Sick Leave in Israel: How Much You Get Paid and How to Process It

Core Concept

Paid sick leave (dmei machala) is your legal right to receive payment from your employer for days when you are unable to work due to health reasons. This is not a state benefit, but a direct obligation of your employer, based on the sick days you have accrued.

Who is Eligible?

Nearly all salaried employees in Israel working under an employment contract are entitled to paid sick leave, regardless of the type of employment (hourly or monthly salary).

• Salaried Employees: Anyone who works for an employer and receives a payslip (tlush maskoret).
• Seniority: The right is established from the first day of employment, but the number of accrued days depends on seniority.
• Exclusions (Who is NOT eligible):
  • Self-Employed (Atzma'im): They do not receive payment from an "employer" and must arrange their own insurance for illness.
  • Employees who have fully exhausted their limit of accrued sick days.

Your Rights

You accrue 1.5 sick days for each full month of work (18 days per year). The maximum number of days that can be accrued is 90 days.

Payment is made according to the following schedule:

The amount is calculated based on your regular salary. If you are paid hourly, the calculation will be based on your average number of hours.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Notify your employer. On the first day of your illness, immediately inform your direct supervisor or the Human Resources (HR) department that you will not be coming to work due to health reasons. This can be done by phone, SMS, or email.
2. Consult a doctor. Visit a family doctor (rofeh mishpacha) to obtain a medical certificate (ishur machala). Ensure the certificate includes your personal details, diagnosis (not mandatory), and the exact dates of your incapacity to work.
3. Provide the certificate to your employer. Submit the original or a digital copy of the certificate to the accounting or HR department. This serves as the basis for calculating your payment. Do this as soon as possible.
4. Check your payslip (Tlush Maskoret). On your next payslip, verify that the Dmei Machala (דמי מחלה) section shows the correct payment amount for your sick days.

List of Documents

• Medical Certificate (Ishur Machala): An official document from your attending physician stating the period of incapacity to work. This is the primary and mandatory document.
• Identification Card (Teudat Zehut): May be required for identification when consulting a doctor or dealing with your employer.

Key Considerations

• The first day is unpaid. Remember that by law, the first day of sickness is always at your own expense.
• Timely notification. Failure to notify your employer of your illness can be grounds for denial of payment or even dismissal.
• Using days to care for a child. The law permits using a portion of your accrued sick days to care for a sick child or spouse. The conditions depend on the child's age and the status of the other parent.
• Sick days do not expire. Unused days are carried over to the next year until the limit of 90 days is reached.
• Payment upon termination. Unlike vacation days, accrued sick days are not compensated with a monetary payment upon termination of employment, unless otherwise specified in your personal or collective employment agreement.

Contacts and Links

Official links and phone numbers were not provided in the source materials. For accurate information, please contact:

• Your employer's Human Resources (HR) or accounting department.
• The official website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Misrad HaAvoda veHaRevaha).

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