Sick Leave Policy - St. Patrick's College

Coláiste Phádraig
Droim Conrach
Baile Átha Cliath 9
(Coláiste de chuid Ollscoil
Chathair Bhaile Átha
Cliath)
St Patrick’s College
Drumcondra
Dublin 9
(A College of Dublin City
University)
Sick Leave Policy
1. General
Sick leave, with or without pay may be granted, by St Patrick’s College, to staff who have
satisfactorily completed one year’s service.
2. Certified Sick Leave
Absences in excess of two consecutive days must be certified by a medical practitioner.
Provided there is no evidence of permanent disability, full pay, less social welfare
sickness/disability benefit for certified sick leave (where applicable), may be allowed up to
a maximum of 6 months (183 days) and half pay thereafter subject to a maximum of
twelve months (365 days) sick leave in any period of four years.
Absence in excess of 12 months (365 days) in a 4 year period will be unpaid. The first
twelve month period commences on the first day of certified or uncertified absence.
Subsequent twelve month periods are consecutive until the end of 4 years.
Where sick leave is not continuous, 6 months is calculated as 183 days which will include
Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and privilege days that fall within each period of sick
leave. Days of uncertified sick leave are also counted in arriving at an aggregate of sick
leave taken. The continuation of payment during sick leave is dependent on there being a
reasonable prospect of recovery.
Annual and special leave, public holidays and privilege days at the beginning or end of
periods of sick leave are excluded in the calculation of the period of allowance of full pay.
Where leave is taken following certified sick leave a certificate of fitness to return to work
must be furnished.
3. Uncertified Sick Leave
Uncertified sick leave may be granted for one or two consecutive days subject to a
maximum of seven days in any 12 month period. Any further sick leave within the twelve
month period must be certified or be deducted from the staff member's annual leave
entitlement for the current year or salary may be deducted. Where sick leave extends
from Friday to Monday inclusive, a medical certificate must be furnished.
Payment will only take place where there is no evidence of abuse of the regulations, e.g.
frequent uncertified sick leave and/or where the maximum of 7 days allowable is
regularly approached and is used as a means for supplementary annual leave.
4. Medical Certificates
For a medical certificate to be accepted the following conditions must be met:
The doctor’s name and address must be clearly legible on the certificate.
The certificate must be signed and dated by the doctor named.
The nature of the illness must be stated clearly.
The likely duration of the illness must be stated.

The certificate may be for a week’s duration or less. In the case of illness in excess of
one month, a monthly certificate will suffice.
Before returning to work following a period of certified sick leave in excess of one month,
a medical certificate confirming fitness to resume duties must be provided. The College
reserves the right to request examination of a staff member on sick leave by a nominated
medical practitioner of the College’s choice.
5. Sick Leave Without Pay
Staff members who have exhausted the allowance of sick leave with pay or who are not
eligible, will not be paid.
6. Annual Leave and Sick Leave
Certified sick leave occurring during a period of annual leave, if notified immediately, will
have the effect of cancelling authorised annual leave which may be taken later.
Uncertified sickness occurring during annual leave does not cancel authorised annual
leave. Where an employee wishes to commence annual leave immediately following an
absence due to certified illness, a medical certificate is required stating the employee is fit
to return to work
7. Notification of Sick Leave
Notification of absence due to illness must be made to the Head of Department or to the
line manager as soon as possible on the first day of illness. A medical certificate should
be forwarded to the Salaries Office no later than the third day of illness. This medical
certificate should then be passed on to the Human Resources Department.
8. Social Welfare Benefits
Staff who pay A1 rate of PRSI may be entitled to social welfare benefit for illness in
excess of three days. This must be claimed from the Department of Social Community
and Family Affairs as soon as possible by submitting an MC1 form.
The MC1 should be obtained from, completed and signed by your G.P. It is then
submitted to the address on the back of the form.
For lengthy absences due to sick leave an MC2 form is completed and submitted to the
Department of Social Community and Family Affairs on a weekly basis. The benefit is paid
directly to each employee by the Department. Therefore this amount will be automatically
deducted from your salary by the Salaries Office