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THE DEPARTMENT OF Social Protection has issued advice for workers who are diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus and those who may need to self-isolate as a precautionary measure.
The first case of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland was confirmed in a male patient from Scoil Chaitríona in Glasnevin, Dublin 9. He is currently receiving medical treatment.
The decision to close the school for two weeks was announced yesterday evening. Health officials have contacted the principal, staff, and parents or guardians of pupils.
As previously reported, the impact of self-isolation has caused concern for both employers and employees – with employers worried about staffing numbers, and employees uneasy about taking unpaid sick leave.
This evening, the Department of Social Protection issued advice for workers in relation to Covid-19. The advice is as follows:
People who are diagnosed with Covid-19
The Department said where an employee is diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus, normal workplace arrangements in respect of sick-absence should apply.
The employe should, subject to the latest advice from the HSE, be treated from a workplace perspective in the same manner as any member of staff who takes sick-leave for any other reason, the Department said.
Employees diagnosed with Covid-19 can, as is the case of any other illness, apply for income support from the Department of Social Protection in the form of illness benefit based on social insurance contributions or supplementary welfare allowance based on a means test.
People who are not diagnosed with Covid-19 but who self-isolate
An employee who is advised or directed by a registered medical practitioner to self-isolate on the basis that they are a probable source of Covid-19 infection can, if their employer ceases to pay their wages, apply for income support from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
A person who self-isolates in accordance with the up-to-date guidelines from the HSE but does not have a medical certificate from a medical practitioner, may apply for an income support in the form of supplementary welfare allowance.
People who are requested to stay at home by their employer
Anyone who is not advised to self-isolate in accordance with the up-to-date guidelines of the HSE, but is requested to stay at home by their employer as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19 can, in situations where the employer cannot continue to pay their wages, apply for income support in the form of a jobseeker payment or supplementary welfare allowance.
People who need to take time off work to care for a person affected by Covid-19
The Department noted that many employers can, and do, agree compassionate leave arrangements with staff who need to take short periods of time off to care for another person.
These include arrangements to enable employees to work remotely from home, to alter shift patterns, to work up time taken, or to bring forward annual leave entitlements from future work periods.
Where it’s not possible to make appropriate compassionate leave arrangements, employees can call on some statutory entitlements.
An employee is entitled to paid leave, known as ‘force majeure leave’, where they are urgently required to attend to the needs of a person who is affected by an illness or injury, including an actual or probable case of Covid-19. The person to whom care is being provided must be “in a relationship of domestic dependency” with the employee. It is limited to a total of three days in a 12 month period or five days in a 36 month period.
Parents are entitled, with six weeks’ notice, to take up to 22 weeks unpaid parental leave to care for each child up to 12 years of age (16 years of age in the case of a child with a disability).
Parents are also entitled, with six weeks’ notice, to take parental leave of two weeks for each child under one year of age, born on or after 1 November 2019. Parents taking parents leave are eligible to apply for parents benefit from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Employers are free to waive notice periods for parental/parents leave or to agree to provide paid leave as an alternative to parental/parents leave. Employers can also agree alternative leave/absence arrangements.
Trade union talks
Meanwhile, unions have called for talks with employers on how to handle the response to Covid-19.
Liam Berney of the the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) told RTÉ’s News at One that congress had been contacted by a number of workers concerned about the possible impact of the coronavirus on their incomes.
“At this early stage, it would be prudent for employers, unions and employees to sit down, discuss likely implications in their workplace if an active case arrived in their workplace, and to have in place arrangements that seek to protect, not only the business, but also seek to protect the workers, their health and safety, and their income,” Berney said.
“We believe that early dialogue is important and agreement is sought in circumstances where a person contracts the virus, and what are the implications for workers that may have been in contact with that person,” Mr Berney said.
In a statement today, ICTU general secretary Patricia King said:
“Employers must engage with staff and union representatives before decisions are taken regarding working arrangements as a result o the virus.”
Separately, Labour Party leadership candidate Alan Kelly has proposed bringing emergency legislation to the Dáil to deal with issues surrounding the Coronavirus.
“I have asked the Labour Party’s legal team to draft legislation protecting workers who may be impacted by the Coronavirus, specifically on the remuneration of workers who have to self-isolate and how we can use private medical facilities, particularly intensive care beds if needed. I intend to bring both pieces of legislation to the Dáil this Thursday,” Kelly said.
With reporting by Jesse Melia
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Wow I don’t even think sinn fein will miss this one.
@john s: He’s very popular, so they’ll miss the votes.
@Chin Feeyin: You mean he was very popular. I’m not so sure now
@Chin Feeyin: not one political party will knock on his door.
@john s: I’d say some far-right parties will contact him, they’re all mad for the MMA.
@john s: There’s always The Irish Freedom Party, I’m sure they’ll welcome him.
Dunce.
@Vonvonic: Now that the brains of SF has left, what next?
He seemed like a nice lad when he was fighting, but good god – he’s an absolute melt when it comes to politics.
So he decides not to renew his membership, as opposed to the party actually taking a stance and removing him. Typical stuff, hurling from the ditch at everyone else but happy to have head the balls like this as councillors as long as they drag in a few votes. About time they sorted out their party membership if they’re ever going to be taken seriously as a government contender. Wasn’t there another one convicted of kidnapping and waterboarding someone over the sale of a motorbike? Lovely folk.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Suppose you could say the same about the blueshirts.. Tanaiste under garda investigation. The fact the acting Minister for Justice stated Varadkar has done nothing wrong is at the least a conflict of interest and do you seriously believe FFG/ Greens should be considered a serious government.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: yes he was thrown out of the party well in advance of being convicted. He had claimed he was bullied out and was backed by many of the FFFG media and reps at the time.
@Colin Kavanagh: “Thrown out of the party” and into a cushy job working for Christy Burke? Doesn’t seem like they threw him very far….
He seemed like the political equivalent to that mate who starts sharing content about 5G
Clown
It’s a pity he’s no longer a member. He was a perfect example of how low they will stoop to have someone elected.
Looks like the canary off of the carbon monoxide ad
@Aaron Forde: don’t go spoiling that ad.
How is he controversial, he’s a good family man who does a lot in his community? Shameful headline.
@Seosamh: “How is he controversial”?! Have you ever listened to him?!
Next we will hear of bould Paddy will be at a Gemma Rally.
Another lad on the dole.
Conor will give him a job.
He has gone away, I know.
I wonder did his party send the heavies around to the house to have a word. They have a habit of doing that with vocal councillors.
@GrumpyAulFella: You mean like the FG councillor who knocked on the door of a 70 year old man in Limerick over a Facebook post?
Mother a jayziz, would ya look at that…
Suspendered all activity…how kinky of them!
even too much of bi got for the bi got party
His ideas are more suited to a right wing party like FG
Could at least have spelled his name correctly under the photo. Holloman. Lol
@Ronan J Walsh: Paddy The Hollowman Hooligan O Holohan
His a head de ball
Mad as cheese!
A rush of Rare Blood to The Head l Guess
Such a loss
have your say