Union raises concerns as Aer Lingus orders 300 staff back to office four days a week

AER LINGUS IS ordering around 300 staff who have been availing of hybrid working arrangements in recent years to return to the office four days a week.

Terry Gill, industrial organiser for the aviation sector of trade union Siptu, told The Journal that Aer Lingus had informally told him that staff in all departments availing of hybrid working arrangements will be required to return to the office four days a week.

Gill said several Siptu members working for the airline informed him of the change, and he then raised it with Aer Lingus officials.

The airline has over 4,000 employees, roughly 300 of whom have been availing of remote work and will be impacted by the change.

Gill said the remote work policy change will impact Maintenance and Engineering administration staff, and office staff who work from the Aer Lingus buildings at Shamrock House and Iolar House near Dublin Airport.

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It’s understood these staff worked from the office two days a week until Aer Lingus ordered them to return to the office three days a week around a year and a half ago.

Gill said he has concerns over the lack of engagement the company carried out with staff around the latest change.

He said the increase in required office attendance may impact workers’ mental health and productivity, and also highlighted the pressures of congestion, the price of fuel and childcare arrangements for commuters. 

Affected staff members at the airline who spoke to The Journal have said they feel “let down” over the announcement, particularly due to how the cost of fuel will impact commuters.

Workers said the announcement was made in meetings, where collaboration was cited as the reason for the change. They said leaders then informed their teams that the company’s work from home policy is being revised to require four mandatory office days.

One staff member called the move “out of touch” while another said it would mean additional costs in their daily life, including tolls, childcare and fuel.

A response was requested from Aer Lingus but had not been received at time of publication. 

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