sick leave

Australia's #1 for Law
Join 150,000 Australians every month. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today!
FREE - Join Now
Sick leave (or paid sick days or sick pay) is paid time off from work that workers can use to stay home to address their health needs without losing pay. It differs from paid vacation time or time off work to deal with personal matters, because sick leave is intended for health-related purposes. Sick leave can include a mental health day and taking time away from work to go to a scheduled doctor's appointment. Some policies also allow paid sick time to be used to care for sick family members, or to address health and safety needs related to domestic violence or sexual assault. Menstrual leave is another type of time off work for a health-related reason, but it is not always paid.
In most nations, some or all employers are required to pay their employees for some time away from work when they are ill. Most European, many Latin American, a few African and a few Asian countries have legal requirements for paid sick leave for employees. In nations without laws mandating paid sick leave, some employers offer it voluntarily or as the result of a collective bargaining agreement. Even where sick leave is normally required for all employees, the business owner may not be considered an employee or have access to paid sick leave, especially in a microbusiness that is operated by the owners.
Paid sick leave can reduce employee turnover, increase productivity, and reduce the spread of disease in the workplace and in the community. Naturally, paying workers when they are not working due to illness costs money that could be used for other purposes, such as higher profits or other benefits.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. B

    VIC Sick Leave Fraud? Claiming sick leave while working for a different employer.

    I have a coworker who has 2 part-time contracts with with different employers doing the exact same job (perfectly legit and not a physically demanding job ) . The days and times are regular for both jobs every week. They have been claiming sick/stress leave for over a month from my employer...
  2. E

    VIC Parental Leave Entitlements After a Period of Unpaid Leave?

    Hello all. I am looking to find out if I am entitled to parental leave with my employer. I started in a permanent full-time position in October 2014 and worked continuously till July 2018. At this time, I was granted 6 months leave without pay to work for a different employer (in a relevant...
  3. E

    NT Property Settlement - Forced to Resign and Relinquish Shares?

    Hi, I am currently going through family circuit court proceedings in regards to children's matters and property settlement. My ex and I were together since 2005 and have incorporated his sole trader business to a PTY LTD in Nov 2005. I am currently still company secretary and 50% shareholder...
  4. S

    SA Employer wants to know medical info after 1 day sick leave

    Hi there, I have looked everywhere for an answer to this situation. I work for a large organisation that has multiple worksites across the country. I work under and EBA which specifies that 2 single days sick leave my be taken per annum without the requirement of a medical certificate. A young...
  5. D

    NSW Defining My Employee Rights?

    Myself and my co-worker are employed Casual Employees. We both work from home based offices. I have been employed as the Client Service Manager and have been with the company for 7.5yrs whilst my colleague is the Client Services Coordinator and has been working for the company for 5yrs. We...
  6. Q

    QLD Rights to Claim WorkCover Evidence from Employer?

    Hi I am a mid-level manager in the Qld public service currently on stress leave. I have been using existing sick leave and the Employee Assistance Program to see a psychologist. These supported options are running out and my psychologist suggested I commence a WorkCover claim. Workcover set...
  7. C

    VIC Using Personal Leave for Medical Appointments?

    My question concerns the kind of leave and amount of leave taken for normal medical appointments, in-surgery procedures and so on. It seems to be the situation that sick leave can now only be taken when you are sufficiently sick so as not to be able to work. The standard advice on the Web seems...
  8. Belinda _S

    WA Elective Surgery - Take Sick Leave or Annual Leave?

    Hello I have an elective surgery coming up in a few months and am finding the rules regarding elective surgery and sick leave unclear. I've read the below post but am still unsure how to interpret it. The elective surgery that I am having is not for a condition that causes me to be unfit for...
  9. D

    NSW Is Offering Incentive System for Not Taking Sick Leave Appropriate?

    Is it appropriate to offer an incentive system based on employees not taking sick leave over a prescribed period under employment law?
  10. B

    QLD Harassment from Bosses While on Sick Leave?

    I have a mental health illness which was disclosed to my (federal government) employer last year. I have recently been given a new supervisor but she micromanages me. I've told her and her boss it makes my condition worse. I am now on sick leave with a certificate and I have said I will be back...