Sick Leave

A Sick Leave policy explains how employees can earn and use job-protected time off for their own illness or preventive care, to care for covered family members, and for other legally protected reasons (including certain public health and safe time needs), while setting clear rules on accrual, carryover, notice, documentation, pay calculations, and anti-retaliation requirements that vary by state and local law.

How to Write a Sick Leave Policy

• Start with why employee health and peace-of-mind is important for your organization.
• Define who is eligible for sick leave.
• Explain how sick leave is earned and any limits on accrual.
• List permitted uses for sick leave, including personal health needs and caring for family.
• Define who counts as a family member for caregiving leave.
• Describe how employees request sick leave and the general notice expectations.
• Explain when documentation may be required.
• State when sick leave can be used, the increment of use, and whether unpaid time off is available when sick time is exhausted.
• Describe how sick leave is paid and how it interacts with other pay calculations.
• Address what happens to unused sick leave at separation based on applicable law.
• Include non-retaliation and clarify that employees are not required to find shift coverage.

For advice on writing a Sick Leave policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.