Sick leave

Sick leave in Singapore entitles eligible employees to paid time off when they are unfit for work due to illness or injury. Employees who have completed six months or more of service with their employer are entitled to 14 days of paid outpatient sick leave per calendar year, plus 60 days of paid hospitalisation leave. For employees with shorter tenure—those who have served between three and six months—sick leave is provided on a pro-rated basis calculated according to the length of service completed.

The entitlement to sick leave is governed by the Employment Act (Cap. 91) of Singapore, which sets out the statutory minimum standards for employee benefits. The Act requires employers to provide paid sick leave to all eligible employees, with the specific entitlements varying based on the nature of the medical condition and the employee's length of service.

Employees must produce medical evidence to support their sick leave claims. For outpatient treatment, a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner is typically required. For hospitalisation leave, the employee must provide a discharge summary or hospital documentation confirming the period of hospitalisation.

Employers and payroll teams must maintain accurate records of sick leave taken by each employee and ensure that leave is not deducted from other statutory entitlements such as annual leave or bonus payments. Sick leave cannot be carried forward to the following year unless the employment contract explicitly permits it. Employers should establish clear policies on sick leave notification procedures and medical certification requirements to ensure compliance with the Employment Act.