General HR

Sick Leave

Sick Leave is employer-provided paid or unpaid leave that allows employees to be absent from work due to illness, injury, or medical appointments — with requirements varying significantly between US states and Indian labor laws.

Sick leave policies differ substantially by geography. In the United States, there is no federal mandate for paid sick leave, but over a dozen states and many cities have enacted paid sick leave laws — including California, New York, Washington, and Massachusetts — typically requiring 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 to 40 hours worked. In India, sick leave (also called medical leave) is typically granted at 7 to 12 days per year under state Shops and Establishments Acts, and is separate from casual leave and earned leave. Indian organizations generally require a medical certificate for sick leave exceeding 2 to 3 consecutive days. Sick leave in India typically cannot be carried forward or encashed. Globally, organizations increasingly combine sick leave with PTO to create flexible leave policies, though separate sick leave buckets encourage employees to actually use leave when unwell rather than protecting a combined PTO bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sick leave days are employees entitled to in India?

Under most Indian state Shops and Establishments Acts, employees are entitled to 7 to 12 days of sick leave per year. The exact entitlement varies by state law and company policy. Sick leave typically cannot be carried forward or encashed unlike earned leave.

Is paid sick leave mandatory in the US?

There is no federal mandate for paid sick leave in the US. However, many states and cities have enacted paid sick leave laws. Major states requiring paid sick leave include California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, and Oregon, among others.