Workplace Relations Commission
aka WRC, Workplace Relations, Irish WRC
Ireland's statutory body that resolves employment disputes, inspects workplaces and adjudicates complaints under most employment, equality and industrial relations legislation.
Last reviewed May 2026
Definition
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the independent statutory body established under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 to resolve employment and industrial relations disputes in Ireland. It absorbed the functions of the Labour Relations Commission, the Equality Tribunal, the Employment Appeals Tribunal at first instance, the National Employment Rights Authority, and the Rights Commissioner Service. The WRC has three main functions: information and advice through its Workplace Relations Customer Service line, mediation and conciliation of collective and individual disputes, and adjudication of complaints by Adjudication Officers whose decisions can be appealed to the Labour Court. WRC inspectors carry statutory powers to enter places of work, inspect employment records and interview employees, with a particular focus on the National Minimum Wage, Organisation of Working Time Act, Payment of Wages Act and the Employment Permits Acts. Records typically required include payslips, hours-worked records (often the Form OWT1), annual leave records, contract of employment, and the written statement of terms. Most complaints must be lodged within six months of the contravention, extendable to twelve in limited cases.
Why it matters for software choice
WRC inspections often turn on whether the employer can produce records on the day. HR and payroll software that stores written terms, retained payslips, OWT working-time records and leave balances in a single place, with timestamps, removes most of the paper risk. Underpayment, missing breaks and undocumented leave are the three patterns inspectors find first.
Authority sources
- Workplace Relations Commission (www.workplacerelations.ie)
- Workplace Relations Act 2015 (www.irishstatutebook.ie)
Software categories this affects
Vendors covered by this term
BrightPay
Award-winning Irish payroll with full PAYE Modernisation and Revenue integration
HRLocker
Irish-built HR software for the full employee lifecycle
BambooHR
Intuitive HR platform for Irish SMEs who need hiring, onboarding, and people management
HiBob
Modern HR platform designed for mid-size companies with strong culture and engagement tools
Sage HR
Lightweight HR platform from Sage, formerly CakeHR, with leave and performance management
Bizimply
Workforce management for hospitality, retail, and multi-location Irish businesses
Employment Hero
All-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform expanding across Europe
Personio
EU-first HR platform with GDPR-compliant data centres and payroll provider integrations
Related terms
Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
Primary Irish statute governing maximum weekly working hours, daily and weekly rest periods, breaks, Sunday premiums, public holidays and annual leave for most employees.
Payment of Wages Act
Irish statute governing how wages must be paid, the right to a payslip, lawful deductions, and (since 2022) the rules on tips, gratuities and service charges.
Terms of Employment (Information) Act
Irish statute requiring employers to provide a written statement of core employment terms within five days of starting, and a fuller written statement within one month.
Statutory Sick Pay
Mandatory paid sick leave for Irish employees, introduced by the Sick Leave Act 2022. Phased in from 3 days in 2023, rising to 10 days from 2026 onward.