The Sick Leave Act 2022 introduced a significant new right for employees in Ireland: employer-paid sick leave. This scheme is being gradually implemented over several years, from 2023 to 2026. Currently, employees are entitled to five paid sick days per year, paid at 70% of their gross salary, with a daily cap of €110.
While the original plan was to expand the entitlement to 7 days in January 2025 and 10 days in 2026, these increases have not yet come into effect.
The scheme is under review, with Fine Gael’s manifesto, Securing Your Future, stating that any further expansion will depend on “research and affordability for businesses.” For now, the entitlement remains at 5 days.
The future of the scheme, including the proposed increase to seven days, will depend on the political priorities of the new government formed after the 2024 general election. Employers are advised to stay informed about these developments and continue to comply with the current five-day entitlement while keeping an eye on potential changes.
At Canavan Byrne, we understand how important it is for employers to effectively communicate updates on employees’ entitlements. To help, we have developed this free downloadable letter template that you can use to inform your employees about this update.
Important Note: This freebie is for those operating the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) scheme. If the company/organisation offers a more generous Sick Pay scheme, it should be adhered to, and employees should not be disadvantaged.
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