Sick leave
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sick leave (or sickness pay or sick pay) is an employee benefit in the form of paid leave which can be taken during periods of sickness.
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[edit] How it works
Sick leave provisions vary by country, state and even industry. Its availability may depend on whether an employee is casually employed or a permanent employee.
Generally, under sick leave provisions, an employee is entitled to certain number of days a year as paid leave for sickness. Conditions may be placed on the leave, such as a medical certificate being required for the period in question.
Under some sick leave provisions, employees can accumulate from leave from year to year.
[edit] Other related forms leave
- Parental leave
- Personal leave
- Family leave
- Bereavement leave
[edit] History
Sick leave has its origins in trade union campaigns for its inclusion in industrial agreements. In Australia, it was introduced into "industrial awards" in 1922 [1]
[edit] Variation
Casual leave is a variation of sick leave. It is leave from work for reasons other than medical, long service, holiday or family reasons. Casual leave is paid leave for any reasonable reason.
[edit] Provisions in Different Countries
Australia
Under the Federal Governments industrial relations legislation (WorkChoices)[2] eligible employees are entitled to:
- ten days of paid personal/carer’s leave per year (including sick leave and carer’s leave);
- two days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion; and
- two days of paid compassionate leave per occasion.
Paid personal/carer’s leave can be taken:
- due to personal illness or injury (sick leave); or
- to provide care or support for a member of the employee’s immediate family or household who requires care or support due to personal illness or injury, or an unexpected emergency (carer’s leave).
Up to ten days of paid personal/carer’s leave in any given year can be used as carer’s leave and personal/carer’s leave is cumulative.
