Paid sick leave for workers to increase to five days

The entitlement to paid sick leave is to increase from three to five days on January 1, 2024, the Government has announced.

The entitlement to paid sick leave is to increase from three to five days on January 1, 2024, the Government has announced.

The increase is in line with the Government's commitment to gradually increase the entitlement for workers until 2026 when it will reach 10 days.

Paid sick leave ensures that all employees are entitled to a minimum level of financial compensation if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. 

From January, workers will be entitled to up to 5 days of sick leave in a year, paid at 70% of gross earnings, up to a cap of €110. 

The move is primarily intended to provide sick pay coverage to those employees, often in low-paid roles, who do not have access to a company sick leave scheme. 

The scheme offers a floor level of protection and does not interfere with existing, more favourable, sick pay schemes.

Commenting on the announcement, 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.

 “We do not want workers to feel that they must attend work when they are sick due to financial fears. 

"Lower paid workers who cannot afford to miss work when sick stand to benefit the most from this increase to five days paid sick leave.

"The move to 5 days sick leave is the second stage of our 4-year plan which will see employer-paid sick leave rise to 10 days in 2026."