Sick Leave Definition

Sick leave refers to time off offered by an organization to employees for medical reasons.

Sick Leave Extended Definition
Sick leave is a 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 also have their own sick leave laws, with most requiring mandatory pay for employees.

Last Updated By

Rachel Blakely-Gray | May 01, 2023

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