Paid Sick Leave To Increase To 5 Days From January

Paid sick leave is to increase to 5 days from 1 January 2024, the Government have confirmed.

The Irish Government announced this news, which is part of a four year plan to gradually increase paid sick leave to 10 days by 2026, ensuring that all employees receive a minimum level of financial compensation, in the event that they are unable to work due to illness or injury.

This is intended to ensure sick pay is secured for those employees who are in low-paid or precarious roles, and do not have access to the company sick pay scheme.

From 2024, workers will be granted sick pay of up to 5 days, paid at 70% of gross earnings, up to a cap of €110.

This provides a floor level of protection, and will not interfere with existing, more favourable, sick pay schemes.

On this news, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond said, "This gradual increase in paid sick leave gives employers time to adjust and to plan for its introduction, but also gives workers certainty about their own rights". 

"Although the Government is acutely aware that small businesses are concerned with the overall cost of doing business, the solution is not to dilute workers' rights but to provide targeted measures to support businesses", he continued. 

"The Increased Cost of Business Scheme, announced in Budget 2024, will provide direct financial support to small businesses who are most impacted by increased costs".