Thousands of workers are unaware of a little-known benefit that entitles them to up to five extra days off work.
Senator Garret Ahearn took to TikTok recently to explain ‘wedding leave’, which he reckons most people don’t know about.
He says some Irish workers can claim up to five days ‘wedding leave’ in the run up to their big day.
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Senator Ahearn said: “So I have a new one for you, most people won’t realise this - wedding leave. There is such a thing called wedding leave.
“This is just to recognise that people need time off before they get married. All the planning and preparation needs to be done before and it is a really important day obviously for most people. And it gives people the space to make sure it is a perfect day for everyone.
"So if you are getting married this year or next year, you're entitled to five days wedding leave if you're working in the public sector.”
Posting a video on his @senatorgarretahearn account, he added that those who work in the private sector may also be able to claim it.
“You are not entitled to it in the private sector. But if you request it, if you've got good employers, they should be able to look after you,” he explained.
In the video, which has been watched by almost 10,000 people, he said eligible workers can apply for the leave online.
He said: “You may apply for up to an additional five days paid leave at time of marriage or civil partnership, as long as the total of marriage/civil partnership leave and annual leave does not exceed 27 days.
“If you have an entitlement to marriage/civil partnership leave as a full time officer, you get the pro rata amount as a work-sharer. Annual leave you have carried forward from another leave year does not count toward the total of 27 days mentioned above.”
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