With winter on our doorstep, we thought to remind you of some important info regarding sick leave from the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA): Employees who work a 5-day week, are entitled to 30 days in a 36 months (i.e. 3 year) period. Those who work 6-days = 36 days in 3 years.

The BCEA Section 23(1) states that an employer is not required to pay an employee if the employee has been absent from work for more than two consecutive days OR on more than two occasions during an eight-week period and, on request of the employer, does not produce a medical certificate....

The abuse of sick leave is costing employers millions if not billions of rands every year in South Africa. To address this let's look at what constitutes a VALID medical certificate that would justify that the employer pays the employee when he is sick or ill.