has not been obvious until now when there are no major pandemic restrictions but the rising cost of living is affecting everyone.
"We would urge employers to be as flexible as possible with their remote working policies at this time, and prioritise workers' well-being as we approach the winter months," she added.
