sick leave

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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.

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    NSW Suspended from Work After Sick Leave

    I am under an enterprise agreement and have been suspended for serious misconduct. I have been there 12 years and if this can be proven, I could lose my long service leave. The other thing is, I had been diagnosed with work related acute depression and anxiety before all this happened, and had...
  2. A

    VIC Same Job for 15 Years - No Annual Leave or Sick Leave Entitlements?

    I was sent by a recruitment agency for a 6-week placement. I have been at the same organisation doing the same job full time for 15 years and only paid by the recruitment agency. Never been paid annual leave, public holidays or sick leave. By definition under Employment Law, I should have been...
  3. Y

    QLD Termination from Employment After Sick Leave

    Hi, I was terminated from full-time employment two days short of my full probation period - started on 11 may - terminate immediately on 6 November. I was away on sick leave from the period of 6 October to 6 November for workplace bullying.
  4. C

    QLD Friend Listed as Abandoning Employment While on Sick Leave - Unfair Dismissal?

    I have a friend diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. She was a full-time manager for a well know electrical goods store. She got too sick to work and the company, not wanting to be flexible, put her to part time, then transferred her out of the store. She was then again diagnosed in 2012 and...
  5. mitzy1

    WA Workers Compensation - Legal to Refuse Me My Wages?

    Hi there, I have been injured at work. Slipped disc and compressed nerve. The hospital I work for make you use up all your sick leave & annual leave, which has now run out. Are they legally allowed to force me back to work by refusing to pay me any wages while they take forever to sort my...
  6. M

    Divorce - Long Service, Annual and Sick Leave?

    I always assumed only Superannuation was relevant in Divorce proceedings. What role does Long Service Leave, Sick Leave and Annual Leave have in regard to a Divorce when they are only amounts that may or may not happen in the future. Could this be just a scare tactic from the Ex's Solicitor?
  7. S

    VIC Asked to Have Fitness for Duty Assessment by My Employer

    4 years ago, I injured my right knee in a workplace accident. After several surgeries and physio I was advised by my orthopedic surgeon that my right knee would need a total knee replacement but due to my age (early fifties). It was advisable to put off the surgery until I was older. Pain...
  8. K

    QLD Can a Potential Employer Ask Certain Reference Checking Questions?

    Is a potential employer allowed under employment law to ask a referee (provided by the candidate) the question of whether there was an issue with unexplained absences or regular sick leave taken during their employ?
  9. C

    WA Coles Sick and Annual Leave Entitlements for Pre-arranged Sick Leave

    Hi. I was wondering if anyone who understands the law and the sick leave entitlements in Coles can help answer my question? I have a pre-arranged appointment with specialists and surgeons who only conduct consultations on certain days of the week. Unfortunately, these days do not coincide with...
  10. E

    QLD Employment Law - Unfair Dismissal?

    HI all I am seeking help regarding to unfair dismissal Here is the instance: I work in a small business company for a month, and last week I have been so sick which I have told the employer to get three days sick leave (with medical certificate). But today, i found out that i have been fired...