The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has said staff should continue to take annual leave as civil and public service employees continue to work remotely during the Covid-19 crisis.

Indeed, employers across the economy have turned their attention to the issue as the Covid-19 crisis has inhibited staff from taking leave over the last three months, while travel restrictions have scuppered many family holiday plans.

Last week, DPER published guidelines that advised managers to “ensure that their team members are availing of annual leave in a way that supports wellbeing, and also ensures that their team is supported to take their statutory minimum entitlement.”

The head of Fórsa’s civil service division, Derek Mullen, has encouraged workers to take annual leave. But he said there should be no mandatory enforcement, and added that the union was monitoring developments.

Fórsa is also examining DPER’s leave carryover proposals, especially for members in their third year of the cycle.

Read DPER’s most recent FAQ document HERE.

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