How Sick Leave is Calculated for Chronic Illness

In the world of work, leave entitlements serve as a lifeline, ensuring people facing health challenges have the necessary support without risking their job security. In this blog we breakdown of the types of leave and how you can leverage them to safeguard your well-being.

Understanding Leave Entitlements

Leave entitlements, governed by the Fair Work Act, give you a safeguard to take necessary breaks from work when you’re unwell, ensuring job security during your absence. These rules are designed to provide people like you with the opportunity to focus on recovery without the added stress of work responsibilities.

Just a quick technicality, if you’re away from work due to illness for less than 3 months in a row or using your paid sick leave then you’re protected from being fired. But, if you’re away more than 3 months in a row or more than 3 months in total over the last 12 months, and you’ve used all of your paid sick leave then your boss may be able to let you go legally. But, this area is pretty technical, so check out more details at the Fair Work Ombudsman long periods of sick leave advice.

Here are the types of leave:

Sick (aka Personal) Leave

Your trusty ally in the battle against health setbacks. With paid sick leave by your side, you can focus on your health without worrying about your pay-check taking a hit.

If you’re employed full-time or part-time you can take paid sick leave for surgery (cha-ching!). You get 10 paid sick days per year if your full-time and a proportion of that if you’re part-time. You start building up sick leave from your very first day on the job, then anything you have left over after 12 months rolls on over to the next year.

You can even keep building up your sick leave when you’re on paid leave (like sick, carers, or annual leave), on community service for things like jury duty and long service leave. But, if your not work on unpaid leave you’ll stop building it up.

Things are a bit different if you’re employed casually. You won’t be entitled to paid sick leave, but you can get unpaid leave.

Unpaid Leave

The wildcard in your arsenal. While it might not come with a pay-check, unpaid leave ensures your job remains untouched while you give your undivided attention to your Surgery.

Annual (aka Holiday) Leave

Consider this your treasure chest of time off. While usually reserved for holidays, your annual leave can also be tapped into for medical needs. It lets you dive into recovery mode while enjoying the perks of paid time away.

Long Service Leave

The reward for your dedication and loyalty. Long service leave offers you an extended period of paid time off, perfect for those who've been working side by side with their employers for years.

Bonus Leave

Workplaces sometimes offer additional leave options like compassionate leave for unforeseen situations. It offers even more flexibility as you navigate your way back to health.

Mix and Matching Leave

Think of your leave options as puzzle pieces, each fitting together to create a mosaic of support tailored to your needs. Mixing and matching these leave types lets you design a plan that's as unique as your journey. Combine sick leave with unpaid leave for an extended downturn in your health, or tap into your accrued annual leave if you’re out of sick leave. It’s up to you and the boss to work it out.

Finding out what Leave You Have

Discovering your specific entitlements can be an empowering step on your journey to better health and job security. Here are some ways to explore what you're entitled to:

• look at your work contract, Award, Agreement or intranet
• have a chat with your boss
• chat to someone in the human resources department at your workplace
• Use the Fair Work Ombudsman Leave Calculator
• Check out this handy video about leave from the Fair Work Ombudsman

Understanding and using the variety of leave options available allows you to tailor a plan that truly supports your health needs while ensuring your job stays safe and secure. This approach puts you in the driver's seat on your road to recovery.

P.S.

• Share this with someone who needs to chat to understand their leave entitlements
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