Compassionate Leave

There is no legal entitlement to compassionate leave, generally it is at the discretion of the employer.  

A number of employment sectors have pay and conditions of employment regulated through the Joint Labour Committee system/ Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) or through Registered  Employment Agreements (REAs), that are legally binding on employers in the sectors to which they apply.   The following ERO's/REA's contain binding regulations regarding compassionate leave.

• Brush and Broom
• Construction
• Electrical
• Hairdressing (Dublin) 

An employee may refer a complaint to a Labour Inspector at this Department in relation to any contraventions of any of the above regulations.  A complaint to a Labour Inspector may be treated confidentially by a Labour Inspector at the request of the employee.  The relevant complaint form is available on request from this office.