QUESTIONS RE; SICK LEAVE, TEMP & PERMANENT LAY OFF?

Lots of people are asking;

What should they do if their place of employment is still open and they have Covid-19 Symptoms?

What payment will they receive if they are layed off work or lose their job permanently and how & where do they apply?

ANSWERS;

DO NOT GO TO WORK IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

If you have Covid-19 symptoms you should not attend work, contact your GP and self-isolate for 14 days. Be aware of the symptoms, they include;

• a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry

• shortness of breath

• breathing difficulties

• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) or chills

Other symptoms are fatigue, headaches, sore throat, aches and pains. 

If you develop symptoms you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for coronavirus, they will arrange a test.

You can apply for Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences. The personal rate for this payment is €305, as compared with the normal Illness Benefit rate of €203.

It will be paid for a maximum of 2 weeks where a person is self-isolating, but will be paid for the duration of a person's absence from work if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We must stress that you cannot visit your doctor. You must contact them by phone. (Source; HSE.ie)

Full details and more information available here; https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/

 BUSINESS TEMPORARY CLOSURES

If your place of work has closed for business due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and your employer cannot pay you, you can apply for an emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment?

The payment is available to all employees and the self-employed Full and Part-Time who have lost employment due to the pandemic. It is also available for Students who were working and lost pay.

You will get a payment of €350 per week for up to 6 weeks (as applicable). Minister Regina Doherty has confirmed that they are currently working on revising this payment scheme, so more information will also be available in the coming days.

MORE DETAILS & TO APPLY GO HERE; https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/covid-19/

PERMANENT BUSINESS CLOSURES & PERMANENT UMEMPLOYMENT

If you are unemployed, as in your company has closed for good or your position has ceased to exist, you will need to apply for and be assessed for Jobseeker’s payment supports.

It may also be possible to apply for the Emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment in the interim and we recommend you also apply for Unemployment Benefit as soon as possible. You  can apply for a Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit on www.MyWelfare.ie

There's also a wealth of information being constantly updated HERE on issues such as;

• Health Information
• Employment and income supports
• Mortgage, loans and rent
• Housing
• Utilities
• Education
• Travel
• Older people

STAY SAFE!

COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers here.