Press

A new SD Worx survey shows almost a quarter of Irish workers took mental health leave in 2024. The report explores stress levels, wellbeing initiatives, work-life balance, and the role of employers in supporting staff.

The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, reaches a major milestone on 2 August 2025. This date marks the start of several key obligations for companies, governments, and AI providers across the EU, including penalties for non-compliance. SD Worx, the leading European HR solutions provider, summarises what this means for organisations and their workforce. 

The AI Act came into effect on 2 February earlier this year, introducing a uniform legal framework for artificial intelligence within the EU. Although many provisions will not take effect until 2026, a new phase will start on 2 August 2025 with a focus on three areas:

1. Penalties for non-compliance
2. Obligations for general purpose AI (GPAI) models
3. Governance and oversight at national and European level

On Saturday 26 July, the riders of Team SD Worx-Protime will line up for the start of the Tour de France Femmes wearing special anniversary jerseys. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of their name sponsor, SD Worx, the team will swap their usual shirts for a unique design featuring the logos of eighty valued SD Worx customers.

The leading European payroll and HR solutions provider SD Worx is mentioned as one of the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Business Process Services (BPS) Players by Growth in Everest Group’s BPS TOP 50™ report of June 2025.

The leading European HR solutions provider SD Worx has acquired Socialea, a French payroll company with a strong foothold in the French SME market. With this acquisition, SD Worx continues its sustainable growth strategy and enters the domestic French SME segment, a market with promising growth potential.

AI investment by Irish HR teams surged 38% year-on-year, rising from 37% in 2024 to 51% in 2025 according to new research from leading European HR solutions provider SD Worx. Predictive performance management (31%), personalised learning paths (29%), and automated CV screening (27%) are leading the charge in Irish HR AI investment. 

The number of European employers who see payroll optimisation as one of their biggest challenges is rising from 11% in 2024 to 14% in 2025. Companies are also investing more in payroll compared to last year, particularly in complying and adapting to changing labor legislation (47%), payroll data security (46%) and sustainability in payroll processing (38%). Interestingly, half of European companies saved significant costs by outsourcing payroll services. This is according to recent international research by the leading European HR solutions provider SD Worx among 5,625 HR managers and 16,000 employees from sixteen European countries.

SD Worx survey highlights employee absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and staff shortages in Ireland, despite strong employee motivation.

The leading European HR and payroll solutions provider SD Worx has published its annual report to reflect on 2024, with “Shaping a world that works” as central theme. Also last year, SD Worx reaffirmed its commitment to shaping a world that works – for work, life, and society, driven by the belief that success starts with people and that HR holds the power to change the world.

The leading European HR-solutions provider SD Worx has appointed Sebastiaan Peeters as its new CFO. He succeeds Nadine Aerts, who is leaving the company at the end of June. Sebastiaan, who has been with SD Worx since 2023, is part of the executive committee and reports directly to CEO Kobe Verdonck.

SD Worx, the leading European provider of HR and payroll software and services, has announced its financial results for 2024. The consolidated revenues increased by 11.6%, from EUR 1.058 billion in 2023 to EUR 1.180 billion in 2024. The consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew by 28.2% from EUR 181.6 million to EUR 232.7 million. The consolidated net profit climbed from EUR 70.1 million in 2023 to EUR 94.9 million in 2024, an increase of 35.4%.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly and is being applied in more and more situations, including within companies. This is why Europe is introducing the AI Act, a uniform legal framework with which all companies within Europe must comply. The law comes into effect on Feb. 2 2025 and applies to all employers. Those who do not comply risk high fines. Also in Ireland, all organisations must comply with the AI Act by no later than Sunday, Feb. 2. Leading European HR and payroll partner SD Worx explains more.