Sick leave

From Public Services and Procurement Canada

Sick leave is a form of paid leave and is intended to protect your income when or if you are incapable of performing your duties due to non-occupational illness or injury. This document provides information on how sick leave is earned, taken, and managed.

Earning sick leave

Generally, if you are a full-time employee with a work week of 37.5 hours, you earn sick leave at the rate of 9.375 hours each month for which you receive 75 hours pay. Sick leave is prorated if you are a part-time employee. For more information, refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group.

Taking sick leave

You will be granted sick leave with pay when you are unable to perform your duties because of illness or injury, provided your employer is satisfied of your condition and you have the necessary sick leave credits. The advancement of sick leave credits is discretionary.

Earned, but unused, sick leave credits are not paid out upon leaving the public service.

It is your responsibility to request and receive authorization for any absences through your departmental leave system.

If you are seconded to a different department, you are required to complete a Leave Application and Absence Report (GC-178) (available on the Government of Canada network only). Your section 34 manager at your host department will approve the leave, and forward it to your home department section 34 manager to have it recorded in their departmental leave system.

Other considerations

To further help you request and receive authorization for any absences through your departmental leave system, consider the following additional sick leave information.

Layoffs or end-of-term employment

If you are laid off, sick leave that you earned in the public service prior to your layoff may be restored if you are reappointed within two years of the layoff date. Refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group for additional information.

If your term employment ended, sick leave credits that you earned during a specified period of employment may be restored if you are appointed in the public service within the year. Refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group for additional information.

Advanced sick leave credits

If you become ill or have an injury, and do not have sufficient leave credits to cover the illness or injury, your manager may advance you credits. The advanced leave will be deducted from any subsequently earned sick leave credits. Refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group for additional information.

You can also request a leave of absence due to illness or injury. Although this type of leave is not covered in your collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment, it is provided for under Appendix B of the Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements. If you are not a Core Public Administration employee, see your manager or human resources advisor.

If you leave the public service and your advanced leave has not been recovered, the Pay Centre will recover the amount equivalent to any unearned leave from any monies owing as stipulated by the relevant authority. Refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group for additional information.

If you are using advanced sick leave credits while awaiting approval of injury-on-duty leave, the sick leave will be replaced by the period of injury-on-duty leave once it is approved. Refer to the relevant authorities such as your collective agreement and/or the various terms and conditions of employment specific to your classification group for additional information.