This is an alert to all Line Managers and Local HR staff regarding the recording of Special Leave with pay for Covid-19. All Special Leave for Covid-19 forms must still be submitted by the manager.
When raising a Certified Sick Leave Covid-19 related absence, a warning message will now display as follows:
“Warning – You are about to raise a Certified Sick Leave Covid-19 related absence.
Please review the policy in relation to raising Covid-19 related absences before proceeding.
If the officer for whom you are raising an absence has NOT been on Special Paid Leave for the period of 10 days please click ‘Cancel’ to go back and raise the Absence Type as Special Leave Paid and NOT Certified Sick Leave
ONLY if the officer has been on Special Paid Leave for 10 consecutive days, Click ‘Ok’ to continue and submit a Certified Sick Leave with Covid-19 related absence.”
When “Special Leave Paid” is selected, the “Absence Reason” and “Absence Code” will automatically populate as “Covid-19 Related” and “Paid Contact Infectious Diseases” respectively.
This will assist in preventing Line Managers incorrectly raising such absences as certified sick leave.
Absences related to Covid-19 raised incorrectly as certified sick leave can now also be amended by Line Managers to an absence type of “Special Leave Paid”.
- Required Documentation: Employees should continue to send their documentation (such as medical certification/confirmation of Covid-19 test) to HR in their Department/Office rather than sending it to HR Services during the period of the special leave.
- Duration of Special Leave with pay for Covid-19: Please note that the maximum duration of this special leave that can be granted in one instance is 10 calendar days. If the absence exceeds 10 days, the remainder will be recorded as Certified Sick Leave, unless a number of criteria as outlined in the guidance are met.
For further details on the changes to special leave with pay for Covid-19, please refer to the updated guidance document at gov.ie.
Any queries on the above should be directed to Leave Management through the NSSO Case Management System. Please include ‘Covid-19 leave query’ in the case summary.
Regards,
Absence Management
National Shared Services Office
