Managing employee leave entitlements in Ireland requires a clear understanding of statutory requirements and common practices. Irish employment law provides a framework for various types of leave, ensuring employees receive time off for holidays, illness, family responsibilities, and other significant life events. Employers must comply with these regulations to ensure fair treatment of their workforce and avoid potential legal issues.
Navigating the complexities of different leave types, from calculating annual leave accrual to understanding parental leave benefits and managing sick pay, is crucial for businesses operating in Ireland. Adhering to these standards not only ensures legal compliance but also contributes to positive employee relations and workforce well-being.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Ireland are entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum statutory entitlement is based on the amount of time worked in a leave year (usually the calendar year).
The most common methods for calculating annual leave entitlement are:
- Working full-time for a full leave year: 4 working weeks.
- Working 1,365 hours or more in a leave year: 4 working weeks (unless it's a leave year where the employee changes employment).
- Working between 117 and 1,365 hours: An entitlement of 1/3 of a working week for each calendar month in which the employee works at least 117 hours.
- Working less than 117 hours per month: An entitlement of 8% of the hours worked, subject to a maximum of 4 working weeks.
Public holidays are separate from annual leave entitlement. Employers must grant annual leave within the leave year or within 6 months after the end of the leave year. Leave dates are typically agreed upon between the employer and employee, taking into account business needs.
Public Holidays
Ireland observes a number of public holidays throughout the year. Employees are generally entitled to a benefit for each public holiday. For 2025, the standard public holidays are:
| Date | Holiday Name |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| March 17 | St. Patrick's Day |
| April 21 | Easter Monday |
| May 5 | May Day |
| June 2 | June Bank Holiday |
| August 4 | August Bank Holiday |
| October 27 | October Bank Holiday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | St. Stephen's Day |
For each public holiday, eligible employees are entitled to one of the following benefits:
- A paid day off on the public holiday.
- An additional day of annual leave.
- An additional day's pay.
- A paid day off within a month of the public holiday.
The specific benefit depends on whether the employee normally works on the day the public holiday falls.
Sick Leave
Ireland has a statutory sick pay scheme. Eligible employees are entitled to paid sick leave from their employer. The scheme is being phased in over a four-year period.
As of 2025, the entitlement is expected to be:
- Duration: Up to 5 days per year.
- Payment Rate: 70% of the employee's normal daily earnings, subject to a maximum daily threshold (this threshold is subject to change and should be verified).
To be eligible, an employee must have completed 13 weeks of continuous service with the employer and must obtain a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. The entitlement is for a calendar year.
Parental Leave
Irish law provides for several types of leave related to parenting and family care.
Maternity Leave
- Entitlement: 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave.
- Additional Unpaid Leave: An optional additional 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.
- Start Date: Must start at least 2 weeks before the expected week of confinement and end no earlier than 4 weeks after the birth.
- Payment: Maternity benefit is a social welfare payment, not paid by the employer. Eligibility and rates are determined by the Department of Social Protection.
Paternity Leave
- Entitlement: 2 weeks of paternity leave.
- Taken Within: Must be taken within the first 6 months after the birth or adoption placement.
- Payment: Paternity benefit is a social welfare payment, not paid by the employer. Eligibility and rates are determined by the Department of Social Protection.
Adoptive Leave
- Entitlement: 24 weeks of ordinary adoptive leave.
- Additional Unpaid Leave: An optional additional 16 weeks of unpaid adoptive leave.
- Start Date: Can start up to 14 days before the child's placement.
- Payment: Adoptive benefit is a social welfare payment, not paid by the employer. Eligibility and rates are determined by the Department of Social Protection.
Parental Leave (General)
Separate from maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave, there is also a general parental leave entitlement.
- Entitlement: 26 weeks of unpaid leave per parent per child.
- Eligibility: Available for children up to 8 years old (or older in certain circumstances, e.g., disability).
- Taken As: Can be taken as a continuous block or in smaller periods, subject to agreement with the employer.
Other Types of Leave
Beyond the main categories, employees in Ireland may be entitled to other forms of leave:
- Force Majeure Leave: Paid leave for urgent family reasons due to injury or illness of a close family member, where the employee's immediate presence is indispensable. Limited to 3 days in 12 months or 5 days in 36 months.
- Bereavement Leave: While there is no statutory entitlement to paid bereavement leave, most employers provide a period of paid or unpaid leave following the death of a family member. The duration and terms are typically outlined in the company policy.
- Carer's Leave: Unpaid leave to provide full-time care for a person who needs full-time care and attention. Eligibility and duration are subject to specific conditions and approval by the Department of Social Protection.
- Study Leave: There is no general statutory right to paid study leave, although some employment contracts or collective agreements may provide for it.
- Sabbatical Leave: Typically a period of extended unpaid leave, not a statutory entitlement, and granted at the employer's discretion.
