Sick Leave Bill 2022

Public bill · Government · Presented

The proposal would give employees a legal right to paid sick leave, starting with up to three days, if they are too ill or injured to work and meet the conditions set out in the scheme. It also lets the Minister change the number of sick days later, but not below three, and requires employers to pay a set daily amount unless they already offer a better sick pay scheme or get an exemption from the Labour Court. It matters because it fills a gap for workers who miss out on income during the waiting period for illness benefit and sets a basic national standard for sick pay.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide that employees shall, subject to certain conditions, be entitled to up to and including 3 statutory sick leave days; to provide that the Minister may, subject to certain conditions, vary the number of statutory sick leave days; to provide that employees shall be entitled to payment, calculated in the prescribed manner, in respect of statutory sick leave; to make provision for the Labour Court, in certain circumstances, to exempt an employer from the provisions of this Act; to provide for the keeping of records; to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 11 September 2024