Tag: #employment

Taoiseach welcomes €750,000 funding from Google.org for nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities in Dublin

An Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD was at Google’s Bolands Mills campus this afternoon to address a group of graduates from the Ringsend, Irishtown, and Pearse Street areas.

An Taoiseach presented the fourteen graduates with certificates for qualifications across a diverse range of disciplines including nautical skills, training and development, and teacher training education. These programmes were delivered as part of the This City Works strategic plan, a local employment task force established by Google.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD was joined by Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, at the ceremony to announce further funding of €750,000 by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google.

The grant will enable training opportunities in the domains of digital support, AI prospects, nautical skills, teacher training education, enterprise development, career guidance, and personal growth. This is part of a strategic plan developed by This City Works and their local partners St Andrews Resource Centre, the Irish Nautical Trust and the Fair Play Anchorage Project.

Speaking at the event Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said:

“I am delighted to be here to see the continued impact that is being made by This City Works with Google and their local community partners. I have had the pleasure of visiting St Andrews Resource Centre [one of the partners we are recognising today]  a number of times in the past and it is heartening to see the results that these initiatives are having here in the local area.

Programmes like these embody the essence of what a community is,  being delivered and led by those in the community for those who live here. I want to thank Google for its further commitment to this important work.”

Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland said:

“I am proud that Google has been a part of the Ringsend and Pearse Street community for over 20 years now, and we remain committed to helping create meaningful, sustainable and long-term employment opportunities for people that live here. The inspiring stories of today’s graduates are testament to the positive impact of these initiatives.

The community skills projects that this Google.org grant will enable are specifically targeted to address development areas identified by local experts and we are honoured to continue the incredible work being delivered by the This City Works programme.”

Today’s grant by Google.org will enable over 600 people in the local community to receive training including school leavers, the long term unemployed and asylum seekers.

Jim Hargis, Manager St Andrews Resource Centre and Representative to This City Works, said,

“This City Works is an important initiative, one that brings together people, businesses and community groups to provide support like mentoring and skills training to local unemployed people. I am delighted to be here to see fourteen new graduates receive their commendations, and to welcome the additional €750,000 in funding by Google.org.

This grant will help us to reach those in our local community who need it most, providing them with the opportunity to gain qualifications, sustainable employment and oftentimes, a much needed boost to their self worth.”

This City Works is a  group made up of Google representatives, community based training employment and education services, local businesses, Dublin City Council and the Department of Social Protection which aims to find sustainable employment solutions for long-term unemployed people.

The goal of This City Works is to empower vulnerable and at-risk school leavers and unemployed people in the local community of Ringsend and Pearse Street  by providing training and skill enhancement opportunities, complemented by support services, with the aim of increasing their employability and promoting social inclusion.

Attendees at this morning’s event had the opportunity to hear from community representatives and participants in the current programmes. For more information visit This City Works .

Minister Michael McGrath launches This City Works, marking the expansion of Google’s Local Employment Task Force

Minister Michael McGrath TD was joined by Adaire Fox-Martin, Head of Google Ireland in St Andrews Resource Centre, Pearse Street in Dublin to announce the launch of This City Works, a newly expanded programme that helps long-term unemployed people to find sustainable employment solutions.

The launch of This City Works represents the next stage in the evolution of Google’s Local Employment Task Force. Established in 2020 by Google’s Community Affairs team in collaboration with local community employment, training and education services, the Employment Task Force aims to find sustainable employment solutions for long-term unemployed people and provide them with training, education and development opportunities.

The task force is made up of a diverse coalition of community experts who are identifying ways to drive inclusive economic growth in Dublin. Members include St Andrews Resource Centre Employment and Training Hubs, Ringsend Community Services Forum, Inner City Renewal Group, The Anchorage Project, Ringsend & District Response to Drugs, Irish Nautical Trust, Department of Social protection, Dublin City Council, the Fair Play project, City of Dublin Education Training Board and Google Ireland. This year, the task force welcomed two new members; the Dublin Port Company and Dublin Waste to Energy. In recognition of the expanding partnership the Employment Task Force is today rebranding to the name – This City Works.

Attendees at the event had the opportunity to meet community representatives and participants in the current Employment Task Force as well as seeing a video showcase of programme case studies.

Speaking at the event, Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Finance said:

“The impact that has been made by Google’s Employment Task Force is truly commendable. This is a unique programme, one that has been driven by the local community for those who live there. I am delighted to officially announce the launch of This City Works today, representing the expansion of the Task Force. I want to thank Google and all of the expert partners for their continued commitment to this important work.”

Adaire Fox-Martin Head of Google Ireland said:

“I am proud to be here today as we expand the Employment Task Force and see it evolve to This City Works. Google has been part of the Ringsend and Pearse Street community for over 20 years now, and we remain committed to helping create meaningful, sustainable and long-term employment for members of our local community. Today’s announcement is testament to the positive impact that this programme has, and I want to commend those involved, our community partners, those in Government and most importantly our participants – it is a joy to recognise the potential and to celebrate the achievements of this group.”

Also announced today was the creation of a dedicated website for This City Works at this cityworks.withgoogle.com. Created by Google, the site is a one stop shop for job seekers and those seeking to enhance their skills or change career path. The site also provides information for businesses seeking staff or for those curious about training and support services in their community.

Blake Hodkinson Director of Further Education – City of Dublin Education Training Board and Employment task force representative, said,

“This City Works is an important initiative, one that brings together people, businesses and community groups to provide support like mentoring and skills training to local unemployed people. I am delighted to be here as we mark the expansion of the programme and would like to officially welcome our two newest members, the Dublin Port Company and Dublin Waste to Energy. This City Works is a fitting new name for this programme, the positive impact we see in the local community is remarkable, this initiative works!”

Created and enabled by Google, This City Works is an initiative that is driven by the local community and made up of Google representatives, community based training employment and education services, local businesses, Dublin City Council and the Department of Social Protection. Today’s announcement follows a commitment of over €500,000 by Google in 2021 at the launch of the Employment Task Force and a further €300,000 funding provided by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google in 2022.

5 Ways Employment Lawyers Can Help You Protect Your Career

While most of us hope never to find ourselves needing legal representation, as a professional, there’s a good chance you will encounter workplace situations that call for legal guidance. Employment law is incredibly complex, which makes it tricky to manage specific workplace situations without the help of an experienced employment lawyer at HKM.com.

From unfair dismissal and dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace to understanding on-compete agreements and more, here are five times it’s in your best interest to rely on an employment lawyer. 

Review An Offer Letter And Employment Contract

If you’ve recently been offered a new job, there’s no doubt you’re thrilled to get on board to enjoy the position’s better perks and salary. However, employment contracts and offer letters can sometimes be quite deceiving. There’s often a lot of fine print and confusing terms and conditions. 

Contractual clauses like non-compete, non-disparagement, and non-solicitation are common examples of employment contract clauses that you might not fully understand. Instead of signing documentation that could later land your career in hot water, it’s best to consult legal experts to review the offer letter and contract.

Review A Severance Package

Whether you have been retrenched, unfairly dismissed, or let go from your position for any other reason, it’s crucial to consult an employment lawyer to review your severance package before you accept your employer’s offering. 

Often, severance packages don’t provide sufficient benefits and compensation to employees. So, to ensure you receive a fair severance package with rightful pay, contact a lawyer to negotiate the package with your employer. 

Whistleblowing

Blowing the whistle on illicit activity in your place of work is a delicate undertaking. Even if your employer has whistleblowing policies and procedures in place, you might be rightfully concerned about potential backlash in the form of retaliation. 

Fortunately, retaliation bothers labor laws. So, the best course of action is to consult an employment lawyer to assess the situation and guide you through the process of safely blowing the whistle on wrongdoing in your workplace. 

Negotiating Injury Compensation Payouts

Workplace injuries are prevalent in specific industries. But at the same time, injuries can occur in just about any work environment. If you have been injured at work, you are entitled to compensation and benefits that cover your medical bills and more. 

But if you don’t have the expertise of a legal professional, you might not receive the compensation you really deserve. 

Court Representation

Whether you are claiming unfair dismissal, discrimination, unfair treatment, disputing clauses, or claiming compensation, there are times when these matters may go to court. Instead of facing your employer’s legal team alone, it’s worthwhile to rely on legal representation. 

Your employment lawyer will ensure you are treated fairly throughout the process of appearing in court and after that. 

Facing workplace disputes and conflicts can be stressful. Handling things the wrong way could jeopardize your career path and reputation as a professional. Fortunately, lawyers can build and strengthen your case to protect your best interests and the future of your career. 

 

Google.org announces next phase of grant funding to support local employment opportunities in Dublin

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD announced funding support of €300,000 by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, to fund nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities through the Local Employment Task Force.

Launched in 2021 with support from Google, the Employment Task Force aims to find sustainable employment solutions for long-term unemployed people from the south inner city and provide training and development opportunities. This latest grants by Google.org will fund skills programmes by two nonprofits in the local area:

 

  1. The Anchorage Project – a community-based training programme in the Ringsend and Irishtown area. The new skills based training will support 70 students to obtain an ITEC certified level qualification and  soft skills to enable them to gain sustainable employment in the beauty and hospitality skills industry.

  2. The Irish Nautical Trust – Google.org will continue its support of this hugely successful scholarship programme for students to access marine skills and technology. Launched in October 2021, this community-based environment maritime training programme educates local unemployed people and school leavers on the environment. Of 30 recent graduates, 28 have gained employment with ongoing support being provided to the remaining two. The funding supports access for students to obtain a certified level of maritime skills and enable them to gain sustainable employment in the marine industry.

At the event, Minister Donnelly also presented graduation certificates to 10 parents of children with special needs. Each recipient completed Google’s inaugural Special Needs Assistants scholarship programme. A further 10 scholarships were announced by Google covering the Docklands community.

Welcoming Google.org’s funding support to the Anchorage Project and the Irish Nautical Trust, Minister Donnelly said: “The employment opportunities both these programmes provide to the students will play a key role in not only their own futures but that of the wider community. While the State has a role to play, I would call on industry to join companies like Google and enhance their efforts to increase community employment. I have been informed that the majority of previous recipients of the Irish Nautical Trust Marine Skills & Technology scholarship programme secured employment and I look forward to hearing how all scholarship recipients fare in the months ahead”.

He added, “I would also like to sincerely congratulate today’s SNA certificate recipients and commend them on their passion and commitment to facilitating inclusive education in our community.  SNAs play an invaluable role in supporting the education and well-being of students with additional needs in schools and these parents commitment to not just the education of their own children but those of the wider community is especially commendable”

David Sneddon, VP, Google Ireland, said, “Today is about recognising the importance of having access to training in your community. I would like to specifically congratulate those who graduated. All those who received a certificate today are mothers of children with additional needs who are passionate about their wider community. We are also delighted to continue our support of the Irish Nautical Trust, an integral member of our Employment Task Force, and we look forward to developing our relationship with the Anchorage project. Google Ireland remains committed to supporting our local community and addressing their needs in partnership with the community.”

Jimmy Murray, Irish Nautical Trust, said, “The Irish Nautical Trust’s mission is to create a marine training apprenticeship programme to train and certify young people in maritime skills to allow them to secure and maintain long term sustainable employment. However, our work is only possible through support from the government and organisations committed to continuing the nautical skills tradition in Dublin. We are thrilled that this grant from Google.org will support a further 30 graduates through the training scheme”.

Last evening’s event was to present certificates to the first 10 parents of children with special needs who completed the Special Needs Assistants (SNA) qualification with support from Google. This programme was established by Google’s Education Taskforce, a group consisting of the seven local schools in the area, who identified the need for SNA support. At the same time the local Neurodiversity network in the community made up of over 60 families from Irishtown, Ringsend and Pearse Street (NIRP) approached Google seeking training support in the field of SNA and digital support.

Google supported 10 scholarships for the NIRP group. 10 parents successfully achieved level 5 and 6 qualifications in the field of SNA. They carried out their work experience in the local schools supported by the Education Task Force. Following the initial success of the programme, Google has now announced its intention to fund a further 10 scholarships in the Docklands community.

Google.org announces €300,000 to fund nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities in Dublin

Minister Simon Harris TD was in St. Andrews Resource Centre, Pearse Street in Dublin this morning to announce funding support of €300,000 by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, to fund nonprofits supporting local employment opportunities.

The Minister was joined by Carlow native Lorraine Twohill, Google’s global Chief Marketing Officer to make the announcement that will see the €300,000 in funding directly support nonprofit programmes defined by Google’s Employment Task Force, a diverse coalition of community experts who are identifying ways to drive inclusive economic growth in Dublin.

Launched in 2021, Google’s Employment Task Force aims to find sustainable employment solutions for long-term unemployed people from the south inner city and provide training and development opportunities. Attendees at this morning’s event had the opportunity to hear from community representatives and participants in the current Employment Task Force programmes.

Today’s grant by Google.org will fund programmes by two nonprofits:

  1. St. Andrews Resource Centre – will create a hyperlocal, community based training programme to upskill 50 local unemployed people to become more employable by obtaining a certified level of housekeeper and complementary digital skills to enable them to gain sustainable employment in a growing industry.

  2. Ringsend Community Service Forum –  will offer focused training for 50 local managers and emergent leaders through a ‘train the trainer’ process to provide assistance in accessing jobs, educational & training opportunities for up to 2000 local unemployed youth in Ringsend and Irishtown. Youth will be significantly upskilled on basic tech and digital skills thereby helping to close the digital gap and allowing access to new career opportunities as a result.

Speaking at the event this morning, Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said:

“I am delighted to be here to see the impact that is being made by Google’s Employment Task Force.  This is my second visit and I am overwhelmed each time at the impact this is having in communities. This programme is driven by the local community and for those who live there. I want to thank Google for their further commitment to this important work today.”

Lorraine Twohill, Google’s Chief Marketing Officer said:

“I am proud to be here today to announce further support from Google for such a significant and important employment initiative. We’ve been part of the Ringsend and Pearse Street community for almost 20 years, and we know it is important for Google to show up locally. We remain committed to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the Docklands community, and through the Task Force and organisations we support, we will continue to build on the work launched in 2021, helping to create meaningful, sustainable and long-term employment for members of our local community.” 

Created and enabled by Google, the Employment Task Force is an initiative that is driven by the local community and made up of Google representatives, community based training employment and education services, local businesses, Dublin City Council and the Department of Social Protection. Today’s announcement follows a commitment of over €500,000 by Google in 2021 at the launch of the Employment Task Force,

 

Jim Hargis, Manager of Local Employment Service at St. Andrew’s Resource Centre, representing the Local Employment Task Force, said:

“This is a unique and impactful initiative, one that brings together the people and organisations that have a direct and often personal experience of local unemployment challenges.  This diverse coalition of community experts and representatives will provide support, mentoring and access to skills training – all vital elements of employment services – to local unemployed young people and those seeking educational and other supports. I want to offer my thanks to those who spoke today and shared their experience of participating in the programmes run by the Task Force and to thank Google for further committing to this project.”

Inaccessible websites mean up to 200,000 could be missing out on employment opportunities

Analysis from Inclusion & Accessibility Labs (IA Labs) and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) has shown that nearly nine out of every ten job search sites are not digitally accessible – meaning that any individual with a disability would likely struggle to interact with the website, and engage with even its most basic functions. Such functions include applying for a job, navigating the scope of a webpage or searching for relevant employment opportunities.  

 Commissioned by the NCBI and prepared by IA Labs, the Irish Digital Employment Audit (IDEA) assessed Ireland’s leading job recruitment websites, performing a manual accessibility audit that used Google Lighthouse as its control. The report evaluated the employment websites according to a number of criteria, including whether the website published an accessibility statement. In addition, the Irish Digital Employment Audit provided an analysis of the critical user journey, taking account of navigation menus, interactive elements, tables, online forms and the colour contrast of images and text. 

That 200,000 people who living with a disability but keen to work, could be missing out on job opportunities will be of particular frustration to businesses throughout Ireland, many of whom are grappling with acute shortages of staff, and persistent difficulties in recruiting and retaining talent.  

Public sector websites are required to meet specific digital accessibility standards under the Web Accessibility Directive laid down by the European Commission and transposed into Irish law in 2020. Though there are currently no such mandates currently imposed on non-public sector websites, the adoption of the European Accessibility Act (EEA) will require private sector service providers to make their websites and mobile devices easily accessible. This is the first time that technical standards for private sector websites have been adopted under the EAA; and IA Labs contends that private companies should put themselves ahead of the curve, in advance of forthcoming legislation. 

Co- Founder and Director of IA Labs, Kyran O’Mahoney said: “The findings issued today as part of the Irish Digital Employment Audit demonstrate the tangible barriers that people with disabilities face when trying to carry out basic tasks; such as searching or applying for a job. Diversity of experience and ability can be a powerful tool for any business – as time and time again, research shows that companies with an inclusive ethos tend to experience both increased profits and improved productivity.  

 

Kyran O’Mahoney

The Irish Digital Employment Audit is particularly pertinent given the ongoing ‘War for Talent’, and in light of the fact that businesses throughout the country are struggling to recruit staff. Yet despite this, we have up to 200,000 people – most of whom are keen to participate in the labour market – who are prevented from seeking employment owing to the fact that the overwhelming majority of job search sites are inaccessible. Forthcoming legislation will require these websites to become digitally accessible; and so is it vital that businesses become proactive in this regard”. 

For more, visit: https://ialabs.ie/

The Open Doors Initiative has released a podcast series to help workers and businesses deal with the new realities of employment during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Open Doors Initiative has today released a podcast series to help workers and businesses deal with the new realities of employment during the Covid-19 crisis. The initiative is also today publishing a ‘Covid-19 Toolkit’ aimed at helping people with information on working from home, upskilling, financial supports and wellbeing.

The podcasts are available on bit.ly/OpenDoorsCovid while the toolkit and many other resources are available on the Open Doors Initiative website.

The four-part podcast series features different experts all addressing different aspects of work / business during the Covid-19 crisis. Those featured in the podcast are:

  • David Joyce, Equality Officer from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
  • Maureen Walsh, CEO of DeCare Dental
  • Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion, Clifford Chance
  • Dr Pat McKeon, founder of Aware and former Clinical Director of St. Patrick’s Hospital.

Among the topics they address are mental health supports at this time, the need for inclusion and diversity in the workplace – now more than ever, and what the future of work and working practices may bring.

Alongside the podcasts the online toolkit offers best practice and work planning with links to resources and aids for people affected by this change.

Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative said: “In recent weeks we have seen employment fall by over 17% in Ireland, mainly affecting those most in need such as employees on a low wage and marginalised people. There is a compelling need for social responsibility and leadership to be taken by the business community, where it can help.

“We have seen many businesses and their workers help where they can and Government, business and unions are working together to ensure that employment continues and the impact on the economy is temporary and recoverable. We are proud that so many businesses and organisations, including our members, are stepping up to help those who need it most”.

The Open Doors Initiative was established to help three marginalised groups in employment in Ireland – those with a disability, under 25s with educational disadvantage, and refugees and asylum seekers.

We know that during the current Covid-19 crisis the impact on these groups is greater:

  • For young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, this can lead to falling into negative behaviour, criminality and other anti-social ways, as supports such as mentoring and training are not available.
  • People in direct provision who have no way to move accommodation and protect themselves and their families through self-isolation while modes of travel are restricted too.
  • For people with many disabilities, who need work routine, or have difficulty working without carer support or have mental health difficulties, can all be very affected by the changes that have come about.