"There's a huge challenge now to employers in Waterford."
So says the CEO of Crystal Valley Tech, Elaine Fennelly, who works with tech companies across the South East.
She says more and more people here are able to work for Dublin companies while staying in their own homes.
However, speaking on WLR's Saturday Café, Elaine says that may not last very long...
"From speaking with the 130+ tech companies in the South East, several of them have seen key hires leave them and start working for Dublin companies.
"So, they are staying in their houses, they're working from home, and they're getting more pay. In some cases, 20-30% more pay.
"But again, it's just evolving so quickly. They are now telling me that while at the beginning they were allowed to work from home, now they need to make an appearance in the office once a month. And there's a fear that will soon be once a week, maybe twice a week.
"So, it's all still out there to play for!"
Meanwhile, employees who are working from home are apparently finding it much easier to search for other jobs, and even attend online interviews.
It comes as the Independent reports companies are pushing ahead with plans to welcome their staff back to the office in September.
That's despite the Taoiseach having indicated a staggered return could begin as early as August, depending on the Covid situation.
Breda Dooley, Regional Recruitment Manager at Matrix, says remote working removes the need to take time off for an interview:
"It's very easy now to hop on at lunchtime, do an interview online remotely. Nobody knows. The barriers are not there to take a half-day to attend an interview.
"It is, it's a lot easier. We are experiencing that candidates are more open to going for an interview because it's online."
