Qualifying service and medical certification
Employment Act employees qualify after at least 3 months’ service and must inform or attempt to inform the employer within 48 hours of absence. Outpatient leave requires certification of unfitness by a practitioner registered under the Medical or Dental Registration Act. Hospital leave covers admission or day surgery, hospital-certified bed rest such as pregnancy complications, post-discharge recovery/treatment, or legal quarantine.
Hospitalisation certification
Hospitalisation, day surgery or quarantine qualify; otherwise certification must be by a doctor able to admit patients, including certain national-specialty or ambulatory surgical centres. Public, private and community hospitals count. Ask the issuing doctor if their admission authority is unclear. Hospital leave is not extra leave simply added to outpatient leave. Cosmetic procedures do not require statutory paid leave or consultation reimbursement; the doctor determines whether cosmetic, and company benefits may be broader.
Complete entitlement and example
Full entitlement after 6 months is 14 outpatient days within a total of 60 hospitalisation days. Taking 14 outpatient days leaves 46 hospitalisation days. Service months count from the start date. The official 13 February 2023 starter has unpaid leave through 12 May, then the following entitlements. Submit the MC on returning and notify promptly to enable work cover.
| Completed months | Example qualifying date | Outpatient days | Hospital total days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13 May | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | 13 June | 8 | 30 |
| 5 | 13 July | 11 | 45 |
| 6 or more | 13 August | 14 | 60 |