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<h2>As the Serenity Prayer goes; “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and and wisdom to know the difference.</h2>More helpful words were never written. During times like this, it’s important to focus on what you can control. Right now you’re probably feeling scared, overwhelmed and very unsure of what the future holds for you – believe me this is normal taking into consideration what’s going on all around us and the World in general.I’ve been having bouts of panic myself recently. One minute I’m grand, just working away and I completely forget about what’s going on outside and then the next I’m feeling extremely stressed. But I have to keep reminding myself that if I can’t control what’s going on, I have to stop worrying about it. Of course I’m concerned about the people it’s affecting and if I can give support, I will. If I can’t change it, stressing myself out is only going to have a negative effect on those around me or who I work on line with.Thinking about the intersection of things that both matter and that we can control will really help – this is the place we should be focusing on because that’s where we can make a difference. I’ve come to the realisation that I can’t change the COVID-19 Virus, Government decisions, the economic crisis, currencies, restrictions on travel or things like Brexit. I can however focus on what I can change or control, my own behaviour and how I react – this way of thinking makes me more calm and content. It enables me to reach some goals and gives me some satisfaction.I’ve also limited the amount of news I read or watch, ignoring the noise helps me. To remain focussed on my own work. Mind yourself and try to stay focused yourself, I promise it will help.

In challenging times, it's important to figure out what you can control

To parents and guardians of school children in Ireland,I am very aware that many of you are worried about the reopening of schools and the associated risk of COVID-19 for your children. This concern is natural and is to be fully expected after a period of six months during which we have all had to adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19.The decision to reopen schools has not been taken lightly and has been based on guidance produced by international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); scientific evidence regarding the risk of COVID-19 in school children and staff; the experience of other countries that have not closed, or have reopened, their schools; our own experience having reopened childcare settings and summer camps since June; and evidence regarding the importance of school for the overall health and wellbeing of children.International evidence shows us that child-to-child and child-to-adult transmission of COVID-19 in schools is uncommon. In addition, our own experience to date in Ireland, and indeed that reported internationally, demonstrates that for the overwhelming majority of children who are diagnosed with COVID-19, their symptoms will be mild.The importance of schools for the overall health and wellbeing of children cannot be overstated, and the risk of COVID-19 has been carefully weighed against the very real harm that can be caused by sustained school closures. Schools play a fundamental role in the social life of children; they are where children are educated, make friends, share interests, learn social skills like self-confidence and empathy, and participate in sport and cultural activities.Of course, as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic, there are no zero risk options for reopening schools or indeed any other environment; the aim, therefore, is to reopen in as safe a way as possible by ensuring that all appropriate public health measures such as physical distancing, hand washing and respiratory hygiene are implemented where appropriate.Schools are at the heart of our communities and the best way to protect them is to keep the level of COVID-19 in the community low. As parents and guardians, you can play a key role in this, both through your own actions and through the influence that you have on your family and friends. If all of us continue to make small changes to the way we live, we can - together - starve this virus of opportunities to transmit.While it is okay to send your child to school or childcare if they only have a runny nose or a sneeze, if you have any concerns that your child has symptoms of COVID-19 - fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell – then please keep them at home until you have spoken with your GP by phone. Lots more information is available at <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/">gov.ie/backtoschool</a> and <a href="https://www.hse.ie/eng/">hse.ie</a>.There will be cases of COVID-19 among children over the coming days and weeks, as there have been throughout this pandemic to date. But when this happens our public health teams in the HSE will respond and liaise closely with the school involved and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect other students and school staff.Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done to keep your family and our communities safe over the past seven months. I also want to thank all teachers, principals and school staff who have worked so hard to ensure that our schools are ready to reopen – it is just one more example of the incredible solidarity that has defined the way in which people all across the country have come together to play their part in getting us through this pandemic.Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health.

Gov.ie - Letter to Parents, Guardians of School Children and School Staff

Notice for 3rd Level Students:A number of weeks ago, the Government provided €15 million to purchase laptops and ipads to help with remote learning and to bridge the digital divide.The Department of Higher Education has ordered almost 17,000 Dell laptops which will now be distributed across our universities, our Institutes of Technology, our ETB’s and a number of Solas funded colleges also.Anyone who needs a laptop and feels they fall into the criteria of disadvantaged student should apply to their college to the Student Services office and they will process your application.

Students to get laptops as part of €168m Covid-19 college fund

UPDATE;The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD has asked the Revenue Commissioners to reinstate Proprietary Directors to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) from 1 September where they meet the objective of the scheme of retaining ordinary employees on payroll.“Over the past 48 hours he said; &quot;I have listened to the concerns of certain Proprietary Directors in relation to provisions of the EWSS. These Proprietary Directors have been using the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) to retain “ordinary” employees in their business over recent months and they would wish to continue to do so under the new EWSS.Having considered the points raised with me, I have decided to ask the Revenue Commissioners to reinstate Proprietary Directors to the EWSS from 1 September where they are retaining &quot;ordinary&quot; employees on their payroll. Minister Donohoe has also asked his department to review the provision with the Revenue Commissioners during August consistent with achieving the above objective while also protecting the integrity of the EWSS.Guidance will issue from the Revenue Commissioners in good time for the commencement of the scheme on 1 September.Any legislative amendments will be included in the Finance Bill later in the year.https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/50a6d-minister-donohoe-reinstates-proprietary-directors-to-the-employment-wage-subsidy-scheme/PREVIOUSLYIn an open Letter to the Government from a self-employed couple, running a café following the Governments previous decision to cut directors / owners from the Wage Subsidy Scheme, fears grew for small businesses Nationwide.&quot; It read; “Having slipped this announcement into a paragraph in the law, the Government are slipping away on holidays, for six weeks, in the height of a pandemic, as the economy slips into an abyss.I’m tired of fighting, tired of being taken for granted and tired of paying the salaries of those who put themselves ahead of the citizens of Ireland.Those who had the courage to open a business in Ireland are #InItTogether, but it’s not the same place as our “leaders”.You have given us two choices. Close our business permanently and claim the dole or close our business for 12 months and minimise our losses to just the annual rent and claim the dole.We still make the coffee and cook the food, but because we own our business, the Government are saying that they will not subsidise our wages” “in a loss making business”, “To do so would be illegal under Company law.”PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO MAKE A CHANGE <a href="https://www.change.org/p/heather-humphreys-td-undo-decision-to-cut-directors-and-owners-from-the-wage-subsidy-scheme-to-save-businesses?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_23818486_en-GB%3A6&amp;recruiter=767983555&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=copylink&amp;utm_campaign=share_petition">HERE</a>Read their full letter <a href="https://idahocafe.tumblr.com/post/625099536724000768/an-open-letter-to-paschal-donohoe-and-the-irish?fbclid=IwAR3hmoJX9dBcmAOQhXmiHyPZu2gM5qR6NfvwFKxnNUliivKNmiv7zPW9BL4">here.</a>Here&#39;s more Information about the details in the July Stimulus PackageAs part of the July Stimulus package released on 23 July, the government announced the introduction of a NEW Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which will apply from July 31st until the end of March 2021. It will run concurrently with the existing Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) until 31 August at which stage the TWSS will cease.The EWSS provides many employers with an important financial lifeline for the next 9 months. The government is setting aside €2.35 billion in employment subsidies under the EWSS which underpins the importance being placed on maintaining current employment levels within the economy. The inclusion of new hires under the scheme will provide welcome support to employers who will look to expand their workforce in the future.Financial Provisions (COVID-19) (No.2) Bill 2020, which was published on 24 July, provides the legislative footing for this new wage support scheme and sets out various details of the scheme, including the employer and employee eligibility criteria; the rates of subsidy payable; and other administrative and operational aspects.How are employers and employees eligible for the new EWSS?Employer EligibilityTo be eligible to participate in the EWSS, the employer must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Revenue that, they their business have been significantly disrupted by reason of COVID-19. Specifically the employer needs to demonstrate at least a 30% decline (or such other percentage as the Minister for Finance may specify) in either the turnover of the employer’s business or in customer orders received during the period 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019.In cases where the business of the employee has not operated for the whole of the corresponding period in 2019, the following will apply:Where the business operations have commenced on or before 1 November 2019, the 30% decline test must be determined in 2020 by reference to the same reference period last year in which the business was in operation. For example, if the employer’s business commenced on 1 September 2019, then a 30% decline in the period 1 September 2020-31 December 2020 must arise as compared to 1 September 2019-31 December 2019.Where the business operations have commenced after 1 November 2019, the employer must be able to show that the turnover or customer orders during the period 1 July to 31 December 2020 will be at least 30% less than what the turnover or customer orders would have been had there been no disruption caused by COVID-19.While the introduction of a further wage support scheme is welcomed, the reference period for eligibility of 1 July to 31 December 2020 is likely to be a disappointing condition for many employers who may have suffered significantly as a result of COVID-19 in the first half of 2020 and are now expected to need a further 30% decline in the second half of the year in order to avail of any government wage supports from 1 September. Helpfully, under the new EWSS, there is no requirement for the employer to have to demonstrate an inability to pay wages which caused significant confusion and uncertainty amongst employers under the TWSS.The Bill provides that Revenue will publish guidelines to assist employers in determining whether the reduction in turnover/customer orders will occur by reason of COVID-19 and the disruption that COVID-19 is causing to business.Any employer who is entered in the register established and maintained under the Child Care Act 1991 will be considered eligible for the scheme without having to satisfy the reduction in turnover or customer order tests. This would include pre-schools, play groups, creches and other services catering for pre-school children in addition to creches etc that cater for primary school children. In order to be eligible for the EWSS throughout the entire period, the employer must be entitled to a tax clearance certificate.The Bill requires employers to review their eligibility criteria at the end of each month for July to March 2021. If as a result of the review, it transpires that the employer does not meet the eligibility criteria they should withdraw themselves from the scheme on ROS with effect from the first day of the following month. Eligible EmployeesAny employee who was considered an eligible employee under the existing TWSS provisions will also be considered an eligible employee for the EWSS.The new EWSS extends the definition of eligible employee to now include an individual who is on the payroll of the employer at any time in the “qualifying period” i.e. at any time between 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2021. This does however exclude an individual who is a proprietary director of the company and someone who is connected with the employer (unless such connected person was on the payroll of the employer between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 and received pay from the employer during that time).Previously, with a small number of limited exceptions, an employee was only considered eligible for the TWSS where they were included on the employer payroll on 29 February 2020.The extension of the EWSS to seasonal workers and new hires is a very welcome development, particularly to those sectors such as hospitality or other seasonal businesses who perhaps were closed in February 2020 or operating at a reduced capacity.  Rates of subsidy payableUnder the EWSS, eligible employers will receive a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis which will be determined based on the amount of gross pay that the employer pays to the eligible employee as follows:Gross Pay Subsidy Payable&lt;€151.50, €0€151.50 - €202.99 €151.50 per week€203 - €1,462 €203 per week&gt;€1,462 €0The rates payable under the new EWSS have been simplified considerably compared to the rates payable currently under the TWSS. Under the existing TWSS, those employees with gross pay in excess of €960 per week are not eligible for the subsidy. This upper gross pay limit has been increased to €1,462 under the new scheme. However, a lower gross pay limit of €151.50 is now provided for which doesn’t exist under the TWSS. Operational aspects of the EWSSi) Registration for the EWSSThe employer will be required to register for the EWSS in the same way as it would have done for the TWSS. In other words, for those employers who are looking to enter the EWSS, they will be required to login ROS and register by way of declaring that the eligibility criteria are met.  ii) Claiming the EWSSWhile the existing TWSS is considered a payment to the employee (albeit it is administered by the employer), under the new EWSS, the subsidy to be paid to the employer is now more akin to an employment support grant. Under the new scheme, the employer will pay the employee their normal wages and will then receive a subsidy from the Revenue in respect of each eligible employee following submission of the payroll return based on the table set out above.The subsidy will be paid by Revenue to the employer via a bank transfer (as is the case now) within a few days after the employer submitting their payroll return to Revenue for the relevant pay period.  iii) Tax and PRSI positionWhile the Bill is silent on the tax treatment of the subsidy payments, it does provide that employers will be required to operate PRSI on all gross payments to be made to their employees having regard to guidelines to be published by the Revenue.Revenue has confirmed that all gross payments made to employees under the EWSS should be fully liable to PAYE, USC and employee PRSI in the normal way.However, employer PRSI at the reduced rate of 0.5% will apply for employments that are eligible for the subsidy.iv) Interaction with existing TWSSWhere an employer is entitled to receive a subsidy for an employee under the existing TWSS during July and August 2020, the employer shall not also be entitled to claim a subsidy under the EWSS in respect of the same employee. Revenue has confirmed that from 31 July, employers currently availing of the existing TWSS can claim the new EWSS in respect of new hires.From 31 July 2020, those employers who have not previously availed of the TWSS, will only be eligible to apply for the new EWSS (assuming the various eligibility criteria are met).v) PublicationAs was the case for the TWSS, the names and addresses of all employers who receive a wage subsidy payment under the new EWSS will be published on revenue.ie. vi) Anti-avoidanceThe Bill includes a specific anti-avoidance provision which seeks to counteract contrived situations whereby any gross pay due to an employee is deferred, suspended, increased or decreased with a view to securing the wage subsidy or situations where an employee is laid off and removed from the payroll and replaced with two or more employees in relation for whom the subsidy would be available. If Revenue identify any such cases, the employer will be treated as having never been eligible for the scheme and any subsidy payments received would need to be refunded, together with possible interest and penalties.Source; KMPGNEW UPDATES WILL FOLLOW

UPDATE: Directors and Owners back on Wage Subsidy Scheme

As the Government today launched the €7.4 billion Jobs Stimulus to help businesses re-open, get people back to work and promote confidence, here’s just a few of the highlights and details<ul><li>A new Employment Wage Support Scheme will succeed the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, and run until April 2021. Employers, whose turnover has fallen 30%, will receive a flat rate subsidy of up to €203 per week per employee including for seasonal staff and new employees. New firms operating in impacted sectors will also be eligible. The Scheme is expected to support around 350,000 jobs into the beginning of 2021.</li></ul><ul><li>Vat Rate to be cut from 23% to 21% - effective beginning September</li></ul><ul><li>There will be a new income tax relief for self-employed individuals who were profitable in 2019 but, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, incur losses in 2020.</li></ul><ul><li>Subsidies of up to €7500 over two years will be available for employers to hire someone under the age of 30 who is on the Live Register or the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.</li></ul><ul><li>The Apprentice Incentivisation Scheme will provide a €2000 payment to support employers to take on new apprenticeships in 2020.</li></ul><ul><li>The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Back to Education Allowance will be extended to people currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.</li></ul><ul><li>The Restart Grant for Enterprises is being extended to a broader base of SMEs and expanded by €300 million. The payment level is being increased to €25,000. Further payments may be available to firms which have already received them. Some businesses, such as B&amp;Bs, not previously included in the scheme, will now be eligible.</li></ul><ul><li>A package of liquidity and enterprise investment measures worth €55 million will be put in place to support small and micro companies through additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. This will include measures to reduce interest rates on lending for micro and small businesses, including grants equivalent to 0% interest on the first year of SBCI and MFI loans.</li></ul><ul><li>Waiver of commercial rates - With limited exceptions, all businesses will be granted a waiver of commercial rates for the six months to end-September 2020, at a total cost of €600 million.</li></ul><ul><li>Additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices - </li>A package of liquidity and enterprise investment measures worth €55 million will be put in place to support small and micro companies through additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.This will include measures to reduce interest rates on lending for micro and small businesses, including grants equivalent to 0% interest on the first year of SBCI and MFI loans.</ul><ul><li>An increased allowable expenditure under the “Cycle to Work” scheme from €1000 to €1500 in respect of ‘ebikes’ and €1250 in respect of other bicycles will be introduced.</li></ul><ul><li>35,000 additional places in further and higher education. These will be delivered through a variety of measures including Skills to Compete Initiative (SOLAS), Skillnet, Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, as well as through additional undergraduate and postgraduate provision in the Higher Educational Institutions.</li></ul><ul><li>A Retrofit Skills Training Initiative will support future expansion of the National Retrofitting Programme.</li></ul><ul><li>The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Back to Education Allowance will be extended to people currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment</li></ul><ul><li>The Pandemic Unemployment Payment, due to end in August 2020, is being extended by 7 months until 1 April 2021, giving those on emergency income support greater security as the country recovers and job opportunities return. Between now and April, there will be a gradual reduction in payment level, linked to previous incomes, bringing payments in line with existing social welfare levels over time.</li>The scheme will close to new claimants from Thursday 17 September 2020.</ul>Read the full details of the July Stimulus and get access to the full press release here;<a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5654a-july-jobs-stimulus/">https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5654a-july-jobs-stimulus/</a>

€7.4 billion Jobs Stimulus Details

<h2>Confirm your eligibility for the COVID-19 Unemployment Payment by 13 July or payments will cease.</h2>If you are currently in receipt of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment you now need to confirm your continued entitlement to this payment.<h3>To continue receiving this payment you must be:</h3><ul><li>Fully unemployed - permanently or temporarily as a result of COVID-19</li><li>Or, if self-employed , your trading income has been significantly reduced</li><li>Living in the Republic of Ireland</li></ul><h2>How to confirm your eligibility</h2>You must confirm by 13 JulyThe quickest and easiest way to do this is online at <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/">www.mywelfare.ie</a>. Direct link to confirm eligibility <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/covid-19-payments/confirm-your-eligibility-for-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/">CLICK HERE</a>You will need a MyGovID account . If you don&#39;t have one you can create one.<h3></h3><h3>Who needs to complete this?</h3>If you are currently in receipt of a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment you must confirm you are still eligible to continue to receive this payment by completing this form. If you don&#39;t complete this form by Monday 13th July 2020, your payment may be stopped. <h2></h2><h2>Closing your claim</h2>If you have returned to work you must close your claim for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on the day you return to work .<h2>Contact</h2>If you need information or further assistance please contact the DEASP Income Support Helpline.<h3>DEASP Income Support Helpline for COVID-19</h3>Phone number:1890 800 024

COVID Pandemic Unemployment Payments to Stop unless eligibility confirmed

There was a lovely sense of joy today as many more businesses opened their doors for the very first time since COVID-19 lockdown.Pints were pulled, food served to tables, hair roots and silver streaks covered and many childcare facilities welcomed their little ones back again.Hotels opened up their bedrooms and resident bars, as they waited for guests to arrive.While business life is very different than before for everyone, there&#39;s no doubt that many business owners and employees were delighted to return.Business plans have also changed, right now most businesses are aiming to just get back on track - in as much as they possibly can. They will be happy to just break even by the end of their financial year.At JobAlert.ie we want to wish every business both large and small the very best of success. Please support local people and try and be as patient as possible as businesses try to get used to their new norm.Employers, if you need staff please contact us;Website; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers">https://www.jobalert.ie/employers</a>Phone; 01 8495003Email; info@jobalert.ie

Customers Wanted, Apply Within

This powerful initiative brings together business, makers, creativity and communities to help our country emerge stronger.Play your part - pledge your support for local today at <a href="www.championgreen.ie">championgreen.ie</a>. Support local to lift us all.If you need help Advertising Jobs please check out <a href="www.jobalert.ie">www.jobalert.ie</a> Ireland&#39;s #1 Irish owned Jobs boardThank youHow you can participate in #Champion Green<h2>Take the Pledge</h2>The Champion Green Pledge is a commitment to support local to help our communities recover.It is individuals, consumers, businesses, craftspeople, artists, community groups and organisations uniting to consciously support local in order to reboot Ireland’s economic and social wellbeing.Our country and communities have endured a huge shock, but if we lift each other, we all will rise.#ChampionGreen<h2>How it Works</h2>As a Champion Green supporter you pledge to supporting local whenever possible.As a Champion Green Business or Organisation or Community Group seeking a sustainable recovery, you pledge to support local whenever possible, paying forward the benefit you get from Champion Green support.Once you take the pledge, you will get full access to the Champion Green toolkit. You can use the toolkit content wherever you do business – online, on social media or in your shop or workplace.About JobAlert.ie Ireland&#39;s #1 Irish owned Jobs boardTechnology has changed the way jobseekers find work and how recruiters engage with them.At JobAlert.ie, we are using the very latest technologies to change the face of job advertising by reaching jobseekers directly through social media. This allows us to reach both active and passive highly qualified jobseekers in an easy, accessible and affordable way.By passive we mean those potential candidates who may not be actively looking for a new job, but if they see an opportunity in their social media newsfeeds they will apply. This can make a massive difference, particularly for those hard to fill vacancies.We have over 400,000 followers on social media, segmented by county and we also have over half a million website visitors each month. Thousands of jobseekers have signed up to our ‘JobAlert’ on line system, where they are notified about roles that meet their selected criteria.We ensure that businesses of all sizes can attract the best talent. All you have to do is upload the details of your vacancy to our website and our system does the rest.So what can you expect when you advertise with JobAlert.ie?- Your job spec is reviewed- An eye catching unique graphic is automatically produced- A digital marketing campaign begins for each Job Ad- It is shared multiple times to relevant audiences on social media during- ‘JobAlert’ notifications are sent to candidates who have registered for your specific job type.- Applicants can be reviewed, manage and responded to quickly using our inbuilt applicant tracking system.- We provide full integration if you have a careers page applicant tracking system.The great news is that Ads cost just €149 each, there are no hidden fees or yearly contracts. For clients that advertise regularly we also have scaled rates available.Contact us today at 01 8495003 to have a chat, we&#39;d be delighted to hear from you.

#We pledge to #SupportLocal and #ChampionGreen. Will you?

Joy as hairdressers, hotels and B&amp;Bs and small gatherings for summer weddings are expected to get the go-ahead for the end of June. Many people will be thrilled to hear that they can finally ditch the root sprays and go on a little break away.Couples whose wedding plans were put on hold will also be relieved to know they can have a small gathering if they like, but it could be disappointing for some that may have already cancelled all their plans. Cinemas and theatres are also being reviewed and restaurants and pubs that serve food will also be back in business. Other Pubs that don&#39;t serve food will not open until July.If you need staff please let us know, we would be delighted to help you. If you are a jobseeker, register on our website to receive &#39;JobAlerts&#39;, we&#39;ll help you to find your ideal job.About JobAlert.ieAt JobAlert.ie we use the very latest technologies to reach jobseekers directly through social media. This allows you to engage with both active and passive highly qualified jobseekers in an easy, accessible and affordable way. By passive we mean those potential candidates who may not be actively looking for a new job, but if they see an opportunity in their social media newsfeeds they will apply. This can make a massive difference, particularly for those hard to fill vacancies.We have over 400,000 followers on social media, segmented by county and we also have over half a million website visitors each month. Thousands of jobseekers have signed up to our ‘JobAlert’ on line system, where they are notified about roles that meet their selected criteria.We ensure that businesses of all sizes can attract the best talent. All you have to do is upload the details of your vacancy to our website and our system does the rest.What you can you expect when you advertise with JobAlert.ie- Your job spec is reviewed and we’ll make some suggested changes based on our experience, if you like.- An eye catching unique graphic is automatically produced for use on social media.- Each Job Ad stays live on our website for 30 days.- A digital marketing campaign begins for each Job Ad, as it is shared to relevant audiences on social media during peak traffic hours to ensure maximum exposure.- Ads are automatically monitored and pushed on social media multiple times if additional CVs are required. - ‘JobAlert’ notifications are sent to candidates who have registered for your specific job type.- You can review, manage and respond quickly to candidates by logging into your JobAlert.ie account and using our inbuilt applicant tracking system.- You will be assigned a dedicated Account Manager who is highly specialised in recruitment and digital marketing.- You will successfully fill your vacancies!There are no hidden fees or yearly contracts, Job Ads are just €149 + Vat and for clients that advertise regularly we also have scaled rates available.We pride ourselves on our follow up service, but don’t just take our word for it, you can read some recent testimonials on our website <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers?openTestimonies=true&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=news&amp;utm_campaign=Ad%20Costs#testimonies">here</a>, they sell our service much better than we can.If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to check out <a href="www.jobalert.ie">www.jobalert.ie</a> or give us a call on 01 8495003.

Hairdressers, Hotels and B&Bs set to open end of June

Interesting statistics released this week, show that over 33,000 people have closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the last week, bringing the number of people who signed off it so far to 108,000. The top 3 sectors in which people returned to work were, 7700 in the Wholesale, Retail Trade &amp; Motor Repairs industry, 5,300 in Construction, 2,500 in Manufacturing and a further 2,400 employees in Accommodation and Food Service activities.In relation to Enhanced Illness Benefit that was introduced for people who have either been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who had symptoms and had to self-isolate, over 11,700 were in the Human Health &amp; Social Work sector, followed by 10,800 in the Wholesale and Retail Trade and 6,800 in Manufacturing.The COVID-19 payments have been extended until end of August and the Government has urged people to sign off when they are offered their jobs back. The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via <a href="www.mywelfare.ie">www.mywelfare.ie</a> . Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the department’s dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are continuing to carry out checks to ensure that claims are valid.Full Details can be found below in the Official Department Release Update on payments awarded for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Enhanced Illness BenefitDate: 15 June 2020The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection issued payments valued at €174.6 million to 498,700 people in respect of their application for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Taking the 517,600 who were paid last week, this represents a decrease of 18,900 on the number of people paid last week. Since last week’s payment, 33,000 people have closed their claim for a Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Of these, 21,900 will be receiving their last payment tomorrow. As well as those availing of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now over 60,600 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) with at least one subsidy being paid in respect of over 532,000 people under that scheme since it began. An estimated 400,000 employees are currently being supported by the scheme having received a subsidy in their most recent pay period. The above payments are in addition to the 225,600 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of May. Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said:“The numbers receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment continue to gradually decline – with the total now dropping below the 500,000 mark. Only a few short weeks ago, there were approximately 600,000 receiving the payment so some progress has been made, but it is also clear that the return to a new normal will be gradual and incremental. That is why I extended the payment beyond its originally planned life cycle into August. My department will continue to monitor the rate of the economy’s reopening, the continuing need for income support and the developing health situation and will develop a number of options for Government to consider before the scheme’s projected end in August.” People returning to workLast week, some 33,000 people closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which 27,600 reported that they were returning to work. Of those 27,600 returning to work, approx. 21,900 are receiving their last payment this week. As the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a weekly payment paid in arrears, there can be a one week lag in how closures, due to people returning to work, are reflected in the payment data. The 21,900 individuals who closed their claim as they return to work are eligible for a final payment, as they were unemployed in the week for which this payment is due. The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and motorcycles with 7,700 back in work, while 5,300 have returned to the Construction sector and 2,500 have returned to their jobs in Manufacturing. A further 2,400 employees are returning to Accommodation and Food Service activities. A full breakdown of the sectors is set out at Appendix 6 below. Looking at the age profile of employees returning to work this week, the largest cohort are those aged 35-44 with 7,100 returning (up from 6,200 last week). There are 5,500 employees aged 25-34 returning this week, up 500 on last week while 4,600 people under 25 are returning to their jobs this week which is up 1,000 on last week. Full details are available at Appendix 7.With the government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business now in Phase Two, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is instructing workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). In order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly, workers who will be returning to work must close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start back at work. Since the commencement of Phase One of the government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, some 108,000 employees have closed their claims and returned to work. The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via <a href="www.mywelfare.ie">www.mywelfare.ie</a> . Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the department’s dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm). COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment ChecksAs is the case, for all social welfare schemes, the department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, including:• integrity checks made against records already held by the department including Public Service Information data and cross checks with payments on other schemes. These help to verify if a person is who they claim to be and that they are entitled to claim payment• a reconciliation process between the department’s payment file and Revenue’s payment file for the COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme• a prior employment status check by comparing all claims for PUP against prior earnings and employment records from Revenue data• as with other welfare schemes, the department contacts recipients to ensure that they continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment• data analytics• the department’s inspection staff participating with Garda and Customs staff, in security checks on major transport routes and transport hubsTemporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy SchemeThere are now over 60,600 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). Workers whose employers have registered them on the scheme are not eligible to receive a pandemic unemployment payment. In addition workers who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment but who have now been registered by their employers on the TWSS are no longer eligible to receive a payment pandemic unemployment payment.COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit PaymentThere are now 51,300 people up to age 66 who have been medically certified for receipt of the COVID-19 enhanced Illness Benefit. Approx. 7% (3,627) have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while 93% (47,673) were required to medically self-isolate.Since the beginning of June, 48 people have applied for Illness Benefit as they have been medically certified with having COVID-19 while 452 have applied because they are medically self-isolating.The sector the largest number of employees in receipt of COVID-19 Illness Benefit is the Human Health and Social Work sector (11,700), followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (10,800) and Manufacturing (6,800). Full details are at Appendices 8, 9 and 10 below.The department wishes to thank its customers for submitting the majority of applications through our online portal <a href="www.mywelfare.ie">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>. This is the quickest and easiest way to submit an application and enables the department to allocate resources to contacting those who submitted invalid applications.Individuals can close their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment online at <a href="www.mywelfare.ie">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>.In the interests of the public health advice and the restrictions on movements please if at all possible do not attend your local Intreo Centre as opening hours have now been restricted. Instead please apply through <a href="www.mywelfare.ie">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>. Further Information on statistics available;Analysis of Pandemic Unemployment Payments by CountyPandemic Unemployment Payments by SectorPandemic Unemployment Payments by Age ProfileAnalysis of People who Closed their PUP Claim to Return to WorkAnalysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments by SectorAnalysis of Closed Pandemic Unemployment Payments Age ProfileEnhanced Illness Benefit Payments by CountyEnhanced Illness Benefit Payments by SectorEnhanced Illness Benefit Payments Age Profile See the details <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eed4f-update-on-payments-awarded-for-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment-and-enhanced-illness-benefit/">HERE</a>

Over 100,000 sign off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment

The world has changed in ways we could never have imagined. But despite everything, one thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment and passion to supporting our customers and jobseekers. Throughout lockdown we worked hard to support businesses that were still open and hiring, and we paused Ads for those that were closed. We also issued free Ads, so that these business can continue recruiting when it’s safe for them to reopen. We ran free Ads for the &quot;Be on Call for Ireland&quot; campaign for frontline workers and provided support and information for workers and employers that were negatively impacted during lockdown.Moving forward, we will be there for you all the way, enabling you to quickly and cost effectively fill your vacancies using the very latest technologies.If you need staff please let us know, we would be delighted to help you. If you are a jobseeker, register on our website to receive &#x27;JobAlerts&#x27;, we&#x27;ll help you to find your ideal job.About JobAlert.ieAt JobAlert.ie we use the very latest technologies to reach jobseekers directly through social media. This allows you to engage with both active and passive highly qualified jobseekers in an easy, accessible and affordable way. By passive we mean those potential candidates who may not be actively looking for a new job, but if they see an opportunity in their social media newsfeeds they will apply. This can make a massive difference, particularly for those hard to fill vacancies.We have over 400,000 followers on social media, segmented by county and we also have over half a million website visitors each month. Thousands of jobseekers have signed up to our ‘JobAlert’ on line system, where they are notified about roles that meet their selected criteria.We ensure that businesses of all sizes can attract the best talent. All you have to do is upload the details of your vacancy to our website and our system does the rest. What you can you expect when you advertise with JobAlert.ie- Your job spec is reviewed and we’ll make some suggested changes based on our experience, if you like.- An eye catching unique graphic is automatically produced for use on social media.- Each Job Ad stays live on our website for 30 days.- A digital marketing campaign begins for each Job Ad, as it is shared to relevant audiences on social media during peak traffic hours to ensure maximum exposure. - Ads are automatically monitored and pushed on social media multiple times if additional CVs are required.  - ‘JobAlert’ notifications are sent to candidates who have registered for your specific job type.- You can review, manage and respond quickly to candidates by logging into your JobAlert.ie account and using our inbuilt applicant tracking system.- You will be assigned a dedicated Account Manager who is highly specialised in recruitment and digital marketing.- You will successfully fill your vacancies!There are no hidden fees or yearly contracts, Job Ads are just €149 + Vat and for clients that advertise regularly we also have scaled rates available.We pride ourselves on our follow up service, but don’t just take our word for it, you can read some recent testimonials on our website <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers?openTestimonies=true&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=news&amp;utm_campaign=Ad%20Costs#testimonies" target="_blank">here</a>, they sell our service much better than we can.If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to check out www.jobalert.ie or give us a call on 01 8495003.

Covid-19 How we Responded

Businesses re-opening face a lot of new changes &amp; restrictions. If you see mistakes talk to a Manager.Please don’t take videos or photos to shame on social media.Let’s help each other through this transition. Best of Luck to all the businesses &amp; thank you from the JobAlert.ie Team

Please be kind and shop local

As phase 1 of the government&#39;s roadmap for reopening of the country begins on Monday 18th May, it&#39;s great to see local businesses making announcements that they&#39;re getting ready to open their doors.Please shop local where possible. Your local businesses are the backbone of your community. Even if they can&#39;t open right now, check out their Facebook pages and Websites as they may be able to supply goods directly to you during lock down. According to the Governments plans the following changes will apply next week;<ul><li>Some retail outlets such as garden centres, hardware stores, electrical stores, homewares and repair shops will be allowed to re-open.</li><li>Outdoor workers like builders and gardeners will can return to work.</li></ul><ul><li>Certain outdoor public amenities will re-open and some outdoor sporting activities will be allowed in small groups, with a maximum of 4 people.</li></ul><ul><li>Outdoor public sports amenities such as football and rugby pitches, tennis courts and golf courses will be reopened where social distancing can be maintained.</li></ul><ul><li>Childcare centres can reopen for children of healthcare workers.</li></ul>At JobAlert.ie, it&#39;s business as usual. A lot of businesses are still hiring - here&#39;s just a few Vacancies that came in recently; <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5eb9709edbf355001e5acdee">Experienced Glaziers – Dublin</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/it-manager">IT Manager – Alone, Dublin 8</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5e9dbc9cf71c4c001e1d59cb">Social Care Workers - Louth</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5e9dbce8f71c4c001e1d59cc">Relief Social Care Workers - Louth</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/assistant-store-manager-nuvo-recruitment">Assistant Store Manager - Tullamore</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/store-manager-nuvo-recruitment">Store Manager – Tullamore</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/relief-van-sales-driver-pat-the-baker-25">Van Drivers – South Donegal</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea6f91a2a8a8f001d609114">Accountant / Accounts Technician – Dublin 7, Youth Advocate Programmes Ireland</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea1a80d2a8a8f001d608ac5">Cleaning Supervisor - Portlaoise, Laois</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea1a7912a8a8f001d608ac4">Office Administrator - Portlaoise, Laois</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/deputy-social-care-manager-terraglen-residential-care-services--2">Deputy Social Care Manager – TerraGlen, Westmeath</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/social-care-leaders-terraglen-residential-care-services-ltd-2">Social Care Leaders – TerraGlen, Westmeath</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5e99c075d47d8a003cb9b78c">Quality Manager - Lobinstown, County Meath, Meade Potato</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5e982cfdd47d8a003cb9b559">Senior Technical Support Engineer – Cavan, Cinnte Technologies</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea047012a8a8f001d608803">Retail Merchandisers - Arklow and Bray, Co. Wicklow</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea046652a8a8f001d6087fe">Retail Merchandisers - Thurles, Co. Tipperary</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea0475a2a8a8f001d608804">Retail Merchandisers - South Dublin </a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea0457f2a8a8f001d6087f6">Retail Merchandisers - Tramore, Poleberry and Lisduggan, Co. Waterford</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5ea06efd2a8a8f001d608827">Care Workers / Healthcare Assistants - Full Training Provided - Dublin</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5eb57a12a51ae0001d69bb7a">Office Administrator - Ballymoun</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/corperate-security-personnel-with-our-without-experience-hca-irel">Corporate Security Personnel – Men &amp; Women, No Experience Required – Various Dublin Locations</a> Best of Luck everyone, to see other vacancies or to advertise your vacancies with JobAlert.ie <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/">CLICK HERE</a> <a href="www.jobalert.ie"></a>If you&#39;d like to read the full details of the Government&#39;s roadmap, you can find it here;Government publishes roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and societyPublished: 1 May 2020From: Department of the Taoiseach<ul><li>1. Phase 1 (18 May)</li><li>2. Phase 2 (8 June)</li><li>3. Phase 3 (29 June)</li><li>4. Phase 4 (20 July)</li><li>5. Phase 5 (10 August)</li></ul>The government has published a Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business to ease the COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society in a phased manner.<a href="https://assets.gov.ie/73722/ffd17d70fbb64b498fd809dde548f411.pdf">You can view the roadmap here.</a>The roadmap will start from 18 May, from which point our country will reopen in a slow, phased way. The plan sets out five stages for unlocking restrictions, at three week intervals. As we ease restrictions, the rate of the virus in the community will be constantly monitored by the National Public Health Emergency Team and the government.The framework sets out how we can keep the level of transmission as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions proportionately with the positive social and economic benefits which will be brought about by lifting restrictions.In the meantime, we are extending the distance you can leave your home, so from 5th May, it will be possible to go up to 5 kilometres for the purposes of exercise. People who are cocooning need to continue to do so, however it will be possible from the 5th May to go outside for exercise and fresh air, as with others in society, provided you keep within 5 kilometres of your home and observe social distancing at all times.There are 5 phases in the Roadmap to ease restrictions. Each phase consists of a menu of options will be considered by Government as it gradually opens up economic and social activities.Examples of the types of actions which will be considered under the various phases include:<h2>Phase 1 (18 May)</h2><ul><li>allow outdoor meetings between people from different households</li><li>open up childcare for healthcare workers</li><li>phased return of outdoor workers</li><li>open retailers which are primarily outdoor or those which were open during first level of restriction (e.g. opticians)</li><li>opening of certain outdoor public amenities</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Phase 2 (8 June)</h2><ul><li>allow visits to households</li><li>develop plans and supports to open up business with consideration for safety of staff and customers</li><li>open small retail outlets and marts where social distancing can be observed</li><li>open public libraries</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Phase 3 (29 June)</h2><ul><li>allow small social gatherings</li><li>opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of essential workers in phased manner</li><li>return to work for those with low levels of interaction</li><li>open non-essential retail outlets with street level entrance and exit</li><li>open playgrounds</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Phase 4 (20 July)</h2><ul><li>opening of crèches, childminders and pre-schools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing basis</li><li>return to work for those who cannot work from home</li><li>gradual easing of restrictions for higher risk services (e.g. Hairdressers)</li><li>opening of museums, galleries, places of worship</li></ul><h2></h2><h2>Phase 5 (10 August)</h2><ul><li>allow larger social gatherings</li><li>return to work across all sectors</li><li>on a phased basis, commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2020/2021, opening of primary and secondary schools and 3rd level institutions</li><li>further easing of restrictions on high risk retail services</li></ul>The Roadmap also sets out a framework for future decision making, which will at all times be underpinned by public health advice.The government will regularly assess the following criteria as we seek to keep the level of transmission low while gradually restarting our economy:<ul><li>the latest data regarding the progression of the disease</li><li>the capacity of the health service</li><li>the capacity of the testing and tracing system</li><li>the measures in place to protect vulnerable groups</li><li>an assessment of the impact of excess morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the restrictions</li></ul>The COVID-19 emergency has had an unprecedented impact on our economy, as well as our society. As we begin the phased reopening of our economy, businesses will require additional supports.Separately, a National Protocol to protect the health and safety of workers is being developed by Government, employers and trade unions, with the assistance of the Health and Safety Authority and the HSE.The risk of a second wave of the virus is ever present. As a country, we can only move from one phase to the next if the virus stays under control between each phase. There will be a long-term need for physical distancing, for good hand hygiene, for respiratory hygiene, regular cleaning and for people to stay at home and isolate if they are sick.However, the government is very conscious that that there are significant consequences of social distancing measures. The normal structures of daily life – work, school, sport, entertainment - have temporarily ceased to exist and even as we reopen society, we will be living our daily lives in modified ways for as long as we live with this pandemic.We recognise that as we seek to mitigate the risks of transmission of COVID-19 through social distancing restrictions, we are creating other challenges for individuals, families and communities. Some of these challenges are manageable in the very short term but as restrictions continue, the impact becomes greater for some groups.In living with restrictions, the government will take account of these balancing impacts and the particular consequences for more vulnerable groups in our society.The areas where social-distancing causes most concern include:<ul><li>non-COVID-19-related health delays</li><li>wellbeing and mental health</li><li>vulnerable groups for whom home is not a safe place</li><li>minorities and other groups disproportionately impacted by the restrictions</li><li>risk-taking behaviour and offending</li><li>crime and policing and access to justice</li></ul>Government departments and agencies have been working to modify work practices, modes of delivery to meet with these challenges and this work will have to continue. It is acknowledged that additional measures have to be taken to reach out to more vulnerable groups and those that are particular affected by the guidance on cocooning and social distancing.Some of these measures are already underway, through various cross-government efforts such as the Community Call, In This Together and Still Here initiatives and campaigns.The Roadmap also acknowledges the need to continue to work intensively on our approach to travel restrictions and controls at ports and airports and our co-operation with Northern Ireland , the UK and our EU partners.

Looking forward to Phase 1 of re-opening the Country

eBay is offering Irish SMEs the chance to sell their products on its platform for free. Small and medium-sized businesses can avail of the offer for a minimum of three months, whether they currently have an online presence or not.EBay said the programme will help any local Irish business that wants to quick start or increase its online selling capabilities, but do not have the resources, budget or knowhow to do so.The new programme is called the &quot;Up and Running&quot; initiative and more information can be found on eBay Ireland&#39;s website. &quot;This is a difficult time for businesses of all sizes, but I hope that the launch of Up &amp; Running initiative will help alleviate some of the challenges that Irish SMEs are facing, and help them to stay open for business,&quot; said Hazel Mitchell, site lead for eBay Ireland. Ms Mitchell said the initiative is not just a way to help businesses to stay afloat, it is also an opportunity for them to grow and reach new markets. &quot;The Covid-19 restrictions have shrunk our physical world but there is still huge potential in ecommerce,&quot; she said.  &quot;We want to help businesses quickly and remove any barriers that might otherwise prevent them from transitioning to online, so we invite business owners to contact us today to see how we can help them.&quot;This is a practical solution to a critical and immediate problem,&quot; Hazel Mitchell added.The latest initiative follows a similar model to eBay.ie&#39;s Retail Expansion Programme, which was launched in 2019 and saw more than 100 Irish SMEs join the ecommerce site and grow their business capabilities online. Source: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0420/1132560-ebays-up-and-running-programme">RTÉ</a>

eBay to help small Irish businesses during Covid-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic upends the economy, according to BusinessInsider.com some companies are actively recruiting candidates who have been displaced.This is particularly true for previously difficult to fill IT roles such as Software Engineers, Java Developers, Product Designers and Program Managers which are still in high demand by the big players. Large organisations are managing to attract candidates who would have previously preferred to work for smaller organisations and start ups, who offered them a greater degree of freedom, responsibility, experience and in some cases company equity. In a crisis however, large organisations can appear attractive to displaced candidates with the offer of job security and additional benefits.In the US and across the globe big tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon are now actively whipping up top IT Talent, as they take advantage of this situation. According to BusinessInsider.com it&#39;s not the first time this strategy was used, back in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis these companies hired aggressively, scooping up talent that had been laid off elsewhere. It&#39;s not only tech talent that&#39;s in high demand though, experienced people in logistics, transport, warehousing, engineering, electrical contracting and chefs to name but a few, were always in short supply.Some companies are using this down time to find key staff, offering to start the new recruits as soon as lockdown passes. They&#39;re holding interviews by telephone and video conferencing and making quick decisions to keep candidates engaged.It&#39;s just something to be aware of. The best advice JobAlert.ie can give small businesses during lockdown to reduce the risk of losing key staff, if they are on temporary layoff, is to STAY ENGAGED and show you care! Just checking in regularly and keeping them informed with whatever information you can offer, will make a huge difference. How you treat employees now will definitely stand to you in the long run, but all you can do is try your best in these uncertain times.We care about your business and look forward to the day when we&#39;re all back to normal! In the meantime here&#39;s an interesting article from Legal Island on &quot;Strategies for Coping with a Temporary Downturn in Business during COVID-19 Crisis&quot;, it covers Lay-offs, Short time arrangements and Government Supports <a href="https://www.legal-island.ie/articles/ire/features/employment-law/2020/mar/strategies-for-coping-with-a-temporary-downturn-in-business-during-covid-19-crisis/">CLICK HERE</a>Here&#39;s a another good article from Glassdoor on managing employees through layoffs, if that&#39;s something you have to do <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/managing-your-teams-through-layoffs/">CLICK HERE</a> and this one&#39;s also a good read; <a href="https://jobbatical.com/resources/how-to-manage-layoffs-humanely-and-remotely-during-covid-19">CLICK HERE</a>Remember, we&#39;re here if you have an open vacancy now or in the future, check out JobAlert.ie. We help companies fill job vacancies quickly and cost-effectively through Ads on our website and social media channels. We don&#39;t just leave Ads on a website, we reach candidates through targeted social media campaigns, that&#39;s how we get the best results. Right now we have almost 400,000 followers on social media and over half a million monthly website visitors each month, so your jobs will get plenty of exposure. We’ve worked with over 800 clients right across the country - <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers?openTestimonies=true#testimonies">click here to view some recent testimonials</a> – they continue to sell our service much better than we can. At JobAlert.ie you’ll pay just €149 for a job advertisement. No contracts, no hidden fees. We also have discounts if you have multiple jobs to fill. You’re very welcome to call us on 00 353 1 8495003 if you have any questions.  To advertise right away or to learn more about our service click <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers">here.</a>COVID-19 will pass and hopefully we&#39;ll all be back doing what we do best, take care everyone.The JobAlert.ie TeamFull original Business Insider Article available <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-giants-hiring-job-openings-coronavirus-apple-google-amazon-facebook-2020-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">HERE</a>

Companies recruiting candidates during COVID-19

Pamela Doyle

The Wage Subsidy Scheme has been increased by 15 percent for low-income earners. 
Anyone earning up to 24,400 euro, who is being paid through the scheme, is now guaranteed at least 85 per cent of their income. 
For workers earning up to 31 thousand euro per year, the subsidy will now be up to 350 euro per week. 
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is encouraging employers to continue topping up wages.Source: <a href="https://www.fm104.ie/news/fm104-news/changes-made-to-pandemic-payment-scheme/">fm104</a>RTE Coverage;Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said for incomes that are less than approximately €24,400 per year, the State will increase the subsidy available to employers from 70% to 85%.For those employees with previous average net pay between €412 and €500 per week (equivalent to €24,400-€31,000), the subsidy will be up to €350 per week.The aim of the scheme is to maximise staff retention and firm viability by maintaining the link between the employer and employee.Speaking on RTÉ&#39;s News at One, Mr Donohoe said that the State will also introduce &quot;flexibility&quot; on how the subsidy is paid.There are 42,000 employers on the scheme, Minister Donohoe said, and he highlighted that at its inception he had agreed that he would use &quot;affordable change&quot; to maximise the number of people in a job.He said in the absence of a scheme there would be over a million people on the Live Register or in receipt of other forms of income support.Mr Donohoe agreed that this increase would put additional pressure on the State&#39;s finances but he said it would create savings in other areas.&quot;Depending on the number of employers or employees who avail of this scheme it could increase the cost of the operation by €100-€140 million but on the other hand the saving we would get is potentially reducing the number of people who are accessing the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.&quot; Business group, Ibec, has welcomed today&#39;s announcement. Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said the scheme offers a strong solution for business and workforce continuity.&quot;It will continue to play a vital role in enabling the economy to bounce back at the other end of this crisis, helping vulnerable firms to stay afloat and keeping their employees engaged whilst protecting the incomes of individuals.&quot;He called for all stakeholders to help make the scheme work &quot;including those employers acting in good faith and doing their best to support employees and preserve their business for the recovery.&quot;The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the changes will end weeks of uncertainty for low-paid and middle-income earners.General Secretary, Patricia King said, &quot;It is understandable having regard to the context in which enabling legislation was drafted that anomalies would arise. I hope that today&#39;s announcement will spur a further growth in the uptake of the scheme and look forward to working with the relevant parties in ironing out any further irregularities.&quot;

Covid 19