HR consultancy service
Contracts, policies and handbooks
Contracts of employment, the written statements Irish law requires and a plain English handbook, drafted or updated for employers who have outgrown a downloaded template.
What it is
Perhaps your contract is a template somebody downloaded years ago, your handbook was borrowed from another company, or very little is in writing at all. It works until someone asks about their probation, a manager needs to deal with lateness, or a new hire wants their terms confirmed and the paperwork does not match how the business really runs. The law is specific too: as of October 2026, the Workplace Relations Commission says core terms must be given in writing within five days of starting and a fuller statement within one month.
We draft or update contracts of employment for each type of role you have, the day five statement and the full written statement of terms, and a handbook with the policies an Irish employer needs: grievance and disciplinary procedures, dignity at work, sick leave and absence, annual and family leave, working time, remote and flexible working requests, data protection and more. Everything is written in plain English and tailored to how your business operates, so managers can use it and employees can understand it.
The HR practice is led by a consultant with a master's degree in human resource management. Scope, fee and timings are agreed in writing before any work starts.
What you get
- Contracts of employment for each type of role, whether full time, part time or fixed term
- A day five statement and full written statement of terms that meet the legal deadlines
- Written grievance and disciplinary procedures in line with the Workplace Relations Commission's Code of Practice
- A dignity at work policy covering bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
- A plain English handbook covering leave, sick pay, working time, remote working requests and data protection
- A plan for issuing the documents, briefing managers and recording that each employee received them
Questions
What employers ask us.
General information for Irish employers, checked against official sources in October 2026.
FH Recruitment provides HR advice and practical support. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. Where a matter needs a solicitor we will tell you, and we are happy to work alongside yours.
What does an employer have to give a new employee in writing, and by when?
According to the Workplace Relations Commission, as of October 2026, an employer must give each new employee a written statement of core terms within five days of starting. It covers the names of employer and employee, the employer's address, place of work, job title or nature of the work, start date, any probation period, the expected duration of a temporary or fixed term contract, pay and the pay reference period, and expected hours. A fuller written statement, covering matters such as paid leave, sick pay, pensions and notice, must follow within one month. Both must be signed and dated by or on behalf of the employer.
Is an employee handbook a legal requirement in Ireland?
Irish law does not ask for a document called a handbook, but it does ask for several things a handbook normally holds. Citizens Information states, as of October 2026, that employers must have written grievance and disciplinary procedures, as set out in the Workplace Relations Commission's Code of Practice, and must give written details of dismissal procedures within 28 days of an employee starting, under the Unfair Dismissals Acts. The Health and Safety Authority says employers must prepare a written safety statement. The codes of practice on bullying and on harassment also expect a written policy. A handbook keeps these in one place.
Can an employer change a contract of employment without the employee's agreement?
Generally not. Citizens Information says a change in employment law changes the contract automatically, but any other change must be agreed between employer and employee. The Workplace Relations Commission adds that an employer must notify the employee of the nature and date of a change to the particulars in the written statement no later than the day it takes effect. That is the position as of October 2026. We give HR advice on how to consult, agree and record a change. If a change is disputed, or involves restrictive clauses or senior contracts, that is a legal question and we work alongside your solicitor.
How long can a probation period be in Ireland?
Citizens Information states, as of October 2026, that a probation period cannot be longer than six months. In exceptional circumstances it can be extended by up to a further six months, to a maximum of twelve months in total, for example where the employee has been on extended leave such as sick leave during probation or where an extension is in the employee's interest. The Workplace Relations Commission lists the duration and conditions of any probation among the core terms that must be given in writing within five days of starting. We write probation clauses, and the review meetings and letters that go with them, to match.
How much does it cost to have contracts and a handbook written?
The fee depends on what you need: how many types of contract, whether a handbook already exists and needs updating or is being written from the start, how many policies are specific to your sector, and whether you want help issuing the documents and briefing managers. We do not quote until we understand that. After the first call you receive a written proposal listing each document, the timings and the fee. Scope and fee are agreed in writing before any work starts, and if the scope needs to change, that is agreed in writing too.
Talk it through with an HR consultant.
Tell us what is happening. We will contact you within one working day, and no work starts until you have agreed a written scope and fee.