The Labour Court recommended changes to public service sick leave arrangements after the Department of Public Expenditure and the Public Service Committee of ICTU failed to agree. The recommendation was signed on 19 July 2012.
The Court recommended seven days of self-certified paid sick leave over a rolling two-year period, and six months at full pay followed by six months at half pay for critical illness cover. The total payment period, including rehabilitation pay, should remain capped at two years. It also recommended that management accept a minimum payment equal to social protection rates for public servants who joined before 1995. The parties should discuss criteria and independent appeals for decisions to withhold critical illness cover.
The Department said the scheme was too costly and that reform could help meet a €25 million savings target for 2012. The committee said stronger management of the existing scheme could achieve savings and opposed the proposed changes, while recognising that legislation would modify the arrangements.