Month: February 2023

Irish consumers look to jet off as new Revolut data suggests the revival of the travel agency

The latest monthly consumer spending report by Revolut, the global financial super app with more than 2 million customers in Ireland, reveals that the average consumer in Ireland is spending 17.8% more, year on year.

The relaxation of covid restrictions and a surge in holiday bookings led to strong performances across travel (67.7%), entertainment (15.8%), and shopping (22.6%). However, the rate of inflation also saw spending on utilities increase by 15%, year on year.

Despite the rise in the cost of living, consumers in Ireland have boosted their generosity. Donations to charity increased by 14.6%, and 8.9% more people gave to charity in January 2023, compared to January the previous year.

In January 2023, supermarket consumer spending increased 14.3%, year on year. The rise in supermarket consumer spending is even more significant in the context of last year’s covid restrictions. Furthermore, bakeries continue to grow in popularity, as the number of customers increased 43.3%, year on year, and consumer spending increased 47.6%.

Restaurants saw a 32.5% increase in consumer spending, as the number of transactions increased 30.4%, year on year. Fast food restaurants saw a more modest increase in consumer spending of 19.1%, year on year.

Additionally, takeaway delivery services saw a 30.9% increase in consumer spending, year on year, despite the average customer not spending more in this year in comparison to 2022. The rise in consumer spending can be attributed to the rise in the number of customers, which has increased by 33.3%, year on year.

In entertainment, museums increased their number of customers by 70.2%, year on year, and saw consumer spending increase by 120.4%. Cinemas (28.3%) and theatres (59.6%) saw increases in the number of transactions, and consumer spending increased by 35% and 45.3%, year on year.

Despite the rise in spending on entertainment outside of the home, spending on digital entertainment including films, tv and music also increased by 13.8%, year on year. However, spending at book shops decreased by 17.2%.

Revolut travel data suggests the resurgence of the travel agency. In January, the number of customers booking holidays with travel agencies increased by 178.3%, year on year, and consumer spending increased by 158.1%. Additionally, spending on hotels (35.8%) and airlines (55.5%) increased, year on year. Spending on cruises increased by 144.5% and saw a 39.9% increase in the number of customers making bookings.

The January sales helped to increase shopping, as clothing stores saw a 23.5% increase in consumer spending, and 20.5% more transactions, year on year. Similarly department stores saw a 14.9% increase in spending, and furniture stores saw a 21.5% increase. Furthermore, it was cosmetics stores that saw the biggest increase, with spending up by 40.8% and transactions up by 38.9%, year on year.

Stores that didn’t fare so well were florists which saw spending decrease by 2.5%, and sweet shops where spending decreased by 11%, year on year.

A Revolut spokesperson said: “Despite inflation boosting the rise in consumer spending, the relaxation of covid restrictions has contributed to the increased number of customers and transactions across several industries.

“From trips to the theatre, refreshing wardrobes in the January sales, and dining out, it’s encouraging to see that consumers are finding ways to budget for treats and experiences. Furthermore, January saw a huge rise in travel spending and the revival of the travel agency.”

Lack of role models, education and training opportunities are stopping Irish women from working in tech

New research by HelloFresh Ireland has found 42% of Irish women between the ages of 16 and 27 are unlikely to pursue a career in tech, citing too many barriers to entering a career in the industry. The world’s leading meal kit company and integrated food solutions group conducted a survey of 1,000 young people, in partnership with Kantar*, to understand how young people in Ireland perceive a career in the tech industry. HelloFresh recently launched in Ireland, marking the company’s 18th market launch as part of its global growth strategy.

The survey found one in five (19%) of young women felt discouraged from entering the tech sector because their gender put them at a disadvantage. Three in four women (76%) said the tech sector is dominated by men, and only 61% of men think the same way.

The women surveyed said there is a sense of prestige that comes from working in the tech industry thanks to its associated perks and benefits (61%), job prospects (65%) and opportunity to have a positive impact on society (27%). However, HelloFresh found that the majority of women (54%)  don’t think their current skillset is suitable for the industry. In total, one in three (34%) women admitted that they didn’t know how to enter the field.

Role models were identified as an important factor in encouraging more women into the tech sector with 58% of respondents saying they would like to see better representation of women in tech leadership positions. Respondents also mentioned that access to training and scholarships (50%) and support to build skills (37%) would help them enter the sector. HelloFresh is in its second year of running a Women in Tech scholarship programme, which includes mentoring and financial support.

Annie Meininghaus, Senior Vice President of Product at HelloFresh, commented: “I’m not hugely surprised by the findings of this survey, with many women who have pursued tech having already faced these challenges. I enjoy being part of a company that recognises these struggles and actively supports women pursuing careers in technology. I’m looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of Women in Tech scholarship recipients, and further increasing the diversity in the tech sector.”

HelloFresh will re-launch the Women in Tech program this year and double the number of participants, offering more women the chance to step into a tech career from a non-tech background. The company has hired six women from different tech and coding bootcamps, who will work in Frontend and as Data Analyst interns in Berlin. In addition to the paid internship, the women are provided with a scholarship of 10,000 Euros each to support their educational and living costs. Each intern is assigned a woman mentor from HelloFresh’s tech team.

Suzi Filipowska, former Women in Tech scholarship participant and Frontend Engineer at HelloFresh: “Coming from a non tech background, it was daunting to change my career path, however through the Women in Tech scholarship at HelloFresh I was able to do so. Now, I’m continuing my career in tech as a junior engineer at HelloFresh, and I couldn’t be more happy to do so.”

With its Employee Resource Groups, including the Gender Equality Team, HelloFresh fosters a diverse and empowering working environment among their 21.000+ employees from 90+ nationalities. With a third of HelloFresh’s Germany-based technology team identifying as women, HelloFresh is far above the national average of only 17% of women working in tech. The company committed to the Women Empowerment Principles (WEP) established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women.

Wireless Charging Electric Vehicles Is Safer Than Plugging In, Reports IDTechEx

The most common method of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) used today is accomplished via low to high-frequency (30 kHz to 30 MHz) time-varying magnetic fields. This may also be referred to as ‘inductive WPT’ or ‘magnetic field WPT’. Wireless chargers operate far below the radio frequencies which are present all around us. Unlike high-energy (ionizing) radiation, electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) in the non-ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum cannot damage DNA or cells directly.

At the frequencies used for wireless EV charging, magnetic fields are impervious to air, water, ice, concrete, wood, plastics, and other common non-metallic materials. They pass through these objects and the human body without any interaction or causing any harm whatsoever. This also allows for hermetically sealed designs that are safer and more robust than are possible with contact-based or wired charging. A wireless system also minimizes the risk of electrocution and trip hazard. The latest report from IDTechEx includes detailed coverage of the standards and safety features around wireless EV charging systems.

Author – Shazan Siddiqi – Technology Analyst IDTechEx

 

Active Shielding Methodologies

Shielding is important for the safe operation of wireless EV chargers. The following problems may occur without shielding: the magnetic field may interfere with the EV or other objects, cause battery heating, and circulate current in metallic parts. There are two basic methods for shielding against low to medium-frequency magnetic sources, which includes the use of ferrites to provide magnetic flux directionality and aluminum plates to minimize field leakage. IDTechEx research interviewed various players in the industry and found that shielding is mainly added under the transmitter pad and above the receiver pad. The report finds that instead of radiating EMF, players are recycling the magnetic field and containing it within the pads because it is resonant, highly coupled, and shaped.

Foreign Object Detection (FOD)

The safety of wireless EV chargers is further enhanced by using foreign object detection (FOD) and living object protection (LOP) systems. These systems identify any metallic objects between the transmitting and receiving pad and can suspend power transfer. This is important as metal items, even small objects such as paper clips or coins may heat up and pose a burn risk. FOD can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, capacitive sensors in the pad can be used to monitor the performance of the coils. A metal object on the pad changes the capacitance, allowing its presence to be detected. That does not necessarily detect organic objects, such as an animal on the pad in a garage, though. Optical sensors around the edge of the plate using infrared LEDs and photodiode detectors or even Lidar can be used to detect both metal and organic objects on the pad and switch off the charging process if an obstruction is detected.

Categories of FOD methods used in wireless EV charging systems. Source: IDTechEx

IDTechEx research finds that it is important for players to be mindful of interoperability, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and safety from the early stages of the development process. Knowing the requirements and standards in place is essential to ensuring that products are compliant and that product redesign and testing time and the cost is minimized. The report “Wireless Charging Market for Electric Vehicles 2023-2033: Technology, Players and Forecasts” provides insights on the industry R&D status along with the outlook for future developments.

Netskope expands presence in Ireland with new Dublin data centre

Netskope, the SASE leader, today announced an extension of its NewEdge network with the opening of a new data centre in Dublin, Ireland. Serving millions of enterprise users around the world, and with full-compute data centres in more than 60 regions worldwide, NewEdge is the world’s largest, and highest-performing security private cloud. NewEdge powers the real-time, inline security services of the Netskope SASE platform allowing security to be deployed at the edge where and when it’s needed.

Placing data-centric security as close to the user as possible is a key requirement of a SASE-ready architecture, and the delivery of world-class Security Service Edge (SSE) and software defined networking (SD-WAN) capabilities. As well as improving the experience for Netskope’s local customers, the new data centre in Dublin is a strategic investment for the company given Ireland’s unique position in the data landscape with access to the EU market and close proximity to trans-atlantic internet cables. With companies increasingly demanding choice over where and how their data is processed, having a presence in Ireland gives Netskope’s NewEdge network a strong competitive advantage.

Netskope customer Adam Hoffmann, IT Infrastructure Manager at Mercury Engineering, based in Dublin commented; “We chose Netskope over a year ago to secure both web and cloud applications for our pan-European workforce. They were very clear about the intentions and timelines for the addition of local infrastructure in Ireland and now they have delivered on that promise. Netskope was already improving the experience of our teams, and when the local Dublin data centre came on line it immediately added even further to that improvement for our 1,000+ employees based in Ireland.”

Brian Murray, who leads Netskope’s business in Ireland said; “Its geographical and political location is making Ireland a key strategic jurisdiction for the tech industry and with the opening of this data centre in Dublin, Netskope is well placed to deliver the best in class SASE solution for new and existing customers in the region. Robust SASE solutions backed by local data centres are important for all organisations that require clear oversight over their data, wherever it goes, in order to meet stringent data policies both inside and outside the EU.”    

To support the new data centre, Netskope is actively recruiting in Ireland for both Irish and flexible pan-European roles in engineering, sales, marketing and HR, with the aim of doubling its headcount in the country over the coming year. The new centre coincides with the expansion of Netskope’s Irish customer base, which already includes major customers in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical and retail sectors.

Netskope’s NewEdge architecture ensures there are no performance trade-offs when implementing security features.  A crucial part of the infrastructure that underpins a SASE security and networking architecture, balancing security and user experience reduces the risk of users working around security controls, productivity being negatively affected, or business processes being slowed down or impeded.

Every NewEdge data center is extensively peered with the most commonly used web/content-delivery networks, cloud, and SaaS providers to deliver fast, optimised access to the content, apps, and data enterprises most care about. For example, every NewEdge data center is directly connected with Microsoft and Google, plus other peering relationships in key regions with Amazon, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Box, and Dropbox, among many others.

As the infrastructure underpinning the Netskope Security Cloud, NewEdge delivers real-time inline and out-of-band API-driven services spanning Cloud Firewall (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Cloud and SaaS Security Posture Management (CSPM/SSPM), Borderless SD-WAN and more.

To learn more about Netskope’s NewEdge, visit https://www.netskope.com/platform/newedge.

One-Zero Sports and Technology Conference returns to Dublin in March 2023

Attendees of the One-Zero conference at the Aviva Stadium on the 29th and 30th March will be treated to some fascinating insights from sports, business and technology thought leaders. The event has just confirmed several new speakers to the line-up, including Thomas Ryan, VP of Basketball Strategy and Analytics at the NBA, Will Symon, Head of Partnership Development at Tottenham Hotspur, and Keily Blair, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at Only Fans.

Ryan’s role at the NBA is to manage the Technology and Innovation function, which focuses on advancing and growing the game through cutting-edge initiatives, products, and partnerships. Symon has over a decade of experience in Premier League and global motorsport, having previously held senior commercial roles at Formula 1 and Formula E before taking responsibility at Spurs for delivering commercial growth across a variety of partnership verticals.

Blair’s role at internet content subscription service Only Fans is to formulate, drive and communicate the company’s strategic initiatives and future goals to users, commercial partners, and other key stakeholders. She will be speaking at One-Zero about how Only Fans provides a safe and innovative platform for athletes and sports training.

Also confirmed in the speaker line-up is former professional footballer Marvin Sordell, who retired from the game aged 28 to prioritise his mental health, before co-founding film production company Oneighty Productions and influencer marketing agency SWOOP. With other guests announced today including Tobi Wakefield, the Managing Director of Jlingz Sports, one of Europe’s foremost E-Sports organisations, and Sam Jefferies, Commercial Director of Norwich City Football Club, the three-day conference is set to attract some of the biggest names from international rights-holders, sponsors, brands and agencies for learning, networking, and collaboration opportunities.

Speaking at the reveal of further exciting guests today, One-Zero Chairman and Co-Founder Ross O’Dwyer said, “It’s incredible to be able to announce such a strong calibre of guests as One-Zero makes its long anticipated return to Dublin. Each speaker offers their own unique perspective based on their own experiences in the sports, business or technology sectors, and we are confident that every attendee will leave the Aviva feeling they have learned something. Our aim is to deliver cutting edge guests and we aren’t done yet. We will be announcing further exciting speakers very soon.”

Will Symon, Head of Partnership Development at Tottenham Hotspur said, “I’m excited to attend this year’s One-Zero to talk about the increasing convergence of sports and technology. At THFC, the topic has never been more important as we roll out new technologies at our state-of-the-art stadium, increase digital touchpoints with our fans and enhance the performance of our athletes.”

Tickets for the event are available via www.one-zero.com, with an early bird offer of €249 (ex VAT) running until the 28th of February.

Survey shows inability to switch off is the biggest obstacle to productivity in Irish workplaces

Storm Technology, the business technology consultancy, today announces the findings of a new survey which reveals that the biggest obstacle to productivity in Irish workplaces is people’s inability to disconnect/switch off. In fact, more than half (51%) of IT decision-makers identified it as one of the main barriers.

The other biggest obstacles cited by respondents were virtual meeting overload (49%), relying on manual processes (42%), the inability to collaborate with colleagues (35%), and a lack of effective IT solutions (33%).

The survey – conducted by Tech Central on behalf of Storm Technology and involving more than 100 IT decision-makers from the larger enterprises and businesses across Ireland – found that some 30% also view worrying about security protocols as an obstacle to productivity. Meanwhile, 22% identified a greater number of distractions when working remotely as a barrier and the same proportion said working irregular hours.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Irish enterprises are set to spend an average of €1,588,720 on modernising the workplace in 2023. This marks a significant rise from the estimated average spend on modernising the workplace in 2022 which was found to be €848,765.

In terms of 2023 IT budgets, priority areas will be collaboration and productivity tools, with over two thirds (69%) of IT leaders set to focus on these. Security and compliance (64%), and cloud infrastructure (53%) rounded off the three key areas for investment this coming year.

Supporting hybrid working is the leading driver of workplace modernisation for 78% of organisations, with more than half (52%) of respondents viewing Microsoft as the most comprehensive solution suite to support the needs of hybrid/remote working. The other top drivers of workplace modernisation are enabling people to be more productive (71%) and delivering a better employee experience (55%).

Aiding communication and collaboration is a driver for 53%, as is enhancing service delivery for 51%. Meanwhile, some 27% of IT leaders said that creating a 100% remote working environment is a top reason for workplace modernisation, while almost a fifth (18%) said instilling better company culture was a key driver.

It seems that data governance is another area that requires improvement with the study showing that 61% of respondents find it challenging to uphold standards of data governance in their organisation. Furthermore, a quarter (25%) don’t think their company manages data effectively and more than one in ten (12%) businesses don’t have a strategy in place for data loss incidents.

Speaking about the findings, Mick McKay, Chief Operating Officer, Storm Technology, said: “Irish enterprises are still getting to grips with the workplace as we know it today and many issues remain, not only in terms of supporting productivity and collaboration but also company culture, customer service and data governance.

“As well as implementing technologies and automating processes which allow people to be productive and collaborative, business leaders must establish an environment which aids work/life balance. That means allowing them to focus on core tasks, rather than filling up diaries with virtual meetings. It also means being mindful of their time, both in and out of the workplace. For example, emails might suffice for some virtual meetings and communication with staff out of hours could be easily avoided.

“Technology should be deployed to support and enable work/life balance. Allowing people to switch off also benefits business. By modernising the workplace with effective technologies and strategies which uphold employee experience, strengthen company values and reinforce governance, you can deliver more value for your customers, drive business growth and maximise your return on investment.”

Loewe Technology announces partnership for We.HEAR & klang mr speaker ranges with Select Tech Group

Loewe, the audio-visual pioneer founded in 1923, has announced a commercial partnership with Select Tech Group to stock the prestigious brand’s We.HEAR range and klang mr series of high-quality speakers. With 28 stores across UK and Ireland, Loewe’s premium audio products are now available both in-store and online at the region’s largest reseller of Apple products.

Expanding Loewe’s platform in the region, the partnership continues the heritage AV brand’s growth after re-entering the UK market in 2021. The Loewe product range has similarly increased, introducing the We by Loewe range and additional bild and klang products as well as the high-end Loewe iconic TV, set for sale later in 2023. 

The partnership connects two reputable organisations whose values of innovation and long-lasting quality are closely aligned. Select aims to inspire a wider community to discover the power of Apple products by working closely with customers, educational institutions and businesses to reach the most cost-effective solutions. 

Alan Whyte, Managing Director at Loewe UK, commented: “Apple is synonymous with aspirational luxury, and high performance. As the biggest Apple Premium Reseller in Western Europe with 28 stores across UK and Ireland, we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Select Tech Group.“

“They are providing Loewe with a unique platform to get our brand in front of a huge group of discerning consumers. At store level, their teams are extremely knowledgeable, and focus on giving exemplary customer service. Couple that with beautiful store environments in keeping with the Apple brand, our audio products are given the best possible chance to shine.”

Dedicated to providing an unparalleled in-store and online customer experience, Select invests over 10,000 training hours per year. 

Jason Smith, Group Retail Director at Select Tech Group, added: “I have always held luxury heritage brands in high regard. With 100 years of history, their handmade in Germany ethos, and emphasis on sustainable, high-quality materials, Loewe hits all the markers of the ideal companion brand for the Select customer. 

The We.Hear speaker range, in particular, makes Loewe more accessible than ever, and reflects the true essence of the curated audio line up at Select; innovative, unparalleled and unique. We look forward to continued growth in this exciting partnership.”

Loewe We.HEAR 1 is currently available at Select in-store and online for £99 while the We.HEAR 2 is priced at £159. The Loewe klang mr1 is on sale for £349 while the mr3 and mr5 are listed for £549 and £649.

 

www.loewe.tv 

Sennheiser announces the HD 660S 2 audiophile headphones

Sennheiser’s updated HD 660S2 expands the capabilities of the 600-series family, the longstanding benchmark for high-performance audiophile headphones. Sennheiser responded to the hi-fi community’s feedback, crafting a headphone that skillfully balances reference-level detail with engaging frequency response. The headphones features a more dramatic listen with greater intensity from enhanced sub-bass tuning, extracting dynamic impact and emotion from audio enthusiasts’ favourite recordings. The updated acoustics offer a delightful new way to experience music all over again.

“Our new Sennheiser HD 660S2 offers listeners what they requested most from the headphones’ predecessor,” says Jermo Koehnke, Sennheiser Audiophile Product Manager. “With precision and power like no other and new sensitivity across all frequencies, listeners will hear details they’ve never heard before, especially at the lower end of the spectrum.”

 

The depth and drama audiophiles crave

​Improving on a beloved classic while retaining its best traits was a challenging task, starting with the lowest end of the frequency plot. The HD 660S2’s warm bass characteristics pair perfectly with its silky-smooth treble performance and trademark vocal presence, allowing the timbre and uniqueness of any instrument part to stand out.

Across the entire frequency spectrum, the HD 660S2 delivers a refined listening experience thanks to improved transducer airflow and a refined voice coil. From thunderous timpani crescendos to pulsating EDM rises, even the most discerning audiophiles will notice the depth and nuance of low-frequency passages, adding dramatic flair to any type of music. Ultimately, listeners are treated to deeper, clearer bass without sacrificing the expansive detail the series is known for. By reducing the voice coil’s weight, impulse response improves, bringing hyper-realistic textures to the forefront of any performance reproduction. The overall experience is smoother and warmer than the original HD 660S, thanks to ​ that reduces the distances between select peaks and troughs. The overall impedance matches that of the HD 600 and HD 650, at an audiophile-friendly 300 ohms, for punchy dynamics and impressively low distortion.

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A fit for the long haul
​Designed in Germany and manufactured at Sennheiser’s state-of-the-art Ireland production facility, the HD 660S2 continues the series’ emphasis on quality, functional design using materials that contribute to the hi-fi experience. Plush earpads and cushy headband padding place the revised 300-ohm transducers at the optimal distance from the ear resulting in a spacious soundstage with an abundance of detail – even for extended musical exploration. The transducer surround drops the resonant frequency from 110 Hz (original HD 660S) down to 70 Hz for hefty kick drums that move with ease. Even the outer mesh grilles are crafted to manage airflow at the ideal impedance for exquisite open-back listening sessions.

Versatile enough to connect to vintage classics and modern solutions alike, the HD 660S2 ships with two 1.8 meter (5.8 ft) user-detachable cables that terminate to 6.3 mm (1/4-inch) single-ended stereo and 4.4 mm balanced stereo jack plugs, respectively. A 6.3 mm to 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) adapter is also included, for use with popular hi-fi gear from DAC-amps, DAPs, and dedicated amplifiers such as the Sennheiser HDV 820. Distinguishing bronze accents complement the elegant jet-black finish, all of which is protected by a storage pouch.

Pricing and availability
​The Sennheiser HD 660S2 will be available for pre-order globally from 8th February 2023 and will go on sale 21st February 2023, with an RRP of £499 / €599.

More than four in five workers would not be comfortable with webcam monitoring – one in two say it’s a “huge invasion of privacy”

Almost four in ten (39pc) workers would choose a higher-paid job over a job which allowed them to work from home, while more than one in three (35pc) would choose the job that allowed them to work from home. Furthermore, remote working is more important to female workers in Ireland than their male counterparts.

These are some of the findings of a nationwide survey commissioned by employee benefit and pension specialists Lockton Ireland.

The survey, which polled more than 700 workers in Ireland’s labourforce, found that most people (69pc) believe that workers should be entitled to work from home – if their duties can be performed remotely. Less than one in three (31pc) believe it should be up to an employer to decide whether or not an employee can work from home. Women in particular believe workers should have the right to work from home, with more than three in four (76pc) stating this – compared to just over six in ten (63pc) men.

Three in four survey respondents (74pc) said they would not be comfortable turning on their webcam while working from home if requested by their employer to do so – with almost half saying they would refuse to turn such a device on as they would consider it a ‘huge invasion of privacy’.

The Privacy Issue

Commenting on the findings, Ray McKenna, partner with Lockton Ireland, said:

“Our research shows just how important working-from-home (WFH) has become to so many people – and within such a short timeframe too. The WFH trend was the biggest change to hit the world of work in decades, perhaps centuries. It has completely transformed how people work. It allows people to organise their work around their life and work when they’re at their most productive. This in turn should allow people to work alongside the challenges which life throws their way, to work for longer, and to pursue multiple careers if they wish. It will also open up opportunities for people who may have struggled to participate in the workforce before.”

“Despite the strong support for the WFH option, less than one in seven (16pc) people would be prepared to turn on a webcam at the request of their employer – even if failure to do so would prevent them from being able to work from home. It shows just how uncomfortable the thought makes Irish workers. Any employer considering going down this path should be very careful. The issue of webcams has proved to be a contentious one of late – last October, a Dutch court awarded a man €75,000 in compensation after his American employers insisted he kept his webcam turned on throughout the working day.”

Women and Working From Home

The Lockton survey also found that men were more likely to choose a higher-paid office-based job than a lower-paid WFH job – with 44pc of men saying they would opt for the job that paid the higher salary. Just over one in three women (35pc) said they would choose the higher-paid job.

“Almost four in ten female respondents said they would choose workplace flexibility over a higher salary. This is a clear indication of just how instrumental that option could be when it comes to keeping women in the workplace,” said McKenna. “More needs to be done to encourage and facilitate female participation in the labour force. Currently about 60pc of females are in the workplace – compared to 71pc of males.The barriers for female participation in the workplace are well documented. The cost of early childhood education and childcare in Ireland is one of the highest in the EU.

“Traditionally, much of the responsibility for childcare in this country has fallen on women – and while men are playing a more active role today than previous generations did, women still take on much of the childcare. It’s no surprise then that many women take a step back in their careers when they have children and that options such as part-time work are often pursued by females.

Lockton referred to a recent report by the European Commission which found that the number of women participating in the labour force in Ireland has reached a record high due to a shift to remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. McKenna advised,

“To ensure women have equal opportunities in the workplace, it is crucial that employers at least consider the WFH option for all employees, where those jobs can be completed from home. This would also give more men the opportunity to work from home too, should they wish to – which will also help level the gender playing field around childcare and work opportunities”.

Other highlights from the Lockton Ireland’s Workers survey include:

  • More women than men would have no problem with a request to turn on a webcam (30pc versus 21pc) – with those aged 55 and older the more likely age cohort to have no problem with this term of employment (47pc versus 20pc of those aged between 35 and 44).
  • 44pc of people aged 25-34 would opt for the higher salary if they had a choice between a job with a higher salary and a lower-paid WFH job. This compares to 22pc of those in the 35-44 age bracket – perhaps a suggestion that people of this age have young families, so their priorities have changed in terms of what they need from their job, making them more likely to choose the WFH option.