Personal leave (also known as sick/carer's leave) is a paid entitlement for Australian employees to take time off when they're unwell or need to care for an immediate family member. Full-time employees get 10 days per year, which accumulates if unused. Doccy provides instant medical certificates for personal leave online.

Immediate family includes your spouse/de facto partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and any of these relations of your partner. Household members who live with you permanently also qualify. You can use personal leave to care for any of these people when they're sick.

Casual employees are not entitled to paid personal leave under the National Employment Standards. However, they can still take unpaid time off when sick and may need to provide medical certificates. The 25% casual loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements.

Employers can request 'reasonable evidence' which is usually a medical certificate, especially for absences over 2 days or frequent single days. Some employers accept statutory declarations for short absences. Doccy provides legitimate medical certificates that satisfy all employer requirements.

Absolutely. Mental health conditions including stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout are valid reasons for personal leave. These are treated the same as physical illness under Australian law. Doccy's doctors understand mental health and provide appropriate certificates.

No, unlike annual leave, personal leave doesn't get paid out when you leave a job. Your accumulated balance is forfeited. This is why it's important to use personal leave when you genuinely need it rather than 'saving' it.

Employers cannot refuse legitimate personal leave if you provide required evidence (like a medical certificate) and have available entitlement. They can only refuse if you don't follow notification procedures, lack evidence, or have exhausted your paid leave balance.

You must notify your employer as soon as practicable - ideally before your shift starts or within your workplace's specified timeframe. For unexpected illness, this might be the morning of. For planned medical procedures, give as much notice as possible.

Yes, if you're unwell and the appointment is for treatment of that condition. Routine check-ups or preventative appointments typically aren't covered unless you're experiencing symptoms. Some employers are flexible, so check your workplace policy.

Once you exhaust paid personal leave, you can take unpaid leave if still unwell, use annual leave (if your employer agrees), or apply for extended unpaid leave for serious conditions. Always communicate with your employer about available options.

No, funerals are covered by compassionate leave (bereavement leave) - a separate 2-day entitlement. Personal leave is only for illness or caring for sick family. You could use annual leave if you need more than the compassionate leave allowance.

Yes, personal leave rolls over indefinitely with no cap. If you don't use your 10 days this year, you'll have 20 next year, and so on. Some long-term employees accumulate hundreds of days, though this isn't paid out upon leaving.

No, if you're too sick to work at your primary job, you shouldn't work elsewhere. This could be considered fraud and lead to dismissal. The exception is if your certificate specifies modified duties and your employer is aware.

No, they're the same thing. 'Personal leave' is the current legal term that replaced 'sick leave' in Australian employment law. It covers both your own illness and caring for sick family members from the same 10-day entitlement.

Yes, with your employer's agreement, personal leave can be taken in half-days or even hourly increments. This is useful for medical appointments or when you're well enough for partial work. Check your workplace policy for specific arrangements.

You receive your base rate of pay - ordinary hours earnings excluding overtime, penalties, allowances, or bonuses. Part-time employees get their usual part-time rate. Casual employees don't receive paid personal leave.

Doctors can certify recent illness (usually within 1-2 days) if they're satisfied you were genuinely unwell. However, certificates can't be backdated beyond what's clinically justifiable. Always see a doctor as soon as possible when sick.

You can use personal leave to care for any sick child, regardless of severity. Whether it's a cold, stomach bug, or more serious condition, caring for a sick child is a valid use of carer's leave (part of personal leave).

True independent contractors aren't entitled to personal leave as they're not employees. However, some contractors may actually be employees misclassified - check if you have set hours, use company equipment, and can't delegate work.

Yes, work-related stress, burnout, and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by work are valid reasons for personal leave. You may also be eligible for workers' compensation if the condition is primarily work-caused.

Yes, personal leave entitlements start from day one of employment, including during probation periods. You can use personal leave immediately if needed, though some employers may scrutinize usage more closely during probation.

There's no legal minimum, but it depends on your workplace policy. Some allow hourly increments for appointments, while others require minimum half or full days. Check your employment agreement or HR policy.

Employers must accept legitimate medical certificates for personal leave within your entitlement. They can only challenge it if they reasonably believe it's fraudulent or doesn't meet requirements. Doccy's certificates are legitimate and legally compliant.

If you're on personal leave and a public holiday falls within that period, the public holiday is paid separately and doesn't count as personal leave. This preserves your personal leave balance.

Yes, IVF and fertility treatments are valid medical reasons for personal leave. The physical and emotional demands of treatment, procedures, and recovery all qualify. Some employers also offer additional fertility leave.