Work out what one public holiday is worth to an employee, including part-time and variable-hours staff, where the rules are easiest to get wrong.
Part-time staff qualify once this reaches 40 hours.
Fill in the details and press calculate. The working is shown so you can check it or explain it to an employee.
General guidance based on the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, not legal advice. Public holiday entitlement can be given as a paid day off, an additional day’s pay, or an extra annual leave day — the employer chooses. For disputes or unusual cases, check Citizens Information or the WRC.
Bank holiday weekends provide a welcome opportunity for many to relax and recharge, to celebrate significant occasions throughout the year and to attend community events and gatherings. However, understanding public holiday entitlements can at times be tricky both for employers and employees.
This guide aims to clarify employee rights and employer obligations regarding public holidays in Ireland, as outlined in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 legislation.
Contact our team for holiday calculation queries and employment entitlements unique to your business, or to find out more about our full range of HR services.
Ireland has 10 public holidays annually. Employees, whether full-time or part-time, are entitled to a benefit for each public holiday. This benefit, determined by the employer, can take one of the following forms:
Ireland recognises 10 public holidays annually, with employees entitled to benefits for each.
Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to public holiday benefits when eligible.
If your business operates on a public holiday, employees who work are entitled to be paid for the day at their normal daily hours in addition to their public holiday benefit.
This benefit can vary depending on the employee’s work schedule (full-time or part-time) and the specific public holiday, provided the employee receives appropriate notice.
Getting these calculations right every cycle is one of the more common reasons employers move to managed payroll services.
The employee receives the full benefit (extra day's pay, paid day off, etc.).
The employee receives one-fifth of their normal weekly wage for that day.
No public holiday benefit is awarded.
Employees on leave for various reasons (Maternity Leave, Adoptive Leave, Parental Leave, Domestic Violence Leave) retain their public holiday entitlement for the leave duration. Public holidays during Paternity Leave or Parent’s Leave are added to the leave period.
Employees on Carer’s Leave receive the benefit for bank holidays within the first thirteen weeks of their temporary lay-off.
However, employees on sick leave exceeding 26 consecutive weeks (or 52 weeks for occupational accidents) forfeit their public holiday benefit if absent immediately before the holiday.
Public holidays do not count towards annual leave entitlement.
Good Friday is a normal working day, not a public holiday.
Employees on temporary lay-off during a public holiday receive the benefit for holidays within the first thirteen weeks of lay-off.
Employees leaving within a week before a public holiday, having worked the previous four weeks, are entitled to public holiday payment.
All employees who meet the qualifying criteria (full-time employees or part-time employees meeting the 40-hour threshold) are entitled to public holiday benefits.
For employers: This guide provides a general overview of public holiday entitlements in Ireland. If you have further questions or require specific guidance regarding your business’s situation, the friendly HR Buddy team is here to help.
We offer a comprehensive suite of HR services for small businesses, ensuring you have the support you need to navigate complex employment issues and remain compliant with Irish regulations.
Contact our team of HR experts by phone at 064 669 8034 or email us at info@hrbuddy.ie for tailored advice on managing public holiday entitlements for your employees.