A sick leave certificate is a document issued by a doctor to an employee who is unable to work for a specified period (e.g. due to illness). Their absence is justified. The medical certificate is often referred to as "L4" (in the past this was the sick-leave form).
According to the government website pacjent.gov.pl, from 1 December 2018 doctors and paramedics have been issuing certificates only in electronic form. So we are talking about the electronic leave certificate (abbreviated as e-ZLA).
An electronic leave certificate can be issued by:
- attending physician
- medical specialist
- hospital doctor
- dentist
- psychiatrist
- authorised paramedic (on behalf of a doctor).
Under the Act of 25 June 1999 on cash benefits from social insurance in case of illness and maternity, sick leave is marked with a code assigned to a specific cause of incapacity/illness.
- Code A denotes incapacity for work after a break of no more than 60 days, caused by the same illness that led to the incapacity before the break.
- Code B denotes incapacity for work during sick leave taken during pregnancy.
- Code C indicates incapacity caused by alcohol abuse.
- Code D denotes incapacity caused by tuberculosis.
- Code E denotes incapacity caused by an infectious disease.
Please note that sick leave is available to people working under an employment contract, as well as those paying voluntary health insurance (e.g. under a mandate contract).
Once issued, the electronic sick leave is automatically sent to the profile services of the contribution payer's Electronic Platform (the employer will see it in their PUE ZUS profile) and to the ZUS system.
Sick leave – how many days?
In most cases, sick leave cannot exceed 182 days. The exception is incapacity caused by tuberculosis or pregnancy. In that case, sick leave can cover up to 270 days.
Below we have answered the most frequently asked questions.
How can I check when I'm on sick leave?
You can find this information in your account on pacjent.gov.pl (in the "Zwolnienia" tab). You can log in using a trusted profile or an email ID and a mobile app/reader.
You can also check your sick leave period in your profile on the website.
Backdated sick leave
Sick leave can be issued retroactively, but no more than 3 days before the examination. However, when issuing sick leave the doctor must be sure that the employee could not have worked during that time. Thus, only the doctor decides whether we receive backdated sick leave.
Sick leave after dismissal
After dismissal, an employee is still entitled to sickness benefit for the period of incapacity caused by illness, but no longer than 182 days, or 270 days if the incapacity is caused by tuberculosis or arose during pregnancy.
Sick leave during pregnancy
A pregnant woman is entitled to use 270 days of sick leave. It is worth noting that her illness does not need to be related to the pregnancy. Sickness benefit for a pregnant woman amounts to 100% of the benefit calculation basis (which we discuss in the last section).
Sick leave for a child
Sick leave for a child is a document that justifies absence and gives the right to receive care benefits for the period of incapacity for work caused by looking after a sick child.
Number of sick leave days for a child:
- 60 days off – if the child is under 14
- 14 days off – if the child is 14 or older.
The care benefit is 80% of the calculation basis.
Sick leave over the phone
A doctor can also issue sick leave during a teleconsultation (e.g. by phone or online chat).
Medical extract from a psychiatrist
A medical certificate can also be issued by a psychiatrist. It can cover a maximum of 182 days (about six months). Remember, however, that a medical certificate cannot be issued by a psychologist or therapist.
Mandate contract and sick leave
A person working under a mandate contract who wants to receive sickness benefit during sick leave must join voluntary health insurance. Under an employment contract, health insurance is compulsory.
Sick leave – pay. What is the amount of sickness benefit?
While on sick leave you are entitled to sickness benefit. To receive it you don't need to present any documents. Your employer will see your e-ZLA medical certificate in their PUE profile.