How does Ireland's Employer Sick Pay compare to the UK?

The Irish Sick Leave Act 2022 introduces a statutory sick pay scheme for all employees in Ireland.

From 1 January 2024, every employee has the right to 5 days of paid sick leave per year.

This is known as statutory sick pay (SSP) — meaning it’s the legal minimum amount of sick pay your employer must provide.

Payment rate: You’ll receive 70% of your normal pay, up to a maximum of €110 per day.

Eligibility: You must have worked for your employer for at least 13 weeks before you can qualify.

Extra benefits: Some employers may offer a more generous sick pay scheme, but they cannot offer less than what the law requires

This is significantly better than the UK’s Employer Sick Pay. For comparison, the current Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rate in the UK is £118.75 per week (approximately €132 per week).