Ireland Sick Leave Policy 2022 Changes

What is changing in the Sick Leave Policy 2022?

As it stands, employers are not required by law to pay their employees if they need to take time off due to illness, also known as sick leave. However, following the approval of the Sick Leave Bill 2022, employers that have not already implemented sick pay in their business must now do so.

The rate of pay for sick leave will be set at 70% of the employee’s normal wage, with a maximum of €110 per day.

When is the new sick leave policy being introduced?

As of September 2022, employers will be required to pay their staff for their sick leave for up to three days.

The legislation is primarily intended to provide a level of sick pay coverage to many private sector workers and those on low pay, that currently receive no sick pay/or are not entitled to illness benefits. The initial plan is as follows:

2022 – 3 days covered
2024 – 5 days covered
2025 – 7 days covered
2026 – 10 days covered

What do I need to do?

Even if your business already pays sick leave to staff, there may still be some changes needed. You must make sure to keep up to date with any updates from the government on statutory sick leave.

Employers must now ensure they keep a record of all employees and keep specific information on hand, such as:

Which employees have taken sick leave?
What dates do they take sick leave?
Employment dates of employees.
The rate of sick pay for employees.

If the records are not maintained correctly, the business may be fined.

Employers must also ensure to notify their staff about their rights and obligations surrounding the new scheme.

What are my rights as an employer?

Employees are only entitled to sick pay if they have worked in the business for a minimum of 13 weeks. Employers reserve the right to ask their employees to produce a medical certificate outlining that they are unfit to work.