Rights in Ireland for Two Working Parents

BarraOG

Hi,

I'm moving back to Ireland with the family next year having worked in another EU country for 10 years. Both my wife and I work in IT and have roughly the same income.

We're currently entitled to work 7 hour days so that we can drop children off at school. Was wondering if there is anything like that in Ireland.

Secondly, what's is the norm in Ireland regarding number of holidays a year and is it the kind of thing that you can negotiate when applying for a job? Are employers in the IT sector open to the idea of staff taking unpaid days off so that you can spend more time with children, in the summer for example? Is this the kind of thing you can even discuss in an interview when applying for a job?

Thirdly, if a child is sick a week from school, is a parent entitled to stay at home with them? Is it accepted if a father rings in to work to say that they have to stay at home with a sick child?

Even if one of us has to stay at home, we will be financially better off moving back to Ireland.

Have you any other advice for us?

Thanks,

Barra

Stheno

You've no legal rights to special hours etc as a parent.

If your child is sick force majeure kicks in but is limited to three days per year.

Essentially it will be up to an employers policies

seamus

In the IT sector, most employers will be pretty flexible. But won't be backed up with any specific rights.

In terms of 7 hour days, this won't be typical and most roles will have a set number of hours. But employers can be flexible if you discuss it upfront.
They'll also often be flexible about start and end times so you can work around your schedule.

Legal minimum holidays is 20. Some employers offer 21. The more recent trend in IT is towards 24 or 25.
This is usually not negotiable - usually everyone gets the same number of days and that's that.

Employers are slow to be happy with unpaid leave. Like the weekly hours, they want you available. You are entitled to 18 weeks unpaid leave during the first 8 years of each child's life. But this doesn't kick in for a year and has to be applied for well in advance.

Whatever is important can be negotiated, but don't bring it up until you're well into the interview process, ideally at the negotiation stage.

Stheno

Oh what area of it do you both work in?

jimmycrackcorm

OP, you and your wife would have well paid jobs here and a standard of living above most. So you will be in a better position than most to have childcare or equivalent to take care of your family requirements.

If you're not choosing to live in Dublin then you could be in a position that one of you could afford to not work.

livedadream

BarraOG wrote: »

We're currently entitled to work 7 hour days so that we can drop children off at school. Was wondering if there is anything like that in Ireland.

all of this is company dependant IT is one of the more progressive industries in Ireland so there is some hope.

BarraOG wrote: »

Secondly, what's is the norm in Ireland regarding number of holidays a year and is it the kind of thing that you can negotiate when applying for a job?

you can totally negotiate this the same as you do your salary and other benefits. most companies offer the standard holidays but again its company dependant some reward service etc with extra annual leave.

BarraOG wrote: »

Are employers in the IT sector open to the idea of staff taking unpaid days off so that you can spend more time with children, in the summer for example? Is this the kind of thing you can even discuss in an interview when applying for a job?

i wouldn't bring it up in an interview at all but would when at the contract negotiation stage. but from my experience its pretty rare in Ireland, most people save up annual leave entitlements and use it then.

BarraOG wrote: »

Thirdly, if a child is sick a week from school, is a parent entitled to stay at home with them? Is it accepted if a father rings in to work to say that they have to stay at home with a sick child?

theres no difference between a mother or father calling in to stay home with a sick child. force majeure is open to both.

my org for example lets people work from home a certain number of days a month so it can be used in a situation like this. we also offer flexi time which is great for parents on the school run. we also offer 10 days unpaid time off for staff that have achieved 5 years service.

Nody

Stheno wrote: »

If your child is sick force majeure kicks in but is limited to three days per year / 5 days over 3 years

And only for the first day; from day two forward you'd be expected to have arranged alternative solution.