Sick Leave Policy for Small Business Owners
As a small business owner, you probably already know that whether it’s the summer or flu season, catching the classic office cold is unavoidable – no matter the size of your company. When issues occur – doctor’s appointments, injuries, emergencies and illness – do your employees know what to do? It’s time to clear up any confusion they may have about absences in the workplace. If you don’t have one already, creating and distributing a workplace sick leave policy is beneficial to you and your staff.
What is a Sick Leave Policy?
A sick leave policy outlines fair and equitable rules for staff who need to take time off work due to illness, injury or medical emergency. It also establishes clear guidelines for employees, so they feel comfortable requesting time off. Additionally, as an employer, it allows you to have a structure in place if you need to take disciplinary actions for those who do not comply.
5 Details to Consider When Writing a Sick Leave Policy
The elements of a sick leave policy can vary from workplace to workplace. It’s up to you to determine what works and what doesn’t. To prepare an effective sick leave policy and manage absence in the workplace, you should include answers to these six questions:
- What is the law in Ontario? Familiarize yourself with the law and make sure you’re compliant. Check out 4 things employers need to know about sick leave in Ontario.
- What price are you willing to pay? Some employees can’t afford to miss work. However, if they come into work sick, they may infect other employees and customers. Not only are your unwell employees less productive, but your business can end up paying for it. In Ontario, employers must give 3 unpaid sick leave days per year, but it’s up to you to determine if providing paid sick leave is worth it.
- What if an employee doesn’t use sick days? Be clear that sick leave days cannot be carried over to the next year if they are unused.
- What should sick days be used for? Sick leave may be used for the illness, injury, medical emergency of an employee.
- What is the proper protocol?It is important to be clear about your expectations on how an employee should report an absence, if and when you’ll require a doctor’s note as proof of illness, who will take over responsibilities of the unwell employee and what happens when absence patterns arise.
Have questions about your workplace sick leave policy? Peninsula is dedicated to supporting small business owners like yourself with employer and HR advice. Call our 24-hour Employer Advice Line: 1(833) 247-3652. If you’re looking for more information you can also download our free employer guide on Managing Employee Sick Leave.
