Irish union Forsa in arbitration over Department of Social Protection office return

Trade union Forsa has entered formal arbitration with Ireland’s Department of Social Protection over plans to bring approximately 500 of 7,000 DSP staff back to the office for a second day per week. The dispute is one of the most significant public-sector hybrid working conflicts in Ireland to date, and an arbitration hearing was scheduled for late March 2026.

The case highlights the tension between employer attempts to increase in-office attendance and employee expectations of hybrid arrangements that were formalised during and after the pandemic. Forsa represents a large proportion of Ireland’s civil and public servants, and the outcome could set precedent for hybrid working arrangements across the Irish public sector.

For remote workers in Ireland, this case is worth watching closely. If arbitration favours the union, it could strengthen the case for hybrid working as a default in roles where it has already proven effective. Combined with the new Labour bill on enforceable remote work rights, Ireland’s remote work landscape could shift significantly in the coming months.