At a glance
- The Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025 (Bill) proposes up to three days of paid leave per year for employees to attend health screenings.
- Leave applies to Health Service Executive cancer screening programmes or screenings recommended by a medical practitioner, with strict confidentiality protections and penalties for breaches.
- Employers cannot penalise employees for using this leave; dismissals during such leave are void, and disputes can be brought to the Workplace Relations Commission for remedies.
The Bill is currently at the First Stage of the Dáil and proposes a new statutory entitlement of up to three days paid leave per leave year for employees to attend health screening appointments. The Bill allows for part-day absences and sets out requirements for notifying employers.
The leave focuses on in cancer screening programmes provided by the Health Service Executive (such as cervical, breast, or colon cancer screenings), or for other screenings recommended by a registered medical practitioner based on the employee’s age, gender, and general health status.
The Bill includes strong confidentiality protections, ensuring that personal health information is not disclosed without consent. It will be an offence to breach these provisions.
Employers are prohibited from penalising employees for availing of this leave, and any dismissal, suspension, or notice of termination issued during a period of health screening leave is deemed void.
Disputes can be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission, which may award compensation (of up to two weeks remuneration) or direct the granting of leave.
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