The Health Service Executive has confirmed that frontline healthcare workers who cannot attend work due to childcare difficulties will be paid to stay at home, on the basis that they remain available for work from home in other roles.
In a new protocol circulated to HSE managers today, National Director of HR Anne Marie Hoey states that there is no special paid leave available for Covid-19 caring arrangements during this time.
However, she goes on to inform managers across the HSE that as employees in this situation may be assigned alternative duties at any stage during the emergency, they will continue to be paid their normal basic salary and fixed allowances where applicable pending such an assignment.