Fórsa has secured an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform that will see all maternity-related illness automatically discounted when a person is being considered for promotion.

Earlier this year the union pursued claims aimed at improving several pregnancy and maternity-related issues for civil service workers and, sought for a circular to issue to declare that certified maternity-related sick leave will be discounted.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini explained that when a person is promoted in the civil service their sick leave record is assessed to ensure that the person will be capable of regular and effective service.

“There are several considerations that may be given to discounting sick leave. Up until now, while the rules governing sick leave when a person is being considered for promotion allowed for maternity-related sick leave to be discounted, they were discretionary. This new change in policy will see maternity related sick leave automatically discounted for promotional purposes,” he said.

Seán warmly welcomed the news and cited it as a “good win” for members.

“This change in policy originally came from a motion at our 2022 Fórsa Biennial Delegate Conference. The Revenue Clerical branches called for pregnancy-related sick leave to be discounted for promotional purposes and we have worked hard to deliver on this for members. The policy change now automatically discounts maternity related sick leave for promotion. It is a good win and a welcome change,” he said.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has issued Circular 13/2023 to record this change.