WRC (Workplace Relations Commission)
The independent statutory body in Ireland that regulates employment law and adjudicates disputes.
The WRC conducts inspections (often unannounced) to check records on working time, pay, and permits. They also hear complaints from employees. Ignoring a WRC letter or inspection notice usually results in automatic fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common failures are: (1) Lack of accurate daily start/finish time records (not just rosters), (2) Failure to give written terms of employment (contracts) within 5 days, and (3) Public Holiday pay calculation errors. Many employers rely on "rosters" as proof of hours, but the WRC requires a record of actual hours worked, signed by the employee.
Yes. WRC inspectors have the power to interview employees (often privately) to verify that the records you provided (rosters, payslips) match the reality of their working hours. If staff tell the inspector they work through lunch breaks but your records show 1-hour breaks, you will face penalties for falsifying records.