Labour Court recommends changes to public service critical illness protocol

The Labour Court recommended changes to the Critical Illness Protocol in a dispute between the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform and the Public Service Committee of ICTU. The recommendation was dated 20 December 2013. Under the recommendation, an employee with an ongoing pregnancy-related illness requiring at least two consecutive days of inpatient hospital or clinic care would be entitled, if required, to extended sick leave under the protocol. The Court recommended against automatically extending the protocol to all disability-related illnesses, while calling for serious cases to be considered and reasonable steps taken to support a return to work. It recommended no further change for mental illness, and said all parties should accept the amended draft protocol.