An extra once-off public holiday will take place this year on Friday, March 18 in recognition of the efforts of the general public and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives.
This additional public holiday, combined with the public holiday on St. Patrick’s Day will bring a welcome spring break for many. However, while many people will be enjoying the celebrations, for some workers St Patrick’s Day will be a normal day’s work.
South Connacht Citizens Information Service is encouraging all workers to make themselves aware of their rights and entitlements in respect of public holidays.
Mairead Carney Development Manager, Galway Citizens Information Service stated “Each year many members of the public contact our centres asking about their entitlements in respect of public holidays. We also regularly come across members of the public who say are part time workers and their employer informs them that they are not entitled to pay for the public holiday. Others are unclear as to whether they have any entitlements even if their employer does not ask them to work on that day.’’
All employees, including part-time employee are entitled to Public Holiday benefits if they meet certain conditions. These conditions and entitlements are set out in The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.An employee is entitled to a day’s pay for the public holiday if they have worked for your employer at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday and the public holiday falls on a day they normally work.
Once an employee qualifies, they are entitled to one of the following: A paid day off on the public holiday, an additional day of annual leave, an additional day’s pay or a paid day off within a month of the public holiday.If you do not normally, work on the day the public holiday falls on, you should get one-fifth of your weekly pay.
Even if you are never rostered to work on a public holiday, you are entitled to one-fifth of your weekly pay as compensation for the public holiday. Mairead Carney further added, “The Citizens Information Service, over the years, have come across many cases where employees did not get their public holiday entitlement when those days fell on days they were on sick leave, maternity leave, short time lay off or annual leave; we found in most of these cases workers were entitled to their public holiday entitlement. If this has happened to you in the last six months contact your local Galway Citizens Information Centre on 0818 07 7600 and talk to us”.
From next year, a new permanent public holiday established in celebration of St Brigid’s Day; this will fall on 6th February 2023.
For further information on all your rights and entitlements, you can contact your local CIC on: 0818 07 7600. Further information and details of where you can find your local centre are available at www.citizensinformation.ie You can also contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000
South Connacht Citizens Information Service is funded by the Citizens Information Board to provide a free and confidential information, advice and advocacy service to the public.
