Sick leave: What Employees and Employers need to Know

Temporary incapacity for work, commonly known as sick leave, occurs when an employee is unable to perform their work duties due to illness or a work-related injury.

The rights and obligations regarding sick leave are clearly defined for both employees and employers, so it is important to know the basic rules in order to avoid unpleasant situations.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

In the event of illness or a work-related injury, the employee has the right to be absent from work.

• The first step is a visit to the chosen doctor, who confirms the illness or injury and issues a medical certificate. This certificate is the key document for exercising the right to sick leave.
• The employee is obliged to submit the doctor’s certificate to the employer, personally or through another person, within three days from the onset of illness or injury.
• The certificate confirming the opening of sick leave must be delivered to the employer no later than five days from the date of issue.

EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS

The employer is obliged to pay salary compensation to the employee during sick leave.

• In the case of illness, the minimum statutory compensation is 70% of the salary, but the employer may choose to pay 100%.
• In the case of a work-related injury, the employee is entitled to 100% salary compensation.
• If sick leave lasts up to 60 days, the employer bears the full cost of payment, without the right to reimbursement from the Health Insurance Fund.
• If sick leave lasts longer than 60 days, the employer may request reimbursement from the Fund, but only in the amount of 70% of the salary compensation, with the submission of appropriate documentation.

RIGHT TO VERIFICATION

If the employer doubts the justification of the sick leave, they have the right to request verification from the competent authority. This ensures that sick leave is used only when truly necessary and helps prevent potential abuse.

The rights and obligations related to sick leave are crucial for maintaining a proper relationship between employees and employers.

At Perfectum, we recommend that both parties comply with legal regulations, which avoids misunderstandings and ensures accurate and timely payment of compensation.

Our team is at your disposal for:

• keeping sick leave records,
• calculating compensation,
• communication with competent authorities.

Perfectum – your partner for efficient and accurate business management.