Sick Leave Policy

Purpose

This policy has been designed to outline the entitlements to sick leave for permanent full time and part time employees, as well as the requirements for notification and application for such leave.

[enter-your-company-name-here] is committed to maintaining the well being of all employees.

This document applies to permanent full-time and part-time employees. Casual workers are not entitled to paid sick leave.

Policy

• All employees will be provided with paid leave in the event of illness or injury, subject to conditions specified in this policy.
• An employee’s sick leave entitlement will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the individual’s contract of employment.
• All employees are required to prove to the satisfaction of the company that they are unable, as the result of illness or injury, to attend for duty on the day or days for which sick leave is claimed.  The employee’s immediate supervisor must be notified on the first day of the absence.
• Sick leave may be taken as either full days or part days.
• Employees are not entitled to sick leave for any period of time in respect of which they are entitled to workers’ compensation.
• Sick leave will not be paid to employees upon termination of employment.
• Where an employee may be absent from work due to serious illness for a prolonged period of time, arrangements may be made for additional leave.

Please see Appendix 1 for Legislative sick leave minimum entitlements.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of Management to ensure that:

• employees are familiar with their entitlements and obligations in accordance with this policy
• applications for sick leave by employees are accurately completed and provide the required documentation

It is the responsibility of all Employees to:

• notify their immediate supervisor of any absences in accordance with this policy
• submit an application for leave and provide the necessary documentation as required by this policy for all absences

It is the responsibility of the Human Resources Department to ensure that:

• appropriate policies and procedures are implemented in respect to provision of paid sick leave
• applications for sick leave are processed accurately and efficiently

Procedure

Employees must advise their Manager of any absence prior to their rostered or normal commencement time. Exceptions to this requirement may be accepted at the discretion of the appropriate Manager in exceptional circumstances.

Failure to meet the notification requirements as specified above may result in disciplinary action by the appropriate Manager, or may eventually result in proceedings relating to abandonment of employment. 

Notifications of absences are to be made directly to the relevant Manager.

Where the immediate Manager is not contact able at the time of notification, a message is to be left with a Manager at the same level or above, who is then responsible for notifying the appropriate Manager as soon as possible. 

In circumstances where neither the immediate Manager nor an alternative Manager is available at the time of notification, a message may be left with the appropriate person on site.

In all cases of notification, the employee is to specify the reason for and the expected duration of the absence.

Payment for sick leave is subject to the provision of a valid certificate in the following circumstances:

• absences in excess of one day, or
• absences in excess of four single days per anniversary year, or
• absences of one day or more either side of a public holiday, weekend or normal rostered day(s) off, or
• as requested by the appropriate Manager.

1. A valid medical certificate is deemed to be a certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner. Medical certificates are to be signed, dated, state the duration of the absence, and state the reason for the absence.

2. Certificates that have been post-dated will not be accepted.

3. In assessing whether additional sick leave should be provided, Managers should consider the likely length of time that the employee will be off work, the possibility of early retirement or total and permanent disablement, length of service, attendance record and job performance.

4. Employees are to ensure that their application for leave is accompanied by any relevant medical certificates prior to submitting the form to their Manager for approval.

5. Upon approval of an application for sick leave, Managers are to forward the medical certificates to Payroll for processing.

6. Where a Manager is unsure as to the validity of an absence or associated documentation, they should contact the Human Resources Department for advice.

Appendix A

Australia only

Part time employees accrue sick leave on a pro rata basis (based on hours per week worked).