Sick Leave Policy 2027: US, UK, UAE, Saudi & Australia Guide

Sick Leave: A Complete Guide for Employers in the US, UK, Middle East and Australia (2027)

October 16, 2026

6 min read

When you’re unwell, taking time off should help you recover, not create stress about pay or job security. Yet sick leave rules differ sharply depending on where you work, and 2026–2027 brought major changes: day-one Statutory Sick Pay in the UK, new US state laws and an amended Saudi Labour Law. This guide explains sick leave in the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and Australia, and how Time Off Manager 365 helps you manage it in one place.

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Key Takeaways

US: No federal paid sick leave mandate for most private employers; paid leave comes from state and city laws.
UK: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is payable from day one of sickness from April 2026.
Middle East: Up to 90 days a year in the UAE and 120 days in Saudi Arabia, with tiered pay.
Australia: 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave a year for full-time staff, carried over without limit.

What Is Sick Leave?

Sick leave is time off work for illness, injury or medical care. Depending on the country, it may be paid, partly paid or unpaid, and many jurisdictions, including Australia under the Fair Work Act, also allow it to be used to care for a sick family member. Some countries treat it as a standalone entitlement (UAE, Saudi Arabia), others bundle it with carer’s leave (Australia) or provide it through a statutory payment (the UK’s SSP).

How Does Sick Leave Work?

Entitlement builds up, either through accrual (often one hour per 30 hours worked in US states such as California) or an annual allocation (10 days in Australia).
The employee notifies the employer, usually before the shift starts.
Evidence is provided when required, such as a fit note or medical certificate.
The absence is recorded and paid under local law, contract or company policy.

When Should You Notify Your Employer?

As early as possible. In the UAE, employees must notify within three days of falling sick. UK employees must report within 7 days to claim SSP, or sooner if company policy says so. Australian and most US state laws require notice “as soon as practicable”

Medical Certificates: When Are They Needed?

UK employees self-certify for the first 7 days and need a fit note from day 8. Many US states allow employers to request documentation only after three consecutive days. The UAE and Saudi Arabia require a medical report from an approved provider (in Saudi Arabia, often via the Seha platform). In Australia, employers can ask for evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person, including a statutory declaration.

Can You Carry Over Sick Leave?

In Australia, unused personal/carer’s leave carries over with no cap under the National Employment Standards. Many US states require unused hours to carry over but let employers cap annual use. UAE and Saudi entitlements reset each year of service, and the UK has no statutory sick leave balance.

What Are the Limits on Sick Leave?

UK SSP lasts up to 28 weeks. UAE sick leave is capped at 90 days a year and Saudi at 120 days. The US FMLA protects a job for up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period.

Are There Flexible Sick Leave Policies?

Yes. Many employers offer unlimited sick days, mental health days or combined paid time off (PTO) banks. Flexible policies help attract talent but still need clear rules on notice and evidence, as Acas guidance on absence recommends.

Sick Leave Laws in the United States

The US has no national paid sick leave law for private employers, so an employee’s rights depend on a mix of federal, state and city rules. At the federal level, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave a year for a serious health condition or to care for a family member. It covers employers with 50 or more employees and staff with 12 months’ service and 1,250 hours worked. Federal contractors under Executive Order 13706 must also provide up to 56 hours of paid sick leave a year.

Paid sick leave itself comes mainly from state law. Around 19 states plus Washington, DC, now require it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the rules keep changing. California raised its minimum to 40 hours (5 days) a year under SB 616. Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act took effect on 21 February 2025, giving up to 72 hours a year at larger employers. Connecticut extended its law to employers with one or more employees from 1 January 2027, while Alaska and Nebraska introduced new paid sick leave laws in July and October 2025. Missouri went the other way, repealing its 2024 voter-approved law with effect from 28 August 2025.

Under most state laws, full-time, part-time and temporary employees all accrue paid sick leave, typically one hour for every 30–40 hours worked. Employees are protected from retaliation for using it, can usually take it to care for a sick family member or attend preventive care, and must be able to see their accrued balance. Multistate employers should apply the most generous rule that covers each work location.

Sick Leave Laws in the United Kingdom

The UK does not set a number of sick days. Instead, employers must pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to eligible employees. For 2025/26, SSP is £118.75 per week and can be paid for up to 28 weeks. Until recently, it only started on the fourth day of sickness and employees had to earn at least £125 a week to qualify.

That changes from April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act (see the government roadmap). The three unpaid “waiting days” are removed, so SSP is paid from the first day of sickness. The lower earnings limit is also scrapped, so every employee qualifies, and pay is set at the lower of the flat SSP rate or 80% of average weekly earnings. HR teams should update payroll settings and absence policies, and check the flat rate on GOV.UK each April.

Employees can self-certify for the first 7 days of sickness. After that, they need a fit note, which may recommend adjustments such as reduced hours or lighter duties. Employers should hold a return-to-work conversation and consider reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 where an illness may amount to a disability.

Many UK employers also offer company (contractual) sick pay, paying full salary for a set period, often four weeks to six months depending on length of service, before reverting to SSP. As Acas explains, these schemes should be clearly written into contracts or handbooks.

Sick Leave Laws in the Middle East

Gulf countries set sick leave in their national labour laws, usually as a fixed annual allowance with pay that reduces in stages the longer an employee is off.

In the UAE, Article 31 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 gives employees who have completed probation up to 90 days of sick leave a year: 15 days on full pay, 30 days on half pay and 45 days unpaid. There is no paid sick leave during probation. Employees must notify their employer within three days and provide a medical report from an approved provider. Sick pay is not due if the illness results from the employee’s own misconduct, such as alcohol or drug use, and employers cannot dismiss someone or serve notice while they are on approved sick leave.

Saudi Arabia is more generous. Article 117 of the Saudi Labour Law allows up to 120 days of sick leave a year: 30 days on full pay, 60 days at 75% pay and 30 days unpaid. Amendments that took effect on 19 February 2025 updated several leave provisions, so employers should review their policies against the amended law. Sick leave reports are commonly issued and verified through the government’s Seha platform, which helps employers confirm they are genuine.

Under Qatar’s Labour Law No. 14 of 2004, employees with three months’ service can take up to 12 weeks a year: 2 weeks on full pay, 4 weeks on half pay and 6 weeks unpaid. Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain also use tiered sick pay, and Oman’s 2023 Labour Law extended its maximum sick leave period. Because these rules change often and can differ for nationals and expatriates, confirm current entitlements with local counsel before setting policy.

Sick Leave Laws in Australia

Sick leave falls under “personal/carer’s leave” in the National Employment Standards of the Fair Work Act 2009, as set out by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Entitlement: Full-time employees get 10 days of paid leave a year; part-time employees get a pro-rata amount. Leave accrues progressively and carries over without limit, but is not paid out on termination.
Casual employees: No paid sick leave, but 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion.
Notice and evidence: Employees notify as soon as practicable. Employers may request a medical certificate or statutory declaration.
Related entitlements: All employees, including casuals, get 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave a year. Check the relevant modern award, as some offer more than the minimum.

Personal leave can only be cashed out if a modern award or enterprise agreement allows it, and employees must keep a balance of at least 15 days afterwards. Employers should also note that taking sick leave is a protected workplace right, so adverse action against an employee for doing so can breach the Fair Work Act.

Sick Leave at a Glance: Country Comparison

Country	Statutory entitlement	Pay	Medical evidence
United States	No federal paid mandate; state laws typically 40–72 hours a year; FMLA up to 12 weeks unpaid	Full pay under most state laws	Often after 3+ consecutive days
United Kingdom	No set number of days; SSP up to 28 weeks	SSP flat rate (£118.75/week in 2025/26), day one from April 2026	Fit note from day 8
UAE	Up to 90 days a year after probation	15 days full, 30 days half, 45 days unpaid	Approved medical report
Saudi Arabia	Up to 120 days a year	30 days full, 60 days at 75%, 30 days unpaid	Medical report (Seha)
Qatar	Up to 12 weeks a year after 3 months	2 weeks full, 4 weeks half, 6 weeks unpaid	Approved medical certificate
Australia	10 days paid personal/carer’s leave (full-time)	Full pay	Reasonable evidence if requested

How Sick Leave Enhances Work-Life Balance

Sick leave lets employees recover properly, stops illness spreading through teams (the CDC advises sick workers to stay home) and reduces presenteeism, where people work while unwell and make more mistakes. It also builds trust and helps retain skilled staff.

Best Practices for HR in Managing Sick Leave

Write country-specific policies covering entitlement, notice, evidence and pay.
Apply rules consistently to avoid discrimination and grievance risk.
Protect medical data in line with UK GDPR, HIPAA and the ADA (US), the Australian Privacy Act and the UAE’s data protection law.
Hold return-to-work conversations and agree adjustments where needed.
Automate tracking. Time Off Manager 365 runs inside Microsoft 365 and Teams, applies country-specific accrual rules and keeps an auditable record.

What Documents Do You Need to Submit a Sick Leave Request?

Typically a leave request in your company’s system, plus a fit note, medical certificate or self-certification form once your country’s or policy’s threshold is reached. In Australia, a statutory declaration is also accepted.

Advantages of Providing Sick Leave

Well-run sick leave creates healthier workplaces, higher productivity and a stronger employer brand in competitive global talent markets.

Healthier workplaces: Sick employees stay home instead of spreading illness to colleagues.
Higher productivity: Rested employees return sooner and perform better than those who work while unwell.
Better retention: Staff are more likely to stay with employers who support their health.
Legal protection: Following statutory rules reduces the risk of claims, fines and employment tribunal

Guarantees Compliance With Employment Laws

Non-compliance can mean back pay and penalties in US states, HMRC action and tribunal claims in the UK (see the employer guide to SSP), and ministry fines in the GCC. Accurate, timestamped leave records are the simplest way to demonstrate compliance.

How to Compose a Sick Leave Request

Tell your manager early (Fair Work’s notice guidance is a useful benchmark), keep medical details brief, state your expected return date, mention any medical evidence, arrange cover for urgent tasks and log the request in your leave system.

Sample Sick Leave Email Template

Subject: Sick Leave Request – [Your Name], [Start Date] to [End Date]

Dear [Manager’s Name],

I’m unwell and won’t be able to work from [start date] to [expected return date]. I’ll provide a [medical certificate / fit note] if required under our policy. [Colleague’s name] has agreed to cover urgent items, and I’ve logged this request in Time Off Manager 365.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Other Leave Types to Manage Alongside Sick Leave

Annual leave: 4 weeks in Australia, 6 weeks in the UK, 30 days in the UAE (after one year), no federal minimum in the US.
Parental leave: Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
Carer’s leave: 1 week unpaid in the UK; paid within personal leave in Australia.
Bereavement leave: 2 days in Australia; 3–5 days in the UAE.

Manage Sick Leave Smarter With Time Off Manager 365

Managing sick leave across the US, UK, Middle East and Australia is hard when requests arrive by email and balances live in spreadsheets. Time Off Manager 365 is an AI-powered leave management agent that works where your teams already do: Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Outlook.

AI leave conflict detection: The AI agent flags overlapping requests before they’re approved, so managers can see when too many people from one team will be away and keep projects on track.
Request and approve in Microsoft Teams: Employees apply for sick leave in a quick chat, and managers approve with one click without leaving Teams.
SharePoint and Outlook leave tracker: Approved leave syncs to a shared leave calendar in SharePoint and Outlook, so everyone can check who’s in the office today and who’s away this week.
Country-specific policies: Set separate accrual rules, sick pay tiers and holiday calendars for each location, from California to Dubai and Sydney.
Audit-ready records: Every request, approval and medical document is logged, making compliance checks simple.

Conclusion

Sick leave rules across the US, UK, Middle East and Australia are changing fast. Time Off Manager 365 brings every leave policy into Microsoft 365 and Teams, with country-specific rules, quick approvals and audit-ready reports. Book a demo to see it in action.