Sick Leave

What is Sick Leave? | Meaning & Definition | Akrivia HCM

What is sick leave?

Sick leave is a paid period of time away from work that allows employees to stay home and focus on their health. Sick leave is intended for health related purposes, while paid time off or vacation is typically used for personal matters.

Feature	Sick leave	Paid vacation or Time off
Purpose	To address health needs	To take time off for personal reasons
Pay	Typically paid	Typically paid
Length	Atleast 12 days a year	Varies depending on employer policy
Documentation	May require a doctor’s note	No documentation required

Sick leave can be used for a variety of health-related reasons such as:

Illness
Injury
Medical appointments
Mental health days
Caring for a sick family member

It is an important benefit that can help employees stay healthy and productive. If you are an employer, it is important to understand your legal obligations regarding sick leave and create a fair policy for your employees.

What to include?

When you need to take sick leave from work, following your company’s policy on requesting leave is important. In general, you’ll need to provide your supervisor with written notice of your absence, as well as any supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s note.

Here are some things to include in your application:

Name and contact information. This includes your full name, title, email address, and phone number.
Date and time. This will help your employer to know when you are requesting leave and for how long.
Reason. This should be a brief explanation of your illness or condition that is preventing you from working.
Expected duration. This will help your employer to plan for your absence.
Relevant medical information. If you have a doctor’s note, you may want to attach it to your sick leave application.
Availability to work remotely. If you are able to work remotely, you should let your employer know. This will help them to determine whether they can approve your leave request.
Apology for any inconvenience.Even though you are not responsible for your illness, it is still important to be mindful of the impact your absence may have on your team. A quick apology can help to smooth things over and show that you are thinking of them and that you value their time.

If you cannot work remotely, be sure to let your supervisor know how they can reach you if any urgent matters need to be addressed while you’re out.

How to write sick leave?

Here are some tips on how to write a sick leave application:

Begin with a clear and concise subject line. This will help your supervisor quickly identify the purpose of your email.
In the body of your email, provide a detailed explanation of the reason for your absence and the dates you take leave on.
If you have a doctor’s note, attach it to your email. This will provide your supervisor with documentation of your illness.
Apologize for any inconvenience of the absence caused. Offer to help with any tasks that can be completed remotely.
Thank your supervisor for their understanding.

Example

Subject: Sick Leave Request

Dear [Supervisor’s name],

I am writing to request sick leave from [start date] to [end date]. I am currently experiencing [illness or injury] and have been advised by my doctor to stay home and rest.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience that may occur and have attached a doctor’s prescription for your reference.

I will be available to check my email periodically and will respond to urgent messages as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

It’s important to be professional and polite when requesting sick leave. By following these tips, you can ensure that your request is processed smoothly and that you don’t jeopardize your job security.

Is sick leave paid?

Sick leave is legally required to be paid in India. This means that employees are still paid their regular salary while on sick leave. However, there may be some restrictions on how many leaves can be taken without a doctor’s note. For example, an employee may be required to provide a doctor’s note if they are taking more than three days of sick leave in a row.

If an employer does not offer paid sick leave, employees may be able to use their vacation days or unpaid leave to cover the time they are absent from work due to illness.

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