Latest news with #Hibbs
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rules and your rights on whether it is too hot to work during Ireland's heatwave
Temperatures have soared in Ireland in recent days to above 30C at times, the hottest weather experienced in the country so far this year. And while conditions look set to change on Sunday and into next week, it's worth knowing the rules around working in extreme temperatures (at least by Irish standards) should we get similar weather in the near future in what has been a decent summer to date. The rules can differ based on whether you're working in an office or working from home. For those working in an office, there is no maximum temperature in a workplace but there is a minimum. The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 states that workplaces must be at least 17.5C. That changes to 16C if rigorous physical work is undertaken. Despite not having a maximum temperature, the act states that employers must ensure the safety of staff. The act says employers must "take reasonable care to protect his or her safety, health and welfare and the safety, health and welfare of any other person who may be affected by the employee's acts or omissions at work". The Irish Business and Employers' Confederation say that once employers make an effort to bring the heat down, you won't get a day off. It states: "Where an employer is obviously sympathetic and tries to alleviate the worst effects of hot weather most employees should bear with temporary discomfort and continue working normally. 'Unless conditions are extreme, measures such as those outlined above should prevent any employees justifiably claiming that the company is in breach of its duty under the 2005 Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act. 'Any refusal by the employees to work would then place them in breach of their contracts of employment, which could lead to loss of pay/disciplinary action.' Employers are also expected to keep the temperatures down inside if they start shooting up. They also can relax dress codes and offer water breaks to ensure the safety of workers. However, things also get a little muddied for the thousands of workers told to do their jobs from home, where most don't have air conditioning. Mike Hibbs, employment partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, previously told Mirror Money: 'The fact that many employees are still working from home does not mean that employers can suddenly forget their health and safety responsibilities. "All the usual rules apply, including the need to risk assess homes as suitable working environments. In the workplace, employers usually rely on air conditioning and ventilation to regulate temperatures. However, at home, many employees may not have this option and their only means of keeping cool will be to open windows." Open windows can create more problems than it solves depending on your work. Mr Hibbs said: "The potential for disturbance by noisy neighbours and street noise can make this impractical, especially if their work involves making telephone or video calls." He concluded that if you can't get somewhere cool to work from then your boss may not be able to keep you there. The HSE says that heat stress, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are potentially serious health risks for people during a heatwave. It has issued the following public health advice for hot weather in Ireland. Keep your indoor environment cool: The person you are caring for may not have a sense of how much they're drinking. To help them: Contact your GP or the Emergency Department if you are unwell and especially if you These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
CBC
14-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Drag the Vote event in N.B. encourages 2SLGBTQ+ people to cast ballot in federal election
Social Sharing Mitchell Goodine has an urgent message during this federal election campaign: Get out and vote. Goodine is a Fredericton-based ambassador for Drag the Vote, a national campaign to engage 2SLGBTQ+ people and their allies to exercise their right to vote. "We felt the tides turning and the energy shifting and wanted to get the queer community and in general, the youth and anybody in the community out to vote," said Goodine, also known as the drag performer Amour Love. "It's not switching voters from blue to red, it's just simply switching from non-voter to voter." Goodine, who hosted a Drag the Vote event in Oromocto on the weekend, said they are concerned about children's rights and any policy that could restrict them from being themselves. "What we're frustrated about is not simply just having a queer voice or having queer rights. It's not having science-led policies and procedures, having faith-based decisions," they said. They said that this change needs to be made from the "top down" to influence change. "If the tone from the top says that I shouldn't be able to exist or the way that I exist is too loud and too proud, and I should be over there quietly behind closed doors with their restrictions and with their preferences, that's going to echo all the way down," said Goodine. Connor Hibbs is also an ambassador for Drag the Vote and shares Goodine concerns. Hibbs fears that recent changes to trans rights in the U.S. could also happen in Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump declared in his inaugural address on Jan. 20 that "it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female." "I'm worried about losing our rights completely and not being able to do drag because drag is my happy place," said Hibbs. He got involved with Drag the Vote to "get people out and inform them" about the election. Kendra Mackie of Cambridge Narrows, who has partner and a baby, said she worries about her human rights everyday. She hopes that whoever is elected will respect her family and acknowledge that they exist. "I can't imagine there being a government that just acknowledges that trans people don't exist and it's made-up. Like, I don't even want to really think about it," said Mackie. The federal election is set for April 28. Advance polls open on April 18.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Guernsey Mind hosts information stands on Take Time to Talk Day
Islanders are being encouraged to take time to talk in a bid to improve their and other's mental team from charity Guernsey Mind is hosting information stands at Coop shops in St Sampson and St Martin on Thursday, which is national Time to Talk Hibbs, from the charity, said: "Speaking openly and honestly can be the first step towards better mental health."She said there were numerous ways to start a conversation, like sharing time over a coffee or chatting on the phone, and that listening is just as important as talking. Mrs Hibbs said: "Even small gestures can have a substantial impact - offering a cup of tea and a chat can turn a bad day into a better one for a friend or a colleague."Time to Talk Day is aimed at encouraging people to be more open about mental health, start conversations and listen in a bid to change lives for the better.
