'Door firmly closed' on increased sick days for workers, despite previous commitment 

Enterprise minister Peter Burke said the Government had also changed the trajectory to a living wage from 2026 to 2029

Peter Burke told the 'Irish Examiner' that any increase in paid sick leave from a statutory minimum of five days was off the table. File picture: Julien Behal

The door has been "firmly closed" on increased worker sick days, the enterprise minister has said. 

The previous government’s policy, under legislation introduced in 2022, was to expand paid sick leave to 10 days, with seven days promised in 2025, but this commitment was rolled back by the current government over concerns of cost to businesses.

Peter Burke told the Irish Examiner that any increase in paid sick leave from a statutory minimum of five days was off the table.

"That door is firmly closed," Mr Burke said. "One of the things I really had a hard look at is business viability, and I really acted on evidence. 

"We had a joint study done between the Department of Enterprise and the Department of Social Protection in relation to the ongoing, cumulative cost of doing business, and that was factoring in all the changes, be it the trajectory to a living wage, auto enrollment, which is coming down the tracks, additional sick leave, cover on employee hours, all the key areas that were driving up costs. 

"Essentially, we acted on that. We've put a floor on sick pay and that means that employees have a safety net now and they won't fall within the cracks, because obviously the social welfare can take over at this point in time."

Mr Burke said the Government had also changed the trajectory to a living wage from 2026 to 2029 because businesses are "under serious pressure" and "finding it very difficult".

"I think we've really rebalanced that now and really looked at business viability and seen our job market grow, particularly watching the areas which were most exposed. Three quarters of minimum wage workers are in hospitality and retail, and I'll be keeping a close eye on those hopefully next year with those viability mechanisms that we brought in, hopefully they'll start to turn the corner as well."

Asked if he believes workers should be returned to office settings by employers, Mr Burke said he would like to see blended models across the workforce.

I do think remote working was one of the opportunities taken out of the pandemic, and one of the greatest fears of many in the sectors was that productivity would fall significantly once remote working took hold. It didn't, in fact, it increased in a number of areas in the evidence that we have. 

"We currently have open a consultation on remote working and different agile practices of working that we're looking at results of next year.

"But I would say to employers that there is a huge advantage in terms of well being for employees, and also positives on the productivity side, to having an agile working space, to giving people that opportunity to have a blended pattern of work.

"Everyone has to have their anchor space in the office. It's very important for osmosis, for new employees to get that mix in the office as well, that environment which is key to developing their career. But there's a blended pattern. I think that can work well both for the employer and the employee."