Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2024-02-29
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Emer Higgins (FG), Dublin Mid-West

One of the few positives that we got from Covid-19 lockdowns is the rise in the ability to work from home. When I am out canvassing on a Monday and a Friday, I am continually amazed by how many people I meet who are working from home. We know that it has many benefits in terms of flexibility, better work-life integration and increased productivity but there is also a downside. It can make people less physically active and more prone to health problems, in particular, back and neck pain. Some employers already offer incentives for employees in terms of a wellness bonus but I think we need to do something more universal. We should make health and wellness tax deductible and start with those people who are working from home because they need it most. That would be good for workers and society as a whole. In the long term, it would be good for the healthcare system. My question to the Tánaiste is whether he would look at prioritising health and wellness for workers, in particular, those working from home.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2024-02-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-02-29