Sick pay by country
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
Sick pay compared across countries: who pays sick pay, sick pay rate, maximum duration, waiting days, medical certificate. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Who pays sick pay | Sick pay rate | Maximum duration | Waiting days | Medical certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Employer 6 weeks, then health insurance fund (Krankengeld) | Employer full pay; Krankengeld 70% (max 90% of net) | 6 weeks employer; Krankengeld up to 78 weeks in 3 years | Employer pay after 4 weeks of employment | After 3 calendar days; earlier if the employer asks |
| Netherlands | Employer pays (up to 104 weeks) | 70% of wage (min. minimum wage in year 1) | 104 weeks (2 years) | None by law; up to 2 unpaid days may be agreed | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United Kingdom | Employer (SSP) | £123.25 a week or 80% of earnings (lower) | Up to 28 weeks | From first full working day sick | Fit note after more than 7 days in a row |
| France | Health insurance; employer top-up from day 8 | 50% allowance (max EUR 42.97/day); top-up 90%, 66.66% | 12 months in 3 years; employer top-up 60-180 days | 3 days (allowance); 7 days (employer top-up) | Send to employer within 48 hours |
| Spain | Social Security; employer pays days 4-15 | ⚠ Not yet verified | 365 days + 180; subsidy max 545 days | 3 days (illness); none (work accident) | Doctor's report (parte de baja) from the start |
| Italy | INPS, usually advanced by the employer | 50% (days 4-20), 66.66% (days 21-180) | 180 days per calendar year | 3 days (employer, if contract provides) | Doctor sends it to INPS electronically |
| Canada | Being ill and unable to work, Federal employers and EI: Federal employers 10 paid days; EI sickness benefit after | Being ill and unable to work, Federal employers and EI: Regular wages (federal leave); EI 55% of insurable earnings | Being ill and unable to work, Federal employers and EI: Up to 10 paid days a year; EI up to 26 weeks | Being ill and unable to work, Federal employers and EI: Federal: 30 days to earn 3 days; EI: 1 week waiting | Being ill and unable to work, Federal employers and EI: Federal: certificate may be required for 5+ days |
| Mexico | Social insurance (IMSS) pays a cash subsidy | 60% of last daily contribution salary | Up to 52 weeks, extendable by up to 26 weeks | Paid from day 4; 4 weekly contributions needed | Certificate issued by IMSS |
| Ireland | Employer (5 days), then Illness Benefit | 70% of daily pay, max. €110 a day | 5 days a calendar year | None; 13 weeks' service needed | Doctor's certificate from day 1 |
| Australia | Employer pays (paid personal/carer's leave) | Base rate of pay for ordinary hours | 10 days a year, accruing and accumulating | ⚠ Not yet verified | Evidence a reasonable person would accept, if required |
| Poland | Employer 33 days (14 if 50+), then ZUS | ZUS benefit 80% (100% in some cases) | ZUS benefit up to 182 days (270 in some cases) | 30 days of insurance (90 if voluntary) | Doctor’s e-ZLA certificate |
| Belgium | Employer 30 days, then health insurance | 100% for 30 days (bedienden); reduced for arbeiders | Employer 30 days; then health insurance | None (since 1 January 2014) | Certificate if rules/employer require; 2 working days |
| Sweden | Employer first 14 days, then Försäkringskassan | Sick pay 80%, less a 20%-of-a-week deduction | Employer 14 days; benefit 364 days (normal level) | Deduction of 20% of a week’s sick pay | Doctor’s note from day 8; declaration before |
| Austria | Employer first, then social insurance (Krankengeld) | Employer 100%, then 50%; Krankengeld 50%, 60% from day 43 | 6-12 weeks full pay by service; Krankengeld 26-52 weeks | Krankengeld from day 4; employer pay from start | On the employer’s request |
| Greece | e-EFKA pays, from the fourth day | 50% of notional daily wage, family increases | 182 days a year; 360 or 720 for same illness | 3 days | Medical opinion from the competent health body |
| Switzerland | Employer, for a limited time (or replacing insurance) | Wage due for the period (min. 4/5 if insured) | 3 weeks in year 1, then "appropriately longer" | Employment of more than 3 months | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Denmark | Employer 30 days, then municipality | Average hourly pay x weekly hours, capped | Employer 30 days; municipality 22 weeks, extendable | None (from first day of absence) | Employer may ask from day 2; doctor's form on request |
| Czechia | Employer first 14 days, then ČSSZ (nemocenské) | Employer 60%; benefit 60%, 66% from day 31, 72% from 61 | Employer 14 days; benefit up to 380 days | None (abolished from 1 July 2019) | Doctor reports electronically (eNeschopenka) |
| Hungary | Employer: 15 working days; then táppénz (insurance) | Sick leave 70%; táppénz 60% (50% if under 730 days) | 15 working days sick leave; táppénz up to 1 year | Táppénz starts after sick leave ends | Doctor certifies; up to 5 days backdated |
| Finland | Employer 10 days, then Kela allowance | Full pay (50% if job under 1 month) | Employer 10 days; Kela up to 300 weekdays | 10-day waiting period (employer pays wages) | Reliable evidence if the employer asks |
| Norway | Employer 16 days, then Nav | Usual income, up to 6G (NOK 819,294) | 52 weeks (under 67) | None (from day the employer is told) | Self-report up to 3 days; sick note if longer |
| New Zealand | Employer pays (Holidays Act 2003) | Relevant daily pay (or average daily pay) | 10 days a year; carry over up to 20 days | Qualifies after 6 months of employment | Proof may be asked; employee pays from day 3 |
| Croatia | Employer first 42 days, then HZZO | At least 70% of average pay; 100% in listed cases | 18 months, then 50% of last benefit | None: paid from day 1 | Report from the chosen doctor |
| Romania | Employer days 1-5; health fund from day 6 | 75% (100% for listed illnesses) | 183 days in a year | None: paid from day 1 | Certificate from the treating doctor |
| Japan | Health insurer pays sickness allowance | 2/3 of the daily standard remuneration | Up to 1 year 6 months for the same illness | Paid after 3 days of incapacity | Doctor's opinion and employer's certificate with claim |
| Turkey | Social security (SGK) pays temporary incapacity allowance | Outpatient 2/3, inpatient 1/2 of daily earnings | ⚠ Not yet verified | Paid from day 3; 90 days of premiums in prior year | Rest report from an SGK-authorised doctor |
How to read the comparison
The table compares these points:
- Who pays sick pay
- Sick pay rate
- Maximum duration
- Waiting days
- Medical certificate
Before you rely on it
These are national rules. Regions, cities, employers and venues can add their own, and the law changes. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.