Being sick can make work difficult, but it can also bring questions about pay, paperwork and your rights. In Ireland, statutory sick leave gives eligible employees a minimum level of paid leave when they cannot work because of illness or injury.
It helps to know how many days you can claim, how much you are paid and what medical certificate you need.
In 2026, eligible employees are entitled to up to 5 days of statutory sick leave in a calendar year. The entitlement has remained at five days since 2024. These are days you would normally have been scheduled to work, and they can be taken together or separately.
For example, if you are sick for two working days in February, you may have three statutory sick days left for the rest of the year. Any unused statutory sick leave expires at the end of the calendar year and does not carry over.
Statutory sick pay is paid by your employer at 70% of your usual daily earnings, up to a maximum of €110 per day. This is the statutory minimum. Your employer may offer a better sick pay scheme under your contract or workplace policy.
How normal daily pay is calculated can depend on your pay pattern. Certain regular bonuses or allowances may be included, while overtime and commission can be treated differently.
You generally need to have completed at least 13 weeks of continuous service with your employer before you can use statutory sick leave. The scheme applies to both full-time and part-time employees. It also covers employees on probation, people undergoing training and apprentices, subject to the rules of the scheme.
If you have more than one employer, you can have an entitlement with each employer once you have completed the required 13 weeks with them.
To receive statutory sick pay, you must provide your employer with a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. The certificate must state that you are unfit to work because of illness or injury.
You should be certified from the first day of your sick leave. This is important when you are relying on statutory sick pay. Citizens Information also confirms that employees should be medically certified from day one.
A sick cert does not need to give your employer detailed medical information. What matters is that it confirms your unfitness for work and covers the relevant period. The certificate should also identify the doctor who issued it.
For suitable short-term illnesses, an online consultation can be a convenient option. The important point is that the certificate should be issued by an appropriately registered doctor after a genuine medical assessment.
Get Healthcare provides online sick certificate services reviewed by Irish-registered GPs. You complete a secure medical questionnaire online, and a doctor reviews your information. Where necessary, the GP may contact you by audio or video before deciding whether a certificate is clinically appropriate. If approved, the certificate is delivered securely by email.
Get Healthcare’s sick certificate service is designed for suitable minor illnesses and short periods of absence. The doctor decides the appropriate duration based on the clinical assessment.
This can be useful when you are too unwell to travel to a GP practice. However, an online consultation is not a way to automatically receive a certificate. A doctor must assess your situation and decide whether certification is appropriate.
The statutory scheme covers up to five paid days in a calendar year. If you remain unwell after using those days, you may be eligible for Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection, depending on your PRSI contributions and other conditions.
For a first illness in 2026 that lasts beyond five days, and where the employee qualifies for Illness Benefit, payment can start from day six. If you have already used some of your statutory sick leave earlier in the year, the timing can be different.
Illness Benefit is separate from statutory sick pay and has its own application and eligibility requirements. A Certificate of Incapacity for Work from your doctor is required for an Illness Benefit claim.
Tell your employer as soon as possible that you are unwell and follow your workplace sick leave policy. If you need statutory sick pay, arrange medical certification from the first day and make sure the certificate covers the dates you are unable to work.
When travelling to a GP is difficult, an online GP service may be useful for suitable conditions. Get Healthcare offers online consultations and medical certificates reviewed by Irish-registered doctors, allowing patients to seek care from home.
Understanding statutory sick leave in Ireland makes it easier to know what to expect when illness keeps you away from work. In 2026, eligible employees can receive up to five paid statutory sick days per calendar year. Payment is 70% of usual daily earnings, capped at €110 per day, and a medical certificate confirming that you are unfit to work is required.
Always check your employment contract and company sick leave policy, as your employer may provide better terms than the statutory minimum. When you need a sick certificate, make sure it is issued by a registered medical practitioner following an appropriate assessment.
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