Sick Leave Definition

Sick leave refers to time-off offered by an organization to employees for medical reasons. For more information on sick leave, please consult the Dept. of Labor (DOL) website.

Sick Leave Extended Definition
Sick leave is paid or unpaid absence from work, usually for personal medical reasons. Leave taken to take care of a family member for adoption-related work or bereavement is also considered as sick leave. Currently, no federal legislation makes paid sick leave compulsory; however, employers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are required to offer employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave. States and local governments are creating their own sick leave laws. Many are requiring mandatory pay for employees.

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Last Updated By

Jenna Hutkowski | May 01, 2023