Employment Rights Hub Reviewed 10 August 2026

Employment Rights in Ireland 2026: Pay, Leave, Hours & Ending a Job

A practical route through Irish employment rights covering minimum wage, leave, working hours, contracts, notice, dismissal and redundancy.

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Choose a situation to jump directly to the most relevant guides.

Guides by situation

16 practical guides

Choose the situation closest to your question.

Pay and payslips

Check minimum pay, wage statements, deductions and missing payments.

Pay Minimum Wage Ireland 2026 Current adult and age-based hourly rates, pay calculations and exclusions. Pay & payslips Payslips, Deductions and Unpaid Wages Payslip requirements, lawful deductions, missing pay and practical evidence.

Leave and public holidays

Understand sick leave, annual leave, family leave and public-holiday benefits.

Leave Sick Pay Ireland 2026 Five statutory sick-leave days, eligibility, certification and the daily cap. Leave Annual Leave Entitlement The three statutory calculation methods, carryover and leaving a job. Family leave Family Leave Ireland Maternity, paternity, parent's and parental leave compared. Public holidays Public Holiday Pay The ten 2026 dates and benefit rules for full-time and part-time employees.

Hours and working arrangements

Review Sunday work, hours, breaks, remote work and flexible-working requests.

Working time Sunday Premium Pay When Sunday work may require extra pay, an allowance or paid time off. Working time Working Hours and Breaks The 48-hour average, daily and weekly rest, breaks and night work. Working arrangements Remote and Flexible Working Requests How to make a statutory request and how the process should be handled.

Contracts and probation

Check written terms, contract requirements and probation limits.

Probation Probation Period Rules Six-month limits, exceptions, written terms and rights during probation. Contracts Employment Contracts Day 5 terms, the full written statement, changes and payslips.

Notice, dismissal and redundancy

Choose the correct route when employment is ending or a formal complaint may be needed.

Notice Minimum Notice Period Employee and employer notice, pay in lieu and final-pay distinctions. Dismissal Unfair Dismissal Qualifying service, fair grounds, procedures, time limits and remedies. Redundancy Statutory Redundancy Eligibility, the two-weeks-per-year formula and weekly pay ceiling. Redundancy tax Redundancy Tax-Free Amount Statutory and ex-gratia payments, notice pay and Revenue reliefs. WRC complaints WRC Complaints and Time Limits Complaint routes, ordinary deadlines, evidence, mediation and adjudication.

What changed in 2026?

  • The national minimum wage rose on 1 January 2026. The adult rate for employees aged 20 and over is €14.15 per hour.
  • MyFutureFund auto-enrolment commenced on 1 January 2026 for employees who meet the age, earnings and existing-pension conditions.
  • Statutory sick leave remains five days in a calendar year, subject to service and medical-certification conditions.
  • From 29 June 2026, qualifying employees whose contractual retirement age is below State Pension age can notify an employer that they wish to remain until State Pension age. Notice and response rules apply, so this is not an automatic extension in every case.
Tools

Related calculators

Open a calculator when you are ready to estimate your own numbers.

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Holiday Pay Leave and holiday estimates Overtime Pay Extra-hours estimate Redundancy Pay Statutory redundancy estimate Pro-Rata Salary Part-time pay estimate Hourly to Annual Salary Compare hourly and annual pay

If you believe a right has been missed

1. Check the ruleUse the relevant WRC guidance and your contract or policy.
2. Keep evidenceSave payslips, rosters, time records, emails and leave requests.
3. Raise it clearlyUse the employer's payroll, grievance or HR process in writing.
4. Get formal helpCheck WRC complaint routes and time limits, or seek qualified advice.

This hub provides general information and calculator links, not a decision on an individual employment dispute.

Official help

Official information and support

Use the official route that matches the question you need to check.

WRC employment-rights informationOfficial explanations of pay, leave, working-time and employment rules. Make a WRC complaintOpen the official complaint and dispute referral route. Contact the WRCInformation and Customer Service: +353 59 917 8990. Citizens Information: EmploymentIndependent public information on work and employment rights. Revenue: termination paymentsOfficial tax treatment of statutory redundancy and other termination payments.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main employment rights in Ireland?

Core rights include lawful pay, annual and statutory leave, public holiday benefits, working-time protections, written terms, notice and protection from unfair dismissal where the conditions apply.

Can an employment contract give less than the statutory minimum?

A contract can usually improve a statutory entitlement but cannot normally remove a minimum right that applies to the employee.

Do employment rights apply to part-time workers?

Yes. Part-time employees have employment protections, although the calculation or eligibility test can depend on hours, service and working pattern.

Where can an employee complain about an employment-rights breach?

Many employment-rights complaints are made to the Workplace Relations Commission. Check the relevant rule and time limit before submitting a complaint.

How long do I have to make a WRC complaint?

Many employment-rights complaints normally have a six-month time limit, but the correct rule depends on the legislation and event. Check the specific complaint route promptly.

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