Sick-leave boost ‘vital in these Covid times’

From today, Kiwi workers’ sick-leave entitlement will double from five days a year to 10 — a move described as a game changer by workers’ rights advocates.

Most employees who have worked for an employer for six months will now be entitled to 10 days’ paid leave annually if they, or a dependant, are sick or injured.

Employees will get the extra five days when they reach their next entitlement date — either after reaching six months’ employment or on their sick-leave entitlement anniversary. Staff who already get 10 or more sick days will not be affected by the change.

The maximum amount of unused sick leave an employee can be entitled to will remain at 20 days.

The move has been welcomed by Public Service Association secretary Kerry Davies, who said lack of leave had seen workers “battling on” and going into work when unwell. “The doubling of statutory sick leave entitlement from five days to 10 will make a huge difference to hundreds of thousands of working people.

“Covid has shown us very clearly how important it is to stay home and recover when we are unwell.”

Davies said the increased leave would be of direct benefit to parents and families with dependants who were injured or sick and needed care.

“Being able to take sick leave, rather than annual leave, means people can use annual leave for its intended purpose — rest, relaxation and recuperation.”

The importance of using the correct leave for time away from work was echoed by the head of a large recruitment agency.

A recent survey by Frog Recruitment found more than half of Kiwi workers were choosing to work from home when feeling unwell instead of using their sick leave.

It found 56 per cent of respondents said they used their work-from-home privileges instead of their sick-leave entitlements when feeling under the weather. Of the more than 250 surveyed, 28 per cent said they have taken more sick leave due to having Covid-19 symptoms since the first lockdown.

Shannon Barlow, Frog Recruitment managing director, said employees continuing to work from home when sick was coming at a high price for employers.

“Ultimately there’s a huge cost to the employer when the wrong leave pass is redeemed,” Barlow said.

“Sick leave accrues for employees who are in fact sick, but choose to work from home away from their colleagues.”

Barlow said the survey revealed a grey area for employers managing their workforce’s sick leave, despite the new model of adapting to flexible work policies being largely beneficial for employers and employees.

“Our best advice is to be fair to your employer and transparent with your manager — if you’re using work-from-home privilege to hibernate at home because your throat is scratchy, then inform them.

“Reasonable managers will agree that if the throat tickle develops into a more sinister cold, then it is time to activate your sick leave. That’s what it’s there for.”

Barlow said the information they were getting from clients was that they were seeing an increase in sick leave since 2020 due to mental health problems.