The sick pay scheme came into force on 1st January.

Below are Questions and Answers on Statutory Sick Pay Scheme:

Q.If an employee receives illness benefit, do I still have to give pay for sick leave?

A. All employees are entitled to sick leave paid by their employer in addition to illness benefit from the State.

Q. How much do I have to pay my employee?

A. An employer will have to pay 70% of a worker’s wage to a maximum of €110 a day

Q. How many sick leave days are my employees entitled to have?

A. Employees will have an entitlement to three days of paid sick leave in 2023,rising to five days in year two, seven days in year three with employers eventually covering the cost of ten days in year four.

Q. Does my employee need a sick cert?

A. The employer must obtain a medical certificate from the employee, to allow him/her avail of this statutory sick pay, and the entitlement is subject to the employee having worked for their employer for a minimum of 13 weeks.

Q.Is there anything else I should be doing?

A. Employers should review current policy, contracts and practice and communicating with employees.