Information for School Leavers (pdf) - Citizens Information Board

Leaving your job
An employer is entitled to a minimum of one week’s
notice from an employee if the employee has worked for
13 weeks. Your contract of employment may require you
to give more notice.
If you give up a job without good reason you may be
disqualified from getting Jobseeker’s Benefit for nine weeks.
Illness
What should I do if I am sick and cannot go to work
You must notify your employer if you get sick and cannot
go to work. You are usually expected to produce a medical
certificate after two days absence and you should send this to
your employer. Your employer does not have to pay you while
you are on sick leave but there may be arrangements regarding
illness and sick pay specific to your employment. You should
check this with your employer or union.
If your terms and conditions of employment do not include sick
pay you should apply for Illness Benefit (which is based on your
PRSI contribution). Ask your doctor for a Social Welfare Medical
Certificate and send it to Department of Social Protection, PO
Box 1650, Dublin 1. As a first-time entrant to the PRSI system you
are entitled to Illness Benefit once you have two years of paid
contributions on your record. If you are entitled to Illness Benefit
you do not get any payment for the first three days of illness.
The amount of Illness Benefit you get depends on your
earnings in what is known as the relevant tax year. This means
that a claim made anytime in 2011 is based on your earnings
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