Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (137)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding payments to parents who take time off work (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60500/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware the public health response to COVID-19 is constantly monitored, including approaches to testing, contact tracing, isolating, outbreak management, surveillance and sequencing.

From the outset of Covid-19, many employers have taken the initiative, in line with subsequent requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children who are not attending school or crèche. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of understanding, compromise and flexibility. Some of the options to be considered for workers with caring responsibilities that preclude them from working their normal hours may include -

- Offering paid compassionate leave,

- Allowing employees to work from home,

- Altering shifts, so that employees can coordinate caring between themselves and partners, or another person,

- Allowing employees to rearrange holidays,

- Allowing employees to rearrange parental leave,

- Allowing employees to take paid time off that can be worked back at a later time etc.

- Allowing employees to take unpaid leave until they can return to work full or part-time.

I would also encourage all employers to be as flexible and supportive as possible with parents of sick children with a view to maintaining good employment relationships over the long term.

Barr
Roinn