Accrual of Holidays Whilst on Sick Leave
Workers can now accrue annual leave whilst on long-term sick leave.
This is a major change in employment legislation and came into effect on 1 August 2015 with the introduction of the Workplace Relations Bill.
The new legislation brings Ireland in line with European employment law. In addition, and perhaps more importantly for employers, it aims to strike a balance between protecting the rights of vulnerable workers who are ill and trying to minimise the cost to businesses, something which is a constant challenge for employers.
Key facts you need to know
- From 1 August employees on sick leave can accrue annual leave
- The leave must be certified, therefore will generally apply to those on long-term sick leave
- The accrual of annual leave will not apply to any periods of sick leave prior to 1 August 2015
- Any leave accrued must be taken within 15 months of the end of the leave year in question
- If an employee leaves employment they should be paid in lieu of any accrued leave
This is a major change in employment legislation. Employers need to familiarise themselves with the new legislation and more importantly they need to review their absence policy to ensure that it reflects the new changes.
All appropriate Bright Contracts policies have been reviewed and updated to reflect the changes. Users need just to log in to their software to avail of the software.
Bright Contracts - Employment Contracts and Handbooks
