Ireland

In Ireland, the legal framework for vacation leave, also known as annual leave, is outlined by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

Annual Leave Entitlements

The majority of employees in Ireland are entitled to a minimum of four working weeks of paid annual leave each year. This entitlement is calculated based on the hours worked in a given leave year.

There are three main methods to calculate your annual leave entitlement:

• Four Work Weeks: Full-time employees are automatically entitled to four weeks of paid leave.
• One-Third of a Work Week Per Month: For each month during the leave year that you work at least 117 hours, you accrue one-third of a work week of annual leave.
• 8% of Hours Worked: You are entitled to 8% of the hours you work in a leave year as annual leave, subject to a maximum of four working weeks.

If you've worked for less than a full year, your annual leave entitlement is proportionally adjusted based on the number of months worked.

Scheduling and Unused Leave

The times for taking annual leave are generally determined by employers, taking into account business needs and employee preferences. Typically, annual leave should be used within the current leave year, or the following six months by agreement. Specific rules about carryover can vary, so it's best to check with your employer.

Ireland celebrates nine public holidays each year. These holidays and their typical dates are as follows:

New Year's Day

This holiday is celebrated on January 1st.

St. Brigid's Day

This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in February. If St. Brigid's Day (February 1st) falls on a Friday, the public holiday will also be on that Friday.

St. Patrick's Day

This holiday is celebrated on March 17th.

Easter Monday

The date of this holiday varies each year, based on the religious calendar.

May Bank Holiday

This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in May.

June Bank Holiday

This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in June.

August Bank Holiday

This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in August.

October Bank Holiday

This holiday is celebrated on the last Monday in October.

Christmas Day

This holiday is celebrated on December 25th.

St. Stephen's Day

This holiday is celebrated on December 26th.

Please note that when a public holiday falls on a weekend, typically the following Monday becomes a day off in lieu.

In Ireland, employment law provides a variety of leave entitlements for employees, ensuring a balance between work and personal life, as well as support during significant life events. Here's a brief overview of the primary types of leave:

Statutory Leave

• Annual Leave: Employees are entitled to a minimum of four working weeks of paid annual leave in each leave year, as outlined in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

• Sick Leave: While there is no statutory mandate for paid sick leave in Ireland, the Sick Leave Act of 2022 guarantees employees up to 3 days of certified paid sick leave per year. This entitlement will gradually increase to 10 days by 2026.

• Maternity Leave: All female employees are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave, with an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, as per the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004.

• Paternity Leave: Fathers (or qualifying co-parents) are entitled to two weeks of paid paternity leave within the first six months of a child's birth or adoption, under the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016.

• Parent's Leave: Each parent is entitled to seven weeks of paid parent's leave per child, to be used within the child's first two years, under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019.

• Parental Leave: Each parent is entitled to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child under 12, or under 16 if the child has a disability, governed by the Parental Leave Acts 1998-2019.

• Carer's Leave: Employees are entitled to 104 weeks of unpaid leave over two years to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention, as per the Carer's Leave Act 2001.

Other Leave Types

• Adoptive Leave: Adoptive parents are entitled to 24 weeks of adoptive leave, with an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, governed by the Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005.

• Force Majeure Leave: Employees may take a reasonable amount of unpaid leave for urgent family reasons due to injury or illness.

• Domestic Violence Leave: Employees have the right up to 5 days of paid leave for medical appointments, seeking legal help, or other necessities related to domestic violence.