Menu
19/07/2012
Public-Sector Sick Leave To Be Halved Under New Ruling
300,000 staff in the public service will effectively have their sick leave arrangements halved, under the terms of a Labour Court ruling issued today.
Public servants are currently entitled to six months of sick leave on full pay followed by six months on half pay within any period of four years when a doctor certifies the leave.
Under the new Labour Court recommendation however certified sick leave will be reduced to three months' full pay followed by three months' half pay followed by "temporary rehabilitation pay" for a maximum period of two years in total. This rehabilitation period will include the three months' full and three months' half pay.
Uncertified sick leave will also be cut from seven days in any 12-month period to seven days in any two-year period.
The arrangements will introduce a new critical illness provision, which the court recommends be provided for six months on full pay and six months on half pay.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said recently that the State’s bill of more than €500 million per year for sick leave in the public service was unsustainable.
The Minister had put forward proposals for reforming sick leave arrangements several months ago. However trade unions objected to the plans, and the issue ultimately went to the Labour Court for a binding ruling.
Mr Howlin today welcomed the Labour Court recommendation and said it would “pave the way for the introduction of a completely reformed new sick leave scheme for the public service”.
In a statement today Mr Howlin said: “Reformed sick leave arrangements in public service will result in increased productivity, reductions in absenteeism and a significant reduction in the cost of sick leave in the public service.
“For most employees in the public service the new arrangements will mean that the amount of paid sick leave which they may be granted will be halved. It is essential that we strike a balance so that those who are genuinely and seriously very ill should be given reasonable protection by their employer, and so for that reason I proposed the introduction of a critical illness provision.”
(H/GK)
Public servants are currently entitled to six months of sick leave on full pay followed by six months on half pay within any period of four years when a doctor certifies the leave.
Under the new Labour Court recommendation however certified sick leave will be reduced to three months' full pay followed by three months' half pay followed by "temporary rehabilitation pay" for a maximum period of two years in total. This rehabilitation period will include the three months' full and three months' half pay.
Uncertified sick leave will also be cut from seven days in any 12-month period to seven days in any two-year period.
The arrangements will introduce a new critical illness provision, which the court recommends be provided for six months on full pay and six months on half pay.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said recently that the State’s bill of more than €500 million per year for sick leave in the public service was unsustainable.
The Minister had put forward proposals for reforming sick leave arrangements several months ago. However trade unions objected to the plans, and the issue ultimately went to the Labour Court for a binding ruling.
Mr Howlin today welcomed the Labour Court recommendation and said it would “pave the way for the introduction of a completely reformed new sick leave scheme for the public service”.
In a statement today Mr Howlin said: “Reformed sick leave arrangements in public service will result in increased productivity, reductions in absenteeism and a significant reduction in the cost of sick leave in the public service.
“For most employees in the public service the new arrangements will mean that the amount of paid sick leave which they may be granted will be halved. It is essential that we strike a balance so that those who are genuinely and seriously very ill should be given reasonable protection by their employer, and so for that reason I proposed the introduction of a critical illness provision.”
(H/GK)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 October 2016
Establishment Of Public Service Pay Commission Welcomed
The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has welcomed the announcement of the establishment of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), chaired by former Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Duffy.
Establishment Of Public Service Pay Commission Welcomed
The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has welcomed the announcement of the establishment of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), chaired by former Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Duffy.
13 April 2012
Forcing Employers To Pay More Costs Would Equate To 2,500 Jobs
IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, have published new analysis of the government's statutory sick pay proposals, which said the cost of shifting massive additional liabilities onto employers would equate to the cost of employing 2500 people.
Forcing Employers To Pay More Costs Would Equate To 2,500 Jobs
IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, have published new analysis of the government's statutory sick pay proposals, which said the cost of shifting massive additional liabilities onto employers would equate to the cost of employing 2500 people.
18 May 2017
ICTU Invited To Public Service Pay Talks
The Public Services Committee of ICTU have been invited to a discussion on public service pay and a continued approach to the unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation.
ICTU Invited To Public Service Pay Talks
The Public Services Committee of ICTU have been invited to a discussion on public service pay and a continued approach to the unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation.
02 November 2018
Time For Govt To Act On Gender Pay Gap
Marking EU Equal Pay Day 2018, Labour has said that it is time for the Government to act on the Gender Pay Gap in Ireland. Last month, the Seanad passed all stages of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap) Information Bill 2017, a Private Members Bill initiated by the Labour group in the Seanad.
Time For Govt To Act On Gender Pay Gap
Marking EU Equal Pay Day 2018, Labour has said that it is time for the Government to act on the Gender Pay Gap in Ireland. Last month, the Seanad passed all stages of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap) Information Bill 2017, a Private Members Bill initiated by the Labour group in the Seanad.
09 May 2017
Early Talks Needed On Public Service Pay Recovery
The ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC) has called for early talks on public service pay recovery following the publication of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), which said "there is a basis for the parties to enter into negotiations for a further collective agreement to extend the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Early Talks Needed On Public Service Pay Recovery
The ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC) has called for early talks on public service pay recovery following the publication of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), which said "there is a basis for the parties to enter into negotiations for a further collective agreement to extend the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Mainly dry with sunny spells on Friday, cloudier at times in the south. The chance of the odd afternoon shower developing in the south and east. Maximum temperature 20 °C.Tonight:Any afternoon showers soon dying out to leave a dry evening with clear spells at first, but coastal low cloud, mist or fog then spreads in from the northwest. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
