Frequently asked questions
I have changed my mind about job sharing – can I withdraw my application?
After 14 April, it is at the discretion of your employer to allow you to withdraw your application.
What will my take-home pay be if I am job sharing?
If you hold a post of responsibility, and you’re able to carry out the full duties of your post while job sharing, you may keep your full allowance.
INTO staff are not qualified to advise members on their taxes.
Anecdotally, job share teachers report keeping a little bit over 60% of their normal take-home pay but this is subject to your personal financial circumstances.
I have salary protection through Cornmarket – is this affected by job sharing?
Please call (01) 4084195 or email spsadmin@cornmarket.ie
How does my sick leave work when I am job sharing?
As a job share teacher, sick leave may be recorded during periods when you are not scheduled to work.
For instance, if you are working a week on/week off job share pattern, and you provide a medical certificate for one month – this will be recorded as the full 28 days of sick leave indicated on your medical certificate, not just the school days when you were scheduled to work.
Please see Chapter One of Circular 54/2019 (PDF) for full details of the sick leave scheme for teachers.
How does job sharing affect my pension?
For teachers on the pre 2004 Teachers Pension Scheme, a year in a job share will count as one full year toward eligibility for early retirement.
To address any shortfall in pension contributions when you return to service, you may wish to consider buying Notional Service or Additional Retirement Benefit through DE Primary Pensions, or contributing to AVCs.
Cornmarket can provide financial planning advice to INTO members.
Can I substitute teach while job sharing?
Circular 54/2019 states that you may not substitute teach while participating in a job share, but as an exceptional measure in 2022/23, the DE will allow it.
See Information Note TC 007/2022 (PDF) for details.
What staff meetings do I have to attend when I am job sharing?
As a job sharer, you must be available for all relevant staff and parent-teacher meetings, in accordance with your school’s policy.
You must complete 18 Croke Park hours during the school year, and how these hours are scheduled will be a matter for your employer.
Do I have to attend Croke Park hours which are scheduled for the week I am not working?
It is possible that you may be required to attend a meeting during a week when you are not scheduled to work, if your principal considers it particularly important or relevant.
You should address any concerns about this with your school principal, to see if a compromise can be reached.
Must my employer approve a parental leave request for alternating weeks of leave for the full school year?
However, your employer may limit the number of weeks of parental leave that will be approved. If you apply applied for parental leave for a period of more than six weeks, six weeks is the minimum that must be approved.
Your employer may also postpone the commencement of your parental leave by up to six months, if “granting the leave at that time would have a substantial adverse effect on the operation of the school.”
Can I take parental leave while job sharing?
As a half-time teacher, you will have access to up to 13 weeks of parental leave for each of your children under the age of thirteen. This must be taken in full seven-day blocks, irrespective of your job share schedule.