Labour Relations Agency

09/10/2026

As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9-15 October, we remember every family affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

In Northern Ireland, statutory Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay was extended in April 2026 to include miscarriage and early pregnancy loss, recognising the impact of that loss and giving bereaved parents greater protections.

Labour Relations Agency TinyLife Little Forget Me Nots Trust Northern Ireland Executive Caoimhe Archibald MLA

09/10/2026

When we spend a lot of our time with colleagues it can be incredibly challenging when there's an interpersonal issue or dispute. It can cause a lot of personal distress as well as disruption within teams, and ultimately affect overall productivity for the organisation.

Our mediation service exists for this reason and every year we help people to find a way forward. Acting independently and impartially we help them to resolve their issues in a way that allows them to continue working together in a positive environment.

Employers can come to us to make a referral and we are particularly keen to support small and micro businesses in Northern Ireland, which perhaps do not have their own dedicated Human Resources department.

Like all our services mediation is free and confidential. Find out more and download our mediation pack which has guidance, FAQs and a sample referral form at

An independent mediator can sometimes help resolve grievance or disciplinary issues. There is no charge for using the Labour Relations Agency's mediation service.

06/10/2026

Registration for our Certificate in Effective Line Management Practice programme has now opened!

This is a free, interactive, in-person course designed specifically to give new and inexperienced line managers the practical skills and confidence to create positive and productive working environments. The Autumn 2026 programme will run on four consecutive Tuesdays, commencing Tuesday 10 November.

This year will also see the programme run in our Derry/Londonderry office on four consecutive Thursdays, commencing Thursday 5 November.

Please visit https://www.lra.org.uk/events for the opportunity to register.

Our events ensure that you are up to date with changes in employment relations in Northern Ireland. Also check out our latest pre-recorded webinars on a range of useful topics.

21/09/2026

Our Workplace Information Service (03300 555 300) will be closed on Wednesday 23 September from 9:30am to 1:30pm. The rest of the week the team will be available from 9am-5pm as normal.

15/09/2026

The reporting year 2025-26 was a busy one for the LRA, not least for our Workplace Information Service. They're our team on the phones, Monday - Friday, taking calls from employers, workers, their representatives - anyone with a work-related issue or query.

They provide confidential, free and impartial information and guidance, helping callers to understand their employment rights and responsibilities and explaining the options and next steps for their particular circumstances.

Give them a call on 03300 555 300.

Our full Annual Report and Accounts is available at: https://www.lra.org.uk/publications/2025-26-annual-report-and-accounts-labour-relations-agency

11/09/2026

Our super Advisory colleagues are running a seminar on 'Handling Discipline and Grievance' on Tuesday 22 September from 10am - 12.30pm at James House, in Belfast's Gasworks.

It'll cover:

-Employment law and best practice relating to grievance and disciplinary matters.

-When informal approaches are appropriate and effective.

-Managing formal grievance and disciplinary procedures.

-Practical guidance for dealing with workplace issues confidently and professionally.

It's ideal for managers, supervisors, HR professionals and anyone responsible for handling employee relations issues within their organisation.

There are a few places left - book free at

10/09/2026

Our monthly focus continues in September on the topic of 'Grievances'.

A grievance is a formal way for a worker to raise a problem to their employer.

Call our Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300 with your questions about informal resolution, guidance on good practice for policies, investigations and meetings as well as information about your rights and responsibilities.

The Labour Relations Agency website has a range of resources on this topic: including our Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, Advisory Guides on both Handling Grievances and Conducting Investigations and, within our Employment Document Toolkit, a Grievance Policy template.

Find out more at

08/09/2026

We have published our latest Annual Report and Accounts.

We are grateful to Ulster University for allowing us to host a small event at its beautiful Magee campus to celebrate the highlights of 2025-26 and to discuss the forthcoming challenges with our stakeholders in the North West.

Read more at https://www.lra.org.uk/Latest-News/lras-latest-annual-report-reveals-2025-26-highlights

07/09/2026

On Wednesday 9 September our Workplace Information Service (03300 555 300) will be available from 2pm - 5pm following team training in the morning.

Our WIS team will be available from 9am-5pm as normal the rest of the week and we hope it will suit customers to plan calls to us accordingly.

As always our website also has lots of guidance and resources to download.

04/08/2026

Starting in August we are going to have a monthly focus on an area of employment relations about which we can experience an increase in calls to our Workplace Information Service.

Our focus for August is on Bullying and Harassment. We have information and a variety of resources available at https://www.lra.org.uk/resolving-problems/types-problems/bullying-and-harassment

Or alternatively, call our Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300 with questions on this topic. We work closely with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and will signpost to their team if the query falls beyond our remit.

For more information we also have some guidance jointly produced with the Equality Commission - available at https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/advisory-guide/harassment-and-bullying-workplacehttps://www.lra.org.uk/resources/advisory-guide/harassment-and-bullying-workplace