How sick leave works (and when it’s paid)
Learn the rules, tracking process, and payslip impact for employee sick days.
🤒 What is sick leave?
Sick leave is paid time off that your domestic worker can take when they are ill or injured. South African labour law gives employees a fixed amount of paid sick leave over a 3-year cycle, not per year.
📅 How much sick leave is allowed?
The amount depends on how often your employee works:
| Work Schedule | Sick Leave Entitlement (per 3 years) |
|---|---|
| 6 days/week | 36 days |
| 5 days/week | 30 days |
| 4 days/week | 24 days |
| 3 days/week | 18 days |
| 2 days/week | 12 days |
| 1 day/week | 6 days |
💡 That’s equal to the number of days they work in 6 weeks, over a 3-year period.
🕐 What about new employees?
During the first 6 months of employment, sick leave is limited to:
1 day paid sick leave for every 26 days worked
After the 6-month mark, the full 3-year cycle applies.
🧮 How AskMandla tracks sick leave
When your employee is absent, you'll send us a message and we’ll ask:
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Was the absence authorised?
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Was a sick note provided?
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Did you check in with the employee?
Based on your answers, we’ll:
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Deduct from the available sick leave balance (if paid)
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Mark the day as paid or unpaid
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Reflect it clearly on the employee’s payslip
📲 All of this is managed through WhatsApp using this form.
📄 When is a medical certificate required?
A sick note is required if:
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The employee is off for more than 2 consecutive days
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The employee is off more than twice in 8 weeks
If a valid sick note is not provided, the day may be marked as unauthorised absence (unpaid).
🧾 How it shows on the payslip
Sick days are itemised on the payslip:
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Paid sick leave used
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Remaining sick leave balance
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Unpaid days (if no entitlement or no note)
This keeps everything clear for both employer and employee.
🛑 What if the employee runs out of sick leave?
If all paid sick leave is used:
- Additional sick days are treated as unpaid leave
- Annual leave can be used in lieu of sick leave
- “No work, no pay” will apply
- This is also reflected on the payslip
✅ Summary: Your responsibilities as an employer
As an AskMandla employer, you:
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Track absences via WhatsApp using the leave form
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Approve or reject paid sick leave
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Encourage employees to provide sick notes
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Stay compliant with labour laws without stress
We handle the rest: record-keeping, calculations, and payslips.