Australia
Sick and carer's leave are one combined entitlement under the National Employment Standards: 1/26 of ordinary annual hours, which lands at 10 days on a standard week. The employer pays at the base rate, there are no waiting days, unused balance rolls over indefinitely, and casuals are excluded (their loading compensates).
- Entitlement10 days a year full-time, pro-rata part-time
- Who paysEmployer, at base rate
- Waiting daysNone
- CarryoverUnlimited
- Not paid out on termination, unlike annual leave.
- Strictly an hours-based entitlement: 10 days assumes a five-day pattern.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman (NES, in force since 2010). Checked July 2026.
Canada
This is the market where generalising goes wrong fastest. Ontario's ESA gives 3 unpaid, job-protected sick days a year (the paid pandemic-era days ended in 2023). Federally regulated employers owe up to 10 paid medical days, accruing monthly. Quebec pays 2 days after 3 months' service, BC mandates 5 paid days, and the rest of the provinces write their own rules.
- Ontario3 days a year, unpaid, job-protected
- Federally regulated10 paid days, accruing 1 per month
- Quebec2 paid days after 3 months
- Province variationSubstantial (BC 5 paid days)
- Any copy implying Ontario has statutory paid sick days is wrong as of July 2026.
- Federal paid days accrue monthly, so a new hire does not start with 10.
Source: Ontario ESA guide (Unpaid regime since 2019). Checked July 2026.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the government source for its market.
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