Last Updated on October 23, 2021
Sick Days, Sick Pay Compensation & Coronavirus Quarantine.
Hebrew: ימי מחלה ודמי מחלה
Your sick leave compensation; the labor laws in Israel make provision for compensation if you are absent from work as a result of illness. Under the law the employer is not obligated to pay you for the first day of your sick leave. On the second and third days your employer is obligated to pay you 50 per cent of your salary. From the fourth day, you are entitled to 100 per cent of your salary.
How many sick days and I entitled to?
According to the law, whether you are a full-time or part-time employee, whether you are paid hourly, daily or weekly, you are entitled to 18 sick days per year or 1.5 days per month.
Accumulated Sick Days
Sick leave can be accumulated and you can accumulate up to 90 days (5 years worth).
Coronavirus Quarantine
Sick days if you are in quarantine or if your child is in quarantine: If you, the employee, is required to quarantine because of suspected coronavirus, quarantine days will be deducted from your sick days. This right is also granted to someone who needs to stay with a child that is required to quarantine. It is forbidden to fire an employee under these two circumstances.
Can I extend my sick leave?
Should you have exhausted all your sick days as a result of a prolonged illness you can apply to Bituach Leumi – The National Insurance Institute – and they may agree to compensate you for additional days.
Do I need a medical certificate?
According to the law you are supposed to provide your employee with a note from your doctor confirming your illness and excusing you from work. Your Health Fund physician or a private physician can issue this certification.
Caring for family members
- One of the parents can take up to 8 sick days per year to care for a sick child under the age of 16 (not coronavirus related).
- A single parent can take up to 16 days to care for a child under the age of 16
- You can take up to 6 days a year to care for your spouse. These days will be deducted from your sick leave.
- Under certain conditions you can take 6 days a year to care for a parent over the age of 65. These days will be deducted from your sick leave.
Your employment contract
When negotiating your employment contract it is advisable to clarify the sick leave issue. You employer may be flexible and compassionate about sick leave and he may even offer you additional days. Not all employers will offer these working conditions.
