Introduction
This policy informs all employees covered by the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 of their rights and entitlements while in employment. All full-time, part-time, and temporary employees are covered by this policy. Unpaid leave for medical care purposes is a short-term unpaid leave that employees can avail of for the purposes of providing personal care or support to certain specified persons.
Entitlement
Under our Unpaid leave for medical care policy you are entitled to unpaid leave where one of the following persons is in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason:
a person of whom the employee is the relevant parent;
the spouse or civil partner of the employee;;
a cohabitant of the employee;
a parent or grandparent of the employee;
a brother or sister of the employee;
a person, other than one specified in the above, who resides in the same household as the employee.
A person is considered to be in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason where, owing to the person’s disability, injury or illness, he or she requires such care or support that requires the presence of the employee at the place where the person is.
Unpaid leave for medical care purposes shall consist of one or more days on which, but for the leave, the employee would be working. The entitlement applies when the presence of the employee is required at the place where the disabled/ill/injured person is located.
Your entitlement to Unpaid leave for medical care is limited to 5 days in any period of 12 consecutive months and shall not be taken in a period of less than one day. Part days shall be regarded as full days for the purposes of the maximum number of days an employee can take. There is no minimum service requirement for the leave.
Applying for the leave
Due to the nature of Unpaid leave for medical care purposes it may not be possible to apply for the leave in advance. However, where it is possible to provide advance notice of an intention to take leave for medical care purposes, employees are encouraged to do so.
When an employee takes or intends to take the leave, an employee is required to inform their manager or supervisor as soon as possible but not later than on the first day of absence. You must also complete the Medical Care leave application form via People HR, Logbook Section.
We have created a video tutorial to show you how to apply for medical care leave via People HR, Logbook Section. You can view this Here.
On this form you will be required to specify the date of the commencement of the leave for medical care purposes, its duration and outline the facts entitling you to the leave and your relationship to the specified person.
You may also be required to provide relevant evidence in relation to the person for whom the relevant care or support is or is proposed to be provided. This may include but is not limited to, a certificate signed by a medical practitioner or such other evidence as the employer may require in order to show that the person concerned was in need of significant care or support for a serious medical reason.
On receipt of a confirmation document, the employer will retain the confirmation and will provide a written acknowledgement of the receipt of the confirmation.
Employment rights protection
All your employment rights, excluding remuneration, are protected while you are on Unpaid leave for medical care purposes. You will return to your normal job on completion of the period of leave.
P.O Doc 20
Issue 2
Issue Date: 02/10/2023
Revision Date: 27/01/2026
Next Revision Date: January 2029
Documented by: Amy Shine
Approved by: Mary Gaffey