Did you get your statutory sick pay ?

Day one rights

Since 2022, Irish workers have a statutory right to paid sick leave — 70% of normal wages (up to €110/day) for 5 days, rising to 10 by 2026.

But here’s what I’ve discovered:

Many employers are still using “discretionary sick schemes” with waiting days (no pay for the first 2–3 days).

That strips away the cover for the most common absences (average = 3.9 days in Ireland).

Low-paid workers lose their entitlement completely, while managers and higher earners actually do better under these schemes.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) even upheld schemes like this (Musgrave, Dunnes), despite the Act clearly guaranteeing Day 1 protection after 13 weeks of service.

In my opinion, this is wage theft dressed up as “benefits.” Statutory rights are meant to be guarantees, not bargaining chips.

Has anyone here actually received their full statutory sick pay under the Act? Or were you told you had to wait, or that your employer’s scheme “was better”? yet it denied your full statutory right.

Curious to hear other people’s real experiences.

— Day One Rights