Sick leave for non-teachers
All employees are entitled to a minimum of 10 days sick leave in each twelve-month period under the Holidays Act 2003.
ACC leave is handled differently. For details, see ACC Claim - Starting a Claim.
Important:
Ensure you read the employee’s employment agreement carefully for full details of their leave provisions.
See the Ministry of Education website: Employment agreements
Contact NZ School Trustees Association if you need help to interpret employment agreement details.
Accumulation of entitlements
Non-teaching employees receive their sick leave entitlements after specified periods of continuous service, as stated in their employment agreement. See Leave entitlements for details.
It is important to note that some periods of leave without pay may interrupt continuous service, and therefore the employee’s entitlement date may not match their anniversary date.
Book sick leave
To book sick leave for non-teaching employees, use the correct leave type code, as described in the table below.
See Book leave for instructions.
When a time sheet employee takes sick leave on a day that they would normally work, they are entitled to paid sick leave if they have entitlements accrued. In this case, submit a time sheet to cover the day, then complete a EP12 form for the leave booking.
Sick leave codes
Paid sick leave codes
| Code |
Description |
When to use |
| SL |
Sick Leave
This code requires a leave reason code.
See Leave codes and reasons.
|
Use when the employee has a positive sick leave balance.
For COVID-19 related sick leave use reason code COV19, or for COVID-19 related leave for family reasons, use reason code COVDO.
|
| SANTS |
Sick Leave Anticipated |
Use when the employee has a zero or negative sick leave balance and they have anticipated sick leave approved by the board of trustees in accordance with their employment agreement. |
| DISCR |
Discretionary Leave
This code requires a leave reason code.
See Leave codes and reasons.
|
Use when the employee has a zero or negative sick leave balance, and the board has granted additional leave beyond the employee's collective agreement.
This does not come off the employee's next sick leave entitlement.
Must be approved by the board of trustees in accordance with the employee's employment agreement. |
Unpaid sick leave codes
| Code |
Description |
When to use |
| SLWOP |
Sick Leave Without Pay
This code requires a leave reason code.
See Leave codes and reasons.
|
Use when the employee’s sick leave balance is zero or negative, and they have not requested anticipated sick leave, or they have exhausted their anticipated sick leave entitlement.
For COVID-19 related sick leave without pay use reason code COV19, or for COVID-19 related sick leave without pay for family reasons, use reason code COVDO.
|
Back to top
Related links
How to:
Employment NZ website