Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 – Recent Changes

August 2015

Accrual of Annual Leave whilst on Sick Leave

With effect from 1 August 2015 private sector employees who are on sick leave will now accrue annual leave whilst out sick and may carry over annual leave for a period of up to 15 months after the leave year in question. This change introduced by Workplace Relations Act will have significant cost implications for employers. An employee returning from long term sick leave will now have built up a bank of holidays to take or in circumstances where an employee leaves the employment without having the opportunity to take their accrued annual leave their employer will have an obligation to pay them.

For more information, contact your usual Whitney Moore contact or Emma Richmond in our Employment Group.