Personal leave and sick leave

In Australian employment, paid personal leave commonly refers to the entitlement used for sick leave and carer's leave under the applicable rules. Sick leave is used when an employee cannot work because of their own illness or injury. The entitlement and evidence process are related but separate questions. Fair Work guidance on paid personal/carer’s leave

Start with notification

Tell your employer as soon as possible that you need leave and how long you expect to be away. Follow the workplace's notification process where possible. You do not need to wait for a certificate before reporting that you are unwell. Fair Work guidance on notice and medical evidence

Check whether evidence is required and what type is acceptable. Fair Work says an employer can request evidence for an absence of one day or less. An award or agreement may contain relevant provisions, so do not rely only on a general assumption about “three days without a certificate”. Fair Work guidance on notice and medical evidence

A certificate does not create a balance

A medical document can support the reason for an absence. It does not add hours to your leave balance, determine payroll calculations or resolve every dispute about entitlement. Ask payroll or the relevant employment adviser about those questions.

If you use a sick-leave calculator, treat the result as an estimate under stated assumptions. Actual accrual and available leave depend on employment circumstances. The tool should not be used as a substitute for current workplace records.

Describe work capacity to the doctor

Explain your duties and why the illness or injury affects them. Working from home does not automatically mean someone is fit to work. Conversely, having a symptom does not automatically establish incapacity for every task or period.

Doccio's work certificate guide explains the assessment pathway. A doctor decides what is supported. If symptoms need treatment or urgent assessment, address that need as well as the paperwork. Keep the clinical question, evidence requirement and leave-payment question clear so each can be handled by the appropriate person.