Employment Law in Context

Description

Author: Professor Michael Doherty | ISBN:  9781917134262 | Format: Paperback | Price:  €NF | Publishing:  Autumn/Winter 2026

About

Employment Law is one of the most dynamic and fast-changing areas of law, as well as one with practical implications for almost everyone. In the last decade alone, there have been fundamental developments in employment law globally (e.g. the rise of ‘platform/gig’ work, the impact of the global pandemic on remote/hybrid working), at EU level (a renewed focus on social rights in the social pillar, after years of ‘austerity’), and in Ireland (e.g. a fundamental overhaul of the dispute resolution system, and major Supreme Court decisions on fundamental issues such as employment status and unfair dismissals). Given the multiple influences on employment law disputes (ILO conventions, EU Law, Constitutional law, legislation, codes of practice, alternative dispute resolution, and the role of social partners), and the unique responsiveness of employment law to global events (economic, political and social) the area remains somewhat fragmented and confusing for students, employment relations professionals and legal practitioners. This comprehensive text outlines the key principles of employment law in Ireland, putting them in the context of contemporary legal, socio-economic, political and cultural developments. Divided into six parts, it deals with the key aspects of the employment law relationship, including the scope and coverage of employment law, the statutory regulation of working life, equality and non-discrimination at work, termination of the employment relationship, and the principles underlying collective employment relations.

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Content Includes

Part I: Introduction

• The Role of the Law in Employment Relations
• The Sources of Employment Law
• Dispute Resolution and Employment Relations

Part II: The Employment Relationship

• Constituting the Employment Relationship
• The Contract of Employment

Part III: Statutory Regulation of Working Life

• Terms of Employment and Working Conditions
• Civil Liberties at the Workplace
• Work/life Balance and the Law

Part IV: Equality and Non-discrimination at Work

• Equality Law and Employment Rights
• Bullying and Harassment at Work
• Part-time, Fixed-term, and Agency Work

Part V: Termination of Employment

• Discipline and Dismissal
• Wrongful Dismissal at Common Law
• Unfair Dismissal
• Economic Dismissal

Part VI: Collective Employment Law

• Freedom of Association
• Collective Bargaining
• Industrial Action and the Law
• Information and Consultation at Work

About the Author

Michael Doherty is a full Professor of Law at Maynooth University with particular expertise in the areas of Irish and EU employment and labour law, industrial relations, and social dialogue and collective bargaining. He has published widely in national and international outlets on all of these topics and presented his work at numerous domestic and international conferences.

Who Should Buy This Book?

Written in an engaging and accessible style, Employment Law in Context will be an excellent resource for students of employment law. It will also be a valuable resource for  legal practitioners, employment relations professionals, such as human resources practitioners, and trade union representatives and anyone interested in employment law generally.