The HR Room Podcast

As Irish organisations head into 2026, HR leaders are facing a complex mix of challenges - from attracting and retaining talent in an increasingly competitive market, to navigating cost pressures, culture change, and new regulatory demands like the EU Pay Transparency Directive. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of optimism across the profession, with many organisations investing in leadership development, coaching and capability-building for the future. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Liam Barton, (Commercial Director – Insight HR), to unpack the key findings from Insight HR’s brand new report, Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026. They explore what’s really keeping HR leaders awake at night and where the biggest opportunities lie in the year ahead. They discuss why talent attraction and retention remains the number one challenge across every sector, how employee engagement and culture are evolving in a post-pandemic workplace, and why AI, hybrid working and skills-based workforce planning are set to reshape HR practice in Ireland. Guests • Mary Cullen – Founder & Managing Director, Insight HR • Liam Barton – Commercial Director, Insight HR Topics include: • The biggest HR challenges facing Irish businesses in 2026 — and why talent attraction and retention tops the list • How recruitment and retention pressures differ by company size, sector and HR team structure • Why not-for-profits and large enterprises feel the talent squeeze most acutely • The growing challenge of employee engagement, culture change and rising workplace expectations • Cost pressures, tightening budgets and their impact on HR priorities • Confidence levels across HR teams - why most feel cautiously optimistic about 2026 • How prepared Irish organisations really are for the EU Pay Transparency Directive • Where businesses plan to invest in learning and development -from management training to coaching and mentoring • The rise of skills-based workforce planning and internal mobility models • AI in HR: opportunities, risks and the growing debate around recruitment technology • The ongoing tension between return-to-office policies and remote working expectations • Key predictions for HR in 2026 — from pay transparency to auto-enrolment and workforce diversity Useful Links & Resources • Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026 – Insight HR Report    Get in touch If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery or connect with him on LinkedIn. For confidential HR support, contact [email protected]   About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges. 📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060 📧 [email protected]

This episode of The HR Room, we’re looking back at a great year of conversations with some of Ireland’s best HR leaders. We’ve pulled together a little selection box episode for you collating our ten key learnings from these conversations in 2025. Each insight has a supporting clip to it, but if you’d like to go back and listen to the full conversation on any of the topics, you’ll find the episode number and a link below. The Ten Key HR Insights of 2025 Don’t Be Afraid Of The WRC – Ep 217 – C Suite Special: Inside the WRC with Audrey Cahill of the WRC All Paths Lead Back to Culture - Ep 222 – Culture Audits: Analysis AND Action Change Doesn’t Happen Without Communication - Ep 208 – Let’s Talk Change Management Give Performance Reviews The Proper Time And Training They Require - Ep 227 – Performance, Probation and Common Pitfalls Annual Checkins Don’t Cut It In An Environment Of Constant Change - Ep 248 – Fit for Purpose? Why Everyone Dreads Performance Reviews When Assessing Credibility In Investigations, Start With Plausibility And Consistency - Ep 216 – He said, she said: Assessing credibility in investigations Not Enough Companies Are Prepared For The EU Pay Transparency Directive - Ep 247 – Closing the Gap: Pay Transparency & Gender Pay Gap Reporting Learn From The Best, Ignore The Rest - Ep 243 – Inside Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Develop Critical Thinking Skills In Your Organisation - Ep 246 – Fake Facts, Real Consequences: The AI Authority Problem HR Are In The Best Position To Lead On AI In An Organisation - Ep 241 - AI in HR: The Promise, The Peril and The Possibilities Happy Christmas to all our listeners and we'll see you in 2026!

In a world of hybrid working, constant connectivity and rising pressure, employee wellbeing is no longer a “nice to have” - it’s a business imperative. Yet many organisations still approach wellbeing through surface-level perks rather than addressing the deeper cultural, structural and leadership factors that truly impact how people feel at work. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Dr. Mark Rowe, family physician, lifestyle medicine expert and wellbeing thought leader, to explore what real, sustainable wellbeing looks like in today’s workplace. Together, they unpack why wellbeing must go beyond yoga classes and fruit bowls, how leadership behaviour and management practices directly shape organisational health, and why wellbeing should be treated as a strategic driver of performance, productivity and retention - not an add-on. Guest Dr. Mark Rowe – Medical Doctor, Author, Wellbeing Speaker & Expert in Lifestyle Medicine Topics include: Why employee wellbeing is a business imperative, not a “nice to have” The difference between wellness initiatives and true organisational wellbeing Wellbeing as the foundation for sustainable performance and productivity The “three Ps” of wellbeing: productivity, performance and people How toxic cultures and poor management damage mental and physical health Why HR leaders struggle to move wellbeing from intention to action Building a business case for wellbeing that resonates with senior leadership Organisational wellbeing as an ecosystem - not a standalone initiative Practical first steps HR leaders can take to start meaningful change Useful Links & Resources www.drmarkrowe.com – Wellbeing Programmes & Resources Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For – Dr. Mark Rowe Get in touch If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn. For confidential HR support, contact [email protected] About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges. 📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060 📧 [email protected]

Migrant and refugee women in Ireland face significant and overlapping barriers when trying to access employment — from qualification recognition issues and childcare responsibilities to language barriers, rural isolation, unconscious bias, and confusion around immigration permissions. At a time when employers are struggling to find skilled talent, these barriers represent not just an equality issue, but a missed opportunity for Irish organisations. In this episode, Dave and Mary are joined by Fiona Hurley, CEO of NASC, to discuss the findings of NASC’s Breaking Barriers report, which captures the lived experiences of migrant women navigating the Irish labour market. Together, they explore why highly skilled migrant women — including those with STEM, healthcare and professional qualifications — are being filtered out of recruitment processes, how employer misunderstanding of immigration stamps limits opportunity, and what HR leaders can do practically to remove bias and widen their talent pool. Guest Fiona Hurley – CEO, NASC (Migrant & Refugee Rights Charity) Topics include: Key findings from Breaking Barriers: Challenges in Employment Access for Migrant Women • Childcare, transport and structural barriers that disproportionately impact migrant women • Accent bias, language assumptions and discrimination in recruitment • Why overseas qualifications and experience are routinely undervalued • The “invisible talent pool” of highly skilled migrant women in Ireland • Immigration stamps explained: Stamp 1G, Stamp 1, Stamp 4 and common employer misconceptions • Why confusion around work permissions leads to exclusion — even when candidates have full work rights • How screening tools, interview panels and unconscious bias filter candidates out early • Internships, mentoring and work shadowing as practical entry points • Case studies of employers getting it right through partnership and flexibility • What HR professionals can do now to design fairer, more inclusive recruitment systems Useful Links & Resources Breaking Barriers: Challenges in Employment Access for Migrant Women – NASC Report • NASC contact: [email protected] Get in touch If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at [email protected]. For confidential HR support, contact [email protected] About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges. 📞 Immediate HR support: 056 770 1060 📧 [email protected]  

The Christmas party season should be a time for joy and celebration — but for HR teams, it’s often the exact opposite. Misconduct, blurred boundaries, alcohol, drugs, safety concerns, dignity-at-work issues, employer liability… every December, HR braces for what can become the messiest time of the year. In this episode, Dave and Mary are joined by Adrian Twomey, Employment Law Expert & Partner at Jacob & Twomey Solicitors, to unpack the real risks, legal responsibilities, and unexpected behaviours that regularly turn a festive night out into a January HR nightmare. Together, they explore what employers are actually liable for, whether pre-party reminder emails help, why managers play a pivotal role, and if Christmas parties are – controversially -past their sell-by date entirely. Guests Adrian Twomey – Employment Law Expert & Partner, Jacob & Twomey Solicitors Topics include: Employer Liability: Are Christmas parties an extension of the workplace? Real Case Law Examples – harassment, injuries & blurred boundaries Alcohol, Drugs & Lowered Inhibitions: The behaviour shift HR must prepare for Why pre-party “behave yourselves” emails may backfire Managing Complaints: What to do first thing Monday morning The role of managers in preventing party-night disasters Social Media, Privacy & Reputation Risks Should Christmas Parties Be Cancelled Altogether? Alternatives to the traditional boozy night out Key actions HR should take now to protect employees and the organisation Survey: Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026 Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026 Survey – Share your experience, benchmark against peers, and get early access to the final report. As a thank you, you’ll also be entered into a draw for a €150 One4All Digital Gift Card. Take the survey here Get in touch If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn. About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love to hear your feedback, we take requests, and we’re always here to support you with your HR challenges. Immediate HR support 👉 056 770 1060 or [email protected]