Time off

When you will be absent from work, you must notify your people leader as soon as possible. Once proper notification has been made, the following sick pay can be provided:

• The first day of absence due to sickness is paid at your people leader’s discretion.
• During the first month of absence, Gen will pay up to 100% of salary.
• During the second month of absence, Gen will pay up to 75% of salary.
• During the third month of absence, Gen will pay up to 50% of salary.
• Following the third month of absence, Gen will cease salary payments.

The above payments are calculated over a rolling 12-month period commencing from the first day of sickness that has exceeded one week. Subsequent sickness periods of more than one week will be considered a continuation of the last sickness period.

An expectant mother is entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave. Of these 26 weeks, at least two weeks should be taken before your due date.

Your benefit is paid directly by the Department of Social Protection if you have made the necessary PRSI contributions.

In addition, if you have completed at least one year of service, Gen will top up the maternity benefit paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to 100% of your normal net pay for the first 22 weeks of maternity leave.

You can also take up to 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave immediately after your paid leave.

You can take up to two weeks of paternity leave within six months following the birth or adoption.

Your benefit is paid directly by the Department of Social Protection if you have made the necessary PRSI contributions.

In addition, Gen will top up the paternity benefit paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to 100% of your normal net pay for the first week of your leave.

An adopting mother, sole male adopter, or adopting father (where the adopting mother has died)  can take up to 24 weeks of adoptive leave.

Your benefit is paid directly by the Department of Social Protection if you have made the necessary PRSI contributions.

In addition, if you have completed at least one year of service, Gen will top up the adoptive leave benefit paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to 100% of your normal net pay for the full 24 weeks of your leave.

You can also take up to 16 weeks of unpaid adoptive leave immediately after your paid leave. In the case of a foreign adoption, some or all of the unpaid adoptive leave may be taken immediately before the date of placement.

You can take up to seven weeks of parents leave during the first two years after your child’s birth or placement. If you’re eligible, a parents benefit is paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

You can take up to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave before the child reaches age 8. In the case of a child with a disability, the maximum age is 16.

You can take up to 104 weeks of unpaid carer’s leave to provide care for a person requiring it.

Carer’s leave is unpaid by Gen. However, you may qualify for Carer’s Benefit.

Apart from vacation and illnesses, there are a number of family occasions—some happy and others not so—where you may be entitled to special paid leave.

• Death in the immediate family (i.e., spouse, child, own parent or guardian, brother, or sister): five days
• Death of an in-law (i.e., mother, father, brother, sister): 3 days
• Own marriage: 3 days
• Marriage of your own child: 1 day
• Moving house: 1 day

You can take up to three working days in any 12 consecutive months in the event of a sudden injury or illness affecting a member of your immediate family that makes your presence to assist that family member indispensable.

Gen encourage you to fulfil your civic obligations when you are called for jury duty or subpoenaed to testify on behalf of an appropriate public jurisdiction in a criminal proceeding.

You will receive your regular pay, but all jury duty and witness fees, excluding travel allowance, must be submitted to Gen via People & Payroll SupportNow.

Gen provide support for job-related courses leading to formally recognised qualifications. This support may include time off for exam study and exam attendance per statutory requirements.

Time off to attend examinations is at your people leader’s discretion.