From 22 September, seven mock Workplace Relations Commission hearings will let HR professionals in Ireland see a real dispute unfold, from evidence to adjudication.
The CIPD and Adare Trusted People Partners are running a national series of mock Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearings across Ireland. They're designed to show people professionals exactly how a workplace dispute plays out in practice, not just what the law says about the process.
Each hearing recreates a real WRC case, with a WRC adjudication officer, a barrister and experienced HR leaders sitting on the panel. Attendees see how evidence and legal submissions hold up under cross-examination, and how a case is decided.
The series begins at Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, on Tuesday 22 September, followed by events in Galway, Limerick, Athlone, Waterford, Dublin and Cork.
"The WRC mock adjudication series takes employment law out of the abstract and puts professionals into realistic situations where they can test their judgement, learn from others and see the implications of getting the process right."
Topics include occupational health, mental health and reasonable accommodations, protected disclosures, the growing role of social media in workplace disputes, and the use of AI in employment-related submissions.
The mock hearings are the first activity in a new three-year partnership between the CIPD and Adare Trusted People Partners, covering conferences, webinars, podcasts and member resources across the employment law calendar.
"From our national mock WRC series to the CIPD Employment Law Conference, this is about giving HR practitioners real, practical experience, not just information. We believe that's how you build genuine confidence and capability across the profession."
The arrangement goes further than a typical sponsorship. Adare's employment law specialists will work alongside the CIPD throughout the year, helping to shape the CIPD in Ireland Employment Law Conference, co-write guidance for members, and contribute to regular podcasts and webinars on emerging workplace issues. The two organisations are also developing a new employment law course for practitioners, which the CIPD plans to expand into a series across its membership levels.
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