Paid Time Off (PTO)
PTO is calculated by the:
- Full-time employees receive four weeks of paid annual vacation, although more leave is possible if it’s within the employee’s contract.
- However, the employer can decide when annual leave is taken. Paid leave will only carry over if it is agreed upon between the employer and employee.
Public Holidays
There are 9 public holidays.
Sick Days
No statutory law is in place that requires employees to receive paid sick leave, but employers should decide on their own sick leave policy and enact it in the employees’ contract or terms of employment.
Employers must submit a written statement to an employee within two months of employment that provides information on the terms and conditions related to incapacity to work due to sickness or injury.
If an employee is ill during annual leave, they may obtain a medical certificate so the sick days will not count towards annual leave days.
Maternity Leave
Mothers are entitled to 26 (156 days) weeks of maternity leave and can receive an extra 16 weeks of unpaid leave, which begins immediately after the end of maternity leave. Mothers must take at least 2 weeks before the expected birth and at least 4 weeks after. Entitlement for paid leave depends on if the worker has contributed enough so social insurance, as employers are not obligated to pay.
To receive benefits employees must contribute:
- At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid in the 12-month period before the first day of your maternity leave
or
- At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks of PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year.
or
- At least 26 weeks of PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
The weekly standard rate is 245.00 EUR.
Paternity Leave
2 weeks of paid leave is given during any time within 26 weeks of the birth or adoption.
Those eligible for paternity leave are:
- The father of the child
- The spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the mother of the child
- The parent of a donor-conceived child
To receive benefits an employee must have contributed to social insurance:
- At least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
or
- At least 39 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year.
or
- At least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.