Shifting attitudes to hybrid working are not confined in Ireland to local politics. As part of the government’s landmark Remote Working Strategy, people who work from home will benefit from new tax breaks - something Zoom has publicly welcomed. Alongside this, the government is establishing a network of 400 remote working hubs that give workers an alternative to the office - all enabled with and powered by Zoom. In a largely rural country, these pro-remote working policies are designed to help rebalance the Irish economy and reverse the brain drain that has seen Irish workers leave their communities to access employment opportunities in Dublin or a handful of other cities.
Working in partnership with government and businesses to help achieve the successful implementation of the Remote Working Strategy is a key priority for Zoom in Ireland. We are proud to help power the new remote working hubs and are committed to supporting local authorities to ensure they can facilitate a hybrid model for conducting council business that works for all council members and that exemplifies the strategy in action.
With local officials, government departments, and the private sector all working together to create the conditions for hybrid models to thrive, Ireland has the potential to emerge from the pandemic as a world leader in hybrid working and hybrid participation in politics, blazing a path for other nations to follow.