Ireland Employment Guide

Ireland Employment Guide

Ireland is in northwestern Europe, on the Atlantic’s east coast, bordering the Irish Sea (east) and facing the UK across the sea. It has ~5 million people; Irish and English are official, and Dublin is the capital. Its highly developed economy is service-led, with global competitiveness in finance, IT, biomedicine and pharmaceuticals. Agriculture and export-oriented manufacturing also hold shares. Sound labor laws (per Employment Rights Act) protect wages, hours, leave and social security. Standard workweek: 39-40 hours (overtime needs extra pay or time off). Salaries are usually monthly (avg. €3,200 pre-tax). Laws cover paid leave and encourage flexible work, balancing employer-employee interests for a fair, sustainable labor market.

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Currency

Euro (EUR, €)

Capital

Dublin

Official language

Irish (Gaelic) and English

Salary Cycle

Monthly

Our Employment Guide in Ireland

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Paid Time Off Policy

Full-time employees at SailGlobal are entitled to 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually. Part-time staff receive PTO equivalent to 8% of their working hours. Vacation days accrue monthly, with full-time employees earning 1.6 days per month. There is no minimum service requirement before employees can begin using their accrued leave.

Public Holidays in Ireland

Ireland recognizes 10 statutory holidays throughout the year. These include:

  1. New Year's Day: January 1st
  2. St. Brigid's Day: February 6th
  3. St. Patrick's Day: March 17th
  4. Easter Monday
  5. May Bank Holiday: First Monday in May
  6. June Bank Holiday: First Monday in June
  7. August Bank Holiday: First Monday in August
  8. October Bank Holiday: Last Monday in October
  9. Christmas Day: December 25th
  10. St. Stephen's Day: December 26th

International Comparison

Compared to other European countries, Ireland's public holiday structure provides a balanced distribution throughout the year. For instance, while Germany has more public holidays overall, they vary significantly by region. Ireland's consistent national approach ensures uniform benefits across the country.

Practical Implementation

At SailGlobal, we've found that combining PTO with public holidays creates optimal work-life balance. Employees typically use their PTO to extend holiday weekends or plan longer breaks, resulting in higher job satisfaction and productivity.

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