Workshops

Workshops to Upskill your HR Team for Success

Graphite workshops are designed to bring employers, business owners, and HR personnel the latest updates in HR and employment law. We vary our workshops across a broad range of employment issues, from managing employee performance to workplace bullying and remote working, so you don’t miss a thing.

Graphite workshops are designed to bring employers, business owners, and HR personnel the latest updates in HR and employment law. We vary our workshops across a broad range of employment issues, from managing employee performance to workplace bullying and remote working, so you don’t miss a thing.

Gerry Keane | Cavanagh’s of Charleville
"Fiona Kelleher is excellent and as an expert in her field, covered the content in a concise and practical manner."
Ana Dutra | Enterprise Ireland
"The whole course was very insightful. I am really happy with the organisation and content of the event; I don’t have anything in mind to be improved.”
Orla McNamara | Enterprise Ireland
“The format was excellent and the course provider put everyone at ease. Very open to questions.”
Rachel O’Donovan | Castlemartyr Resort
“It was very interactive and understandable. Fiona was excellent, clear, approachable and very knowledgeable.”
Marena Murphy | Spearline
“It was very informative, and my knowledge will be put to good use.”
Hazel Murphy | The Buttery Bistro
“Fiona made the experience fun and interesting. She got straight to the point and never rambled.”
Holly Wilson Byrne | Wilson Controls Ltd
“The case studies were easy to understand as they were real-life scenarios and very valuable. It was well organised and very informative.”
Wendy Hamilton | The Royal County Down Golf Club
“The trainer Barry was extremely knowledgeable and informative. I enjoyed this course and the content."

Upcoming Workshops

Where | Online
Date | Thursday 14th September, 2023
Time | 10:00am – 12:00pm

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) conducts audits to ensure that employers are complying with employee rights legislation, e.g., evidence of working times being adhered to, particularly rest periods and breaks.

Being notified of a WRC claim by an individual against your business can be overwhelming and challenging. However, there are initial steps to take to ensure you’re fully prepared to handle such a claim.

Our workshop will include guidance on:

  • How to prepare for a WRC Audit
  • Key practices your business can implement to ensure future protection
  • What to do when you receive a claim
  • Steps to ensure your business is prepared for any claim
  • Key lessons on the burden of proof and expectations for the employer

Where | Clayton Hotel, Liffey Valley Co. Dublin
Date | Wednesday 20th September, 2023
Time | 9:30am – 5:00pm

As a manager or supervisor, you need to be aware of how employment law protects employees. With an ever increasing number of EU and Irish employment laws, and a constantly changing landscape, compliance with the law is a significant challenge for anyone tasked with the responsibility of managing people in your organisation.

This workshop will provide you with the information, competencies and procedures required to ensure that your organisation complies with all employment laws and regulations.

The following employment issues which frequently cross a manager’s desk will be addressed:

  • How to Manage Absence
  • How to Deal with Misconduct
  • Employment Contracts and Documentation
  • Weekly and Daily Rest Breaks and Rest Periods
  • Running a Disciplinary Procedure
  • Handling a Grievance
  • How to Deal with Allegations of Bullying and Harassment
  • Managing Leave Entitlements

Where | Clayton Hotel Galway, Co. Galway
Date | Thursday 21st September, 2023
Time | 9:30am – 5:00pm

As a manager or supervisor, you need to be aware of how employment law protects employees. With an ever increasing number of EU and Irish employment laws, and a constantly changing landscape, compliance with the law is a significant challenge for anyone tasked with the responsibility of managing people in your organisation.

This workshop will provide you with the information, competencies and procedures required to ensure that your organisation complies with all employment laws and regulations.

The following employment issues which frequently cross a manager’s desk will be addressed:

  • How to Manage Absence
  • How to Deal with Misconduct
  • Employment Contracts and Documentation
  • Weekly and Daily Rest Breaks and Rest Periods
  • Running a Disciplinary Procedure
  • Handling a Grievance
  • How to Deal with Allegations of Bullying and Harassment
  • Managing Leave Entitlements

Where | Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Date | Wednesday 4th October, 2023
Time | 10:00am – 12:00pm

This one-day workshop is designed to provide a designated support contact person with the knowledge and skills that are required for the role. It provides the delegate with a clear understanding of the role under the heading of Dignity & Respect at Work.

It explores the recommendations made by the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation and the Health & Safety Authority and how this impacts on the scope of the role and boundaries that apply.

The session will include details of:

  • What is the role of the support contact person?
  • Harassment and bullying responsibilities
  • Dignity at Work Policy & Procedures
  • The meeting – Handling an approach
  • Skills practice

Where | CityNorth Hotel, Co. Meath
Date | Wednesday 18th October, 2023
Time | 9:30am – 5:00pm

Investigator Training

Running a formal investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment at work is a critical role – too many internal processes are found to be flawed and in the majority of cases it is the investigation stage which causes a problem for organisations.

This one-day workshop will guide your organisation’s appointed investigator(s) through the practicalities of running a formal investigation. The principles of any internal investigation will be addressed during this workshop to ensure managers have the necessary skills to conduct a fair, thorough and impartial investigation and in line with the requirements of the codes of practice that an individual must be trained to deal with such.

Following this workshop, your investigator will be familiar with:

• The definitions of harassment, sexual harassment and bullying

• The stages of the investigation process and what is involved in each

• Effective and appropriate communication skills during an investigation

• How to develop and improve investigation skills

• Concluding the investigation and report writing

Where | Newpark Hotel, Co. Kilkenny
Date | Thursday 19th October, 2023
Time | 9:30am – 5:00pm

Investigator Training

Running a formal investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment at work is a critical role – too many internal processes are found to be flawed and in the majority of cases it is the investigation stage which causes a problem for organisations.

This one-day workshop will guide your organisation’s appointed investigator(s) through the practicalities of running a formal investigation. The principles of any internal investigation will be addressed during this workshop to ensure managers have the necessary skills to conduct a fair, thorough and impartial investigation and in line with the requirements of the codes of practice that an individual must be trained to deal with such.

Following this workshop, your investigator will be familiar with:

• The definitions of harassment, sexual harassment and bullying

• The stages of the investigation process and what is involved in each

• Effective and appropriate communication skills during an investigation

• How to develop and improve investigation skills

• Concluding the investigation and report writing

Where | Online
Date | Wednesday 15th November, 2023
Time | 10:00am – 12:00pm

High levels of sickness absence are not acceptable in the workplace and contrary to popular belief, you can dismiss an employee on the grounds of ill health. However, as with any dismissal, the actions of the organisation should be fair and reasonable.

Monitoring absence is the first step to tackling the problem and sends the message to your employees that you take absence from work seriously and that no absence will go unnoticed.

This workshop will provide a step by step guide on managing every level of absenteeism to ensure you as the employer are keeping accurate records and protecting your business from ongoing high costs associated with absenteeism.

Our workshop will discuss absence management issues such as:

  • Developing a strategy for dealing with absence
  • Understanding the cost of absence
  • Reviewing and monitoring absence
  • Dealing with difficult scenarios
  • Return to work interviews and their importance
  • Practical lessons

We help employers, business owners and HR personnel all over Ireland by supporting them through their HR challenges and with their training needs

Olga Shevchenko

Director/Advocate, Immigration Advice Bureau

Olga Shevchenko specialises in immigration advocacy and consultancy, in particular, employment permit, visas, family reunification, citizenship, etc, for those seeking to visit, reside or invest in Ireland.

Olga provides extensive information, knowledge, and support to her clients, enabling access to positive solutions for people struggling to handle the immigration law.

Minister Neale Richmond

Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Neale Richmond TD was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection in January 2023.

Much of his work at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is with businesses, workers, their representative bodies and the State Agencies to ensure that the economic recovery and growth extends to all parts of the country. He works closely with the SME sector, including retail, on building resilience and on the transition to the green and digital economies.

Mark Carpenter

Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Sky

Mark Carpenter is Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs at Sky Ireland. In this role he has responsibility for External and Internal Communications, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs and the company’s ‘Bigger Picture’ (CSR) programme. He also works closely with Sky Group teams on a variety of matters, in particular our partnerships with domestic broadcasters.

Prior to working at Sky, Mark worked as a Policy Officer in Houses of the Oireachtas and as a Management Consultant at Accenture. He has a BA in History from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin.

Nora Cashe

Litigation and Compliance Manager, Peninsula

Nóra studied Law in Griffith College Dublin and qualified as a Barrister in 2008, practising in the area of Criminal law. She is also member of the Irish Employment Law Association.

Nora has extensive experience representing clients at Employment Tribunal hearings, Conciliation / Mediation meetings before both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. 

Nóra is a member of the Irish Employment Law Association and engages with the WRC Adjudication Service as part of their stakeholder engagement forum.

Deiric McCann

Managing Director, Genos International Europe

Deiric McCann leads Genos International Europe – The EU division of a world-leading provider of emotional intelligence solutions. 

With over two decades experience at the highest levels of management, Deiric supports clients to develop the resilience, emotional intelligence, psychological safety and engagements of their employees.

Rhiannon Coyne

Senior HR Consultant, Graphite HRM

Rhiannon Coyne is a Senior HR Consultant at Graphite HRM and will be providing an overview of best practice on how to deal with complaints of bullying and harassment in the workplace. 

With a number of recent updates to employment laws, Rhiannon will take a closer look at employment equality and how it is interlinked to Health & Safety and what employers can learn from recent case laws.

David Begg

Chairman, Workplace Relations Commission

David Begg was appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in January 2021.

David is also a professor at Maynooth University Institute of Social Sciences. Mr Begg’s extensive history in the trade union movement included leading the ESB Officers Association and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, stepping away from the latter in 2001 to chair international aid agency Concern.

David Begg was also previously a director of the Central Bank of Ireland between 1995 and 2010.