Annual leave: Does the government’s ‘Green List’ mean go?
Many employers have been reviewing their annual leave policies and addressing employees' annual leave requests, in circumstances where travel restrictions (based on government guidance) have been in place during the current pandemic.
Government guidance up until 22 July 2020 was that everyone returning from foreign travel (excluding Northern Ireland) must complete a passenger locator form and restrict their movements for 14 days following their return. In mid-July the government announced a 'Green List' of countries deemed to have similar or lower COVID-19 risks to Ireland. The government's advice for travel to these countries is to implement 'normal precautions'. Accordingly, anyone who arrives into Ireland from a location on the 'Green List' does not need to restrict their movements for 14 days following their return.
In this bulletin our Employment team look at the factors employers should be taking into account in addressing employee requests to travel abroad during annual leave.
For more information on this topic please contact Triona Sugrue, Knowledge Lawyer, Ciarán Lyng, Solicitor or any member of the ALG Employment team.
Date published: 28 July 2020