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4-5pm Parent Child workshop To book : https:// www.eventbrite. ie/o/yulefest- kilkenny- 36848555863
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Observer The Kilkenny We don’t like homework!
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AS the Government continues to advise businesses to move to remote working again, new research reveals that employer enthusiasm in Kilkenny and across the country for hybrid working has decreased since the phased reopening of workplaces began in September. e latest HR Barometer Report from consultants Adare Human Resource Management reveals that only one third of employers (32%), excluding retail and wholesale sectors, believe hybrid working will bene t their organisation. is compares to over three quarters (76.8%) in their March HR Barometer Report. e survey also highlights the slow progress being made on addressing diversity and inclusion as well as the ongoing gender pay gap that persists in many workplaces.
Derek McKay, Managing Director, Adare Human Resource Management, warned that continued inaction on these matters could prove costly for employers in Kilkenny as recruitment and talent acquisition, along with retention, remain businesses’ top priorities (67% and 65%) heading into 2022. Derek McKay, Managing Director, Adare Human Resource Management, warned that continued inaction on these matters could prove costly for employers in Kilkenny as recruitment and talent acquisition, along with retention, remain businesses’ top priorities (67% and 65%) heading into 2022. McKay said: “Our latest barometer highlights some signi cant HR challenges facing employers nationally, including in Kilkenny, into 2022. However, dealing with them in a timely manner could be of substantial bene t to organisations.
“Obviously, hybrid working won’t necessarily be a blanket decision for all employers as it suits certain roles and sectors more than others. Unsurprisingly, given the nature of their business, most retail and wholesale employers surveyed across the country (89%) don’t see companywide bene ts.
“However, the fall in support from other employers is surprising, especially in the professional services sector where over two thirds of employers expressed reservations.”
Get weaving this Yule time...
Join Amber’s One Million Stars for a star weaving workshop at Butler Gardens for Yulefest. Star weaving kits are provided for each participant. Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence. Parent + child (parents go free!) and adult workshops are available. Places are limited. Tuesday, November 30 11am – 12pm Adults workshop ursday, December 2 4-5pm Parent & Child workshop To book : https:// www.eventbrite. ie/o/yulefest- kilkenny- 36848555863
Carlow worse for Covid-19
Carlow, Westmeath, and Louth now have the highest incidence of Covid-19 amid signals people across the country are reining in their socialising. e 14-day incidence is more than 1,700 per 100,000 in the three worsthit counties compared with a national incidence of 1,266.5. Wicklow, Wexford, and Kildare have the lowest incidence.
Covid Update, Page 14 Farmers’ anger
IFA President Tim Cullinan has said the recent ‘Save Irish Farming’ rally sent a strong message to the Government that negotiation with farmers on their future has to take place.
Full report, Page 22 €9.6bn cybercrime
e overall cost of cybercrime to the Irish economy in 2020 was €9.6bn, according to the ‘Economic Cost of Cybercrime ‘report published by Grant ornton.
Full report, Page 26
Pfizer safe for only three months, says study
PEOPLE who had the P zer Covid-19 vaccine are at increased risk of getting infected with the virus as early as three months after their second jab, a new study reveals today. e P zer shot was the main vaccine given to people in Ireland — but booster shots are not being administered until at least ve months after a second vaccine. However, a new study from Israel published in the British Medical Journal, involving more than 80,000 people, shows the risk of infection was nearly two-and-a-half times higher after 90 to 119 days. Professor Luke O’Neill has already called for the over-40s to be given a booster shot within four months of their second vaccine. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Medical O cer has said that schools, along with other settings, are “less safe” now than they were several months ago. Dr Ronan Glynn has defended Nphet’s position that schools are “lower risk” environments than other settings and said cases in schools were high because parents and children were not isolating properly. Speaking on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show, Dr Glynn said the country’s public health of cials have never claimed that schools are safe. “We’ve said all along that when incidence is really high in the community, then schools are not as safe as they would otherwise be. Elsewhere, Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has called on the Government to continue to deploy nancial supports to those companies operating in the Covid economy.
Ibec is speci cally calling for the €4 billion contingency fund identi ed in Budget 2022 to be allocated as soon as necessary and for an extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond April 2022.
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Observer The Kilkenny
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Christmas gifts budget is €452 ... and we want to buy locally
A REPORT commissioned by Irish digital company Dmac Media has revealed that Leinster Christmas shoppers are tightening their belts this year with a planned average budget of €452. e study examined the Christmas shopping habits of 1,000 Irish consumers and revealed that the average sum people are planning to spend on Christmas gifts for family and friends this year is €470 A shopper. is gure is down by €70 on 2020 and will be squeezed further throughout Leinster.
Munster shoppers plan on spending €490, Dubliners €435, Ulster €495 and Connacht €381 on friends and family’s gifts this year. is gure is highest among females spending on average €480 compared to male counterparts who plan on spending an average of €451 on gifts this year. 12 per cent of respondents are big spenders, intending on splashing out over €900 on festive gifts in 2021. e majority (39%) of respondents plan to spend €201-€500 on Christmas gifts for family and friends this year.
Irish consumers want to buy Irish for their Christmas gifts this year. On average 58 per cent of Irish adults are planning on gift shopping with Irish retailers this year. 39 per cent of all adults anticipate spending 70 to 100pc of their Christmas gift shopping with Irish retailers. 36 per cent of Irish men and 42 per cent of Irish women will spend most of their Christmas budget with Irish retailers. Half (49%) of all adults surveyed said they will not buy from Amazon this Christmas season.
Said Dave McEvoy, Director of Dmac Media: “ e lockdown brought us closer together as a people and we are even more aware of how our actions impact those around us. People are spending their money locally because they know it means far more to homegrown retails and ultimately their own community. e results of our survey o er hope to local independent retailers online. A smaller spend is going to increase the competition for the gift market. e retailers that are active in digital marketing are going to win more hearts and minds and get a greater share of the reduced spend for Christmas gifts this year.”
Healthy pregnancy
CLAIR WHITTY
BEING pregnant is an exciting time with nine months of planning your future life as a mother. During these months your body goes through a lot of changes in order to nurture and grow your baby. Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to ‘eat for 2’ but you do need to increase your intake of vitamins & minerals to meet the requirements for you and your baby. A diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruit, complex carbohydrates, nuts and seeds, eggs, grass-fed and organic meat, and oily sh will help you achieve this. It takes 3 months for the egg to develop before being released and it takes approximately. the same amount of time for sperm to develop. It’s wise to prepare for about 3 months before trying to conceive by taking a pre-pregnancy multinutrient. BetterYou Conceive Oral Spray comes in liquid form and contains all the nutrients necessary to prepare for a successful pregnancy. It’s a raspberry and pomegranate avoured spray which is designed to deliver scienti cally substantiated levels of zinc, selenium, and folic acid, as well as vitamin D3, iron, thiamine, and iodine. For those who prefer a capsule, NHP have Fertility for Women multinutrient. ey also have a Fertility for Men supplement to help with healthier sperm. Omega 3 is important for both parents. Top up with an Omega oil like Biocare Mega EPA if needed. After 8-12 weeks swap over to a pregnancy supplement. Again, BetterYou have a pill-free liquid option – Pregnancy Daily Oral Spray- natural peppermint avoured spray has been carefully created with a nonnausea formulation to support a healthy pregnancy and optimise overall wellbeing. Pregnancy often comes with unwelcome side e ects, ranging from nausea in the rst trimester to constipation and heartburn later on. Supplementing with iron is often recommended to avoid de ciency, but often results in constipation. Floradix Liquid iron tonic is a gentle tonic that contains Vitamin C and other nutrients to enhance absorption and is non-constipating. Ginger and vitamin B6 have both been shown to reduce mild nausea during pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses you may experience re ux or digestive problems. Eating a little and often can relieve this. Digestion can be improved by the use of digestive enzymes like Biocare Polyzyme Forte. Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy.
