Sick leave or paid sick days, is time off from work that workers can use during periods of temporary illness to stay home and address their health and safety needs without losing pay.

All Public officers are entitled to sick leave days.   

According to General Orders 1563, 1573 and 1574, monthly paid officers are entitled to 20 days at full pay.  Once an officer has exhausted the 20 sick days with full pay, (s)he will then be entitled to five months on 7/8ths pay.  After this (s)he will be entitled to six months on half-pay leave.  After this, (s)he will be entitled to no pay leave.  

Weekly Paid Officers:

According to General Order 1580, Weekly Paid Officers during the first three years of service are entitled to one week with full pay.  Once an officer has exhausted the 5 sick days with full pay, (s)he will be entitled to no pay leave.  

Weekly Paid Officers with 3 – 5 years of service are entitled to two weeks with full pay.  Once an officer has exhausted the 10 sick days with full pay, (s)he will be entitled to no pay leave.  

Weekly Paid Officers after 5 years of service are entitled to three weeks with full pay.  Once an officer has exhausted the 15 sick days, (s)he is entitled to six months on ¾ pay.  After this, (s)he will be entitled to no pay leave.  

1. Notify the office

   • If an officer falls ill, the officer may call in sick for two days or less without submitting a medical certificate.
   • Any sick leave in excess of two days must be accompanied by a medical certificate.  Note: If an officer reports in sick on a Friday and the following Monday, (s)he must produce a medical certificate to cover the entire period when submitting the sick leave request.
2. Supervisor Advise Human Resources (HR)
   • Once notification is given, the supervisor will prepare an absentee slip, which is forward to HR.
3. Adjust Sick Leave Entitlement
   • HR uses the absentee slips to adjust the officer’s sick leave entitlement.  
   • Note: Once six single sick leave days have been exhausted, HR will advise the officer in writing. This is because once an officer exhausts six single sick leave days, a medical certificate must accompany any other sick leave request for that year.  

In cases of exhausted entitlement

• In cases where an officer needs additional sick leave but has already exhausted their allotted sick leave entitlement for the year, HR must make a recommendation to the Permanent Secretary (PS).
• In such cases, HR will advise the PS once the officer has exhausted the leave entitlement for the year recommending that the officer goes on 7/8ths pay.
• Once approval is received from the PS, HR will then advise the officer and the accounts sections accordingly.

Note: According to General Order 1575, any officer who has exhausted his/her entire sick leave entitlement can be called before a medical board to determine fitness for continued service.

There is no application form used when applying for sick leave.  

Any sick leave in excess of two days must be accompanied by a medical certificate.  A medical report may be needed to support a recommendation for 7/8ths pay.  Include Absentee forms and medical certificates (when necessary).

Not Applicable

The Department of Public Service
Poinciana Hill Complex
Meeting Street
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel.  (242) 502-7200
Fax. (242) 326-6929
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays