Is there anything to confirm that stress is a sickness which creates an entitlement to sick leave?

Sick leave is not specifically regulated under Irish legislation, and therefore, sick leave will be governed by the contract of employment or the employer's sick leave policy.

Whether stress constitutes a sickness giving rise to an entitlement to sick leave depends on the nature and extent of the employee's condition. If the employee is providing medical certificates in respect of his/her absence, and complying with any other procedures in the sick leave policy or as contained in his/her contract of employment, then the employer will generally have to accept that the employee is incapable of work through illness. The employer can send the employee to an occupational health practitioner for