Episodes

22 minutes ago
22 minutes ago
We’ve spoken about many employment law cases on the HR Room Podcast over the years which have always been very popular episodes, and we’ve also spoken to our very own Liam Barton a lot over the years, who has also proved very popular.
So we’re back again with another episode in our new monthly series combining your two favourite things, Case Law and Liam Barton, where Liam will be joining us to discuss a high profile every month, and share his advice, guidance and key takeaways for you as employers and HR teams.
So for our second episode of Liam’s Law, we’re delighted to be joined, of course, by Liam Barton, Senior HR Consultant here at Insight HR.
Today's case? This very interesting and complex case from The Rotunda Maternity Hospital!
In this episode, we cover...
01:46 Overview of the Rotunda Case
05:01 Analysis of the Case's Findings
10:22 Implications of Sexual Harassment Policies
14:05 Disciplinary Actions and Their Consequences
20:01 Constructive Dismissal and Its Challenges
25:11 Post-Investigation Measures and Mediation
30:53 Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace
36:43 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Episode 218 - Tariffs, Restructuring & HR's Response
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Trump and his tariffs have taken the headlines in recent days and weeks, and are on the mind of many politicians, business leaders, and everyone in between, as we watch the trade war begin to rage.
But what do these tariffs and times of uncertainty mean for you, the HR person, the business leader, and the person trying to navigate through this period with your people in mind.
Well to talk us through this, and just what we can do to help, we’re delighted to be joined again by Liam Barton, Commercial Director here at Insight HR.
In this episode, we cover...
01:10 Navigating Uncertainty in Business
06:05 The Impact of Market Dynamics on HR
12:38 Future-Proofing Against Economic Challenges
18:34 Managing Employee Emotions During Change
26:52 The Importance of Communication in Restructuring
P.S Check out Mary's recent article on this topic right here!
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited

Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Episode 217 - C Suite Special: Inside the WRC with Audrey Cahill, WRC
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
It's that time again to bring you another C Suite Special, where we talk to C Suite leaders from some of Ireland’s biggest organisations, giving us HR people fantastic insights into how they and their organisations operate and thrive.
And to talk to us today, we’re delighted to be joined by someone who we recently listened to at the CIPD Employment Law Conference, who I knew would be the perfect guest for this series on the podcast, as she gave such fantastic insights into an organisation that many of us are familiar with, but I might argue, could know a lot more about.
We’re joined today by the brilliant Audrey Cahill, Director General at the Workplace Relations Commission.
In this episode, we cover...
03:16 Audrey's Journey in HR
14:19 Demystifying the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)
20:12 The Humanisation of the WRC
25:16 Creating a Safe Environment for Dispute Resolution
30:00 The Importance of Early Intervention
34:55 Establishing Clear Policies and Procedures
38:15 The Impact of Trust on Organisational Culture
44:42 Balancing Compliance with Organisational Needs
48:59 The Foundation of Effective HR Practices
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Episode 216 - He said, she said: Assessing credibility in investigations
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
He said, she said – a nightmare situation for employers and HR teams trying to deal with a complaint of something like bullying, harassment or conflict, when both parties give different versions of events, and you’re left in the middle trying to find a solution.
But thankfully, there is an art to assessing credibility in investigations, and it’s something that expert investigators deal with every day, when managing investigations for organisations up and down the country.
So to talk us through the he said, she said dilemma, and just how expert investigators deal with the credibility challenge, we’re delighted to be joined by our very own Rebecca Bowman, Head of Workplace Investigations here at Insight HR.
In this episode, we cover...
02:13 Initial Steps in Addressing Complaints
05:29 The Importance of Early Resolution
09:28 Assessing Credibility: Tools and Techniques
13:16 Understanding the Role of the Investigator
21:55 Reporting Findings: Clarity and Objectivity
25:30 Post-Investigation Reconciliation and Management
Check out this recent article from Liam Barton on evidence and credibility in investigations, and our recent coverage of the GAA Catfish case which also showcases the importance of a robust investigations process!
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Episode 215 - Let's Talk HR & Occupational Health
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Workplace stress, burnout, long term absence, bullying complaints… these are the kinds of things that can keep HR professionals awake at night. But when do these issues cross the line from an HR challenge to a medical concern? And how well do HR and Occupational Health actually work together to navigate this tricky space?
Well to talk to us this week about how to get this right for both you, your Occ health person, and most importantly, your people, we’re delighted to be joined by Anne Dowling, an Occupational Health Nurse Advisor and Managing & Clinical Director at AMA Healthcare Services.
In this episode we cover...
02:13 The Role of Occupational Health
04:50 Current Trends in Occupational Health
05:54 Mental Health in the Workplace
10:47 Managing Return to Work
12:53 The Importance of Reasonable Accommodations
15:02 Early Intervention Strategies
19:06 Handling Investigations and Health Issues
23:20 Compassionate Approaches in HR
27:44 Effective Communication and Support
30:24 Best Practices for Occupational Health Referrals
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Episode 214 - Liam's Law: Sexual Harassment, Investigations & Disciplinaries
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
We’ve spoken about many employment law cases on the HR Room Podcast over the years which have always been very popular episodes, and we’ve also spoken to our very own Liam Barton a lot over the years, who has also proven very popular.
So this month, we’re starting a new monthly series combining your two favourite things, Case Law and Liam Barton, where Liam will be joining us to discuss a high profile every month, and share his advice, guidance and key takeaways for you as employers and HR teams.
So for our first episode of Liam’s Law, we’re delighted to be joined, of course, by Liam Barton, Senior HR Consultant here at Insight HR, to discuss a tricky case regarding sexual harassment, investigations and disciplinary processes.
In this episode we cover...
01:45 Overview of the Sodexo Case
05:30 Key Gaps in the Investigation Process
10:06 Importance of Fairness and Due Process
15:06 The Role of Evidence in Investigations
18:03 Training and Objectivity in Investigations
24:11 Bias and Its Impact on Investigations
27:29 The Rush to Suspend Employees
32:15 Conclusions and Practical Guidance
Check out the first instalment of Liam's Law over on LinkedIn, where he discussed this case!
And P.S Here is the Volker Rail case we also mentioned during this chat!
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Episode 213 - TUPE or not TUPE - that is the question!
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Mergers, transfers and everything associated with them can often mark a fresh new journey for a business and a sign of expansion or progress, but they may also stir up some resistance, issues, and complicated challenges to solve.
And one of those complicated challenges that many of us have at the top of our list of “least favourite acronyms” is the big, scary TUPE process.
But is it complicated, is it scary, and how exactly can we make sure we do things the right way for our organisation and our people?
Well to answer this and much more, we’re delighted to be joined by Aoife Newton, Director at KPMG Law.
In this episode, we cover...
03:18 Understanding the TUPE Regulations
07:33 Challenges and Misconceptions of TUPE
11:26 Practical Applications and Case Law
19:18 Communication and Compliance in TUPE
24:22 Consequences of Mismanagement
27:38 Advice for HR Practitioners
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Episode 212 - The Realities Of Redundancies
Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Redundancies and tough restructurings are things that no HR person wants to manage. The emotional side of managing the process of people leaving your organisation, coupled with the intricate process and procedures that must be followed, makes it a less than enjoyable task to say the least.
But there are ways that you can go through this process without losing sleep, putting your organisation at risk, and losing the trust of your people.
So to talk to us about how we can make this a process with positive outcomes for all involved, and just how we can help you make that happen, we’re delighted to be joined by Megan Power, HR Consultant here at Insight HR.
In this episode, we cover...
01:50 Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Redundancies
12:06 Understanding the Legal Framework for Collective Redundancies
16:12 The Importance of Compassionate Leadership
24:22 Balancing Compliance with Employee Experience
32:59 Building Trust During Difficult Transitions
P.S Here's the Case Study we mentioned where we helped a company navigate business transformation, restructuring and redundancies with confidence and expertise. Is this something your company is facing? Then make sure you download this guide!
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Episode 211 - C Suite Special: People & Purpose with Sinead Gogan, Deloitte
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
It’s that time again on the HR Room Podcast for another one of our C-suite specials, where we talk to leaders in various industries and organisations, sharing advice and insights for HR teams and employers everywhere.
Today we’re delighted to be joined by someone who is a leader here in Ireland for one of the world’s biggest and most well-known companies, and who has worked her way up the HR ranks through her commitment to people & purpose.
Joining us this week is the brilliant Sinead Gogan, CHRO and People & Purpose Partner at Deloitte.
In this episode, we cover...
01:37 Sinead's HR Journey
06:14 Deloitte's People and Purpose Approach
13:03 The Importance of People in Business
18:21 Strategic HR in a Changing World
26:47 Building a Legacy in HR
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team

Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Episode 210 - R.I.P DEI?
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Although diversity, equity and inclusion has faced it’s fair share of resistance over the years, the latest moves by the US and government and in turn, Meta, one of the world’s biggest companies, brings a whole new level of attack on corporate DEI work.
But is all of the great work that continues to be done, really under threat? Is it a case of saying RIP to DEI, or is it simply just another speed bump on the road of good work and progress?
Well to discuss this with us, and take a deeper look into what’s going on with DEI in workplaces, we’re delighted to be joined by a highly experienced Senior HR & Change expert, and Country Executive at the 30% club, the brilliant Gillian Harford.
In this episode, we cover...
01:58 The current state of DEI initiatives
06:23 Challenges and opportunities in DEI
11:47 The business case for DEI
18:27 Measuring DEI effectiveness
22:18 "Justifying" DEI investments
31:11 Practical steps for HR professionals
About The HR Room Podcast
The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR where we talk to business leaders from around Ireland and share advice what's important to you as a HR professional, an employer or people leader.
If you are enjoying these episodes, do please feel free to share them with colleagues, friends and family. And even better, if you can leave us a review, we’d really appreciate it!
We love your feedback, we take requests, and we’re also here to help with any HR challenges you may have!
Requests, feedback and guest suggestions 👉 HR Room Podcast Requests
Immediate support on your HR challenge 👉 0567701060 or info@insighthr.ie
What our clients say 👉 Insight HR & SIKA Ireland Limited
HR support when you need it most.
The Insight HR Team