Public Holidays at Dunnes Stores

  1. What You’re Entitled To
  2. The 10 Public Holidays in Ireland
  3. Who Qualifies?
  4. Important Notes
  5. What to Watch For
  6. Mandate is Here to Help

What You’re Entitled To

Under Irish law, all Dunnes workers are entitled to benefit from 10 public holidays per year. This includes full-time, part-time and temporary staff once minimum service conditions are met.

Dunnes staff who qualify for public holiday pay will receive:

  • Time and a half pay if you work the public holiday
  • One of the following entitlements, whether you work or not:
    1. A paid day off (within one month), or
    2. An extra day’s basic pay

These entitlements are part of your contract of employment, and Dunnes contracts require staff to work public holidays if rostered.

The 10 Public Holidays in Ireland

  1. New Year’s Day (1 January)
  2. St Brigid’s Day (First Monday in February, or 1 Feb if a Friday)
  3. St Patrick’s Day (17 March)
  4. Easter Monday
  5. First Monday in May
  6. First Monday in June
  7. First Monday in August
  8. Last Monday in October
  9. Christmas Day (25 December)
  10. St Stephen’s Day (26 December)

Who Qualifies?

You qualify for public holiday benefits if:

  • You work the public holiday, or
  • You are normally rostered that day, or
  • You have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday (even if you’re not rostered that day)

Part-time staff have the same entitlements as full-time workers once the 40-hour rule is met.

If a public holiday falls on a day you don’t normally work, but you meet the 40-hour threshold, you are still entitled to benefit.

Payment is based on 1/5th of your average weekly pay over the past 13 weeks.

Important Notes

  • Public holiday pay is not included when calculating overtime

  • Part-time workers qualify for pro-rata entitlements if they meet the 40-hour rule

  • Your basic rate of pay is used to calculate the extra day’s pay

  • Public holidays are not deducted from your annual leave

  • Public holiday benefit counts toward your minimum weekly banded hours

  • You are entitled to public holiday pay during the first 26 weeks of certified illness — this is usually paid once you return to work

  • You are entitled to leave for public holidays that occur during protected leave (e.g. maternity, paternity, adoptive, parental, parent’s or domestic violence leave)

What to Watch For

  • Not receiving correct pay for working a public holiday

  • No extra pay or day off offered after a public holiday

  • Public holiday entitlements missed for part-time or new staff

  • Incorrect calculations or confusion over basic pay rate

  • Issues claiming public holiday leave after illness or protected leave

Mandate is Here to Help

Mandate is committed to ensuring all Dunnes members:

  • Receive their full legal and contractual entitlements on public holidays

  • Understand their options for pay or time off

  • Are supported in challenging any errors or unfair treatment

Need help with a public holiday issue?

Talk to your Shop Steward, contact your local Mandate office, or visit our Contact Page.