What is child sick leave? Who can benefit?

Is your child still sick? It’s normal, it’s winter. To allow you to skip work and be with the feverish child (and take the opportunity to catch his virus), the law provides for sick leave for all employees. If you are entitled to this leave, regardless of your seniority, its duration varies and your employer is not required to pay you.

So how do you benefit from this leave? And how long does it last?

What is child sick leave?

The law provides for sick leave for children which allows parents to be with a child under 16 who is ill or injured. The length of leave depends on the composition of the family:

• For parents of children under the age of one, the law provides for five days off.
• For families with more than three children under 16, the duration is also five days.
• For the other families, three days of rest are foreseen.

These days can be taken consecutively or dispersed throughout the year. The law does not provide for compensation for this rest period. However, some collective agreements provide for the payment of a certain number of days’ absence for sick children.

What is the procedure with the employer for sick leave for children?

All employees can benefit from this leave, without a condition of seniority. Beyond the family ties, the fact of assuming the obligations relating to the education of the child prevails. This leave is therefore accessible to in-laws or family members, under these conditions.

To benefit from this leave, you must also obtain a medical certificate certifying the illness of the minor under 16 and send it to your employer. Parents are also advised to send this document by registered mail or to request at least proof of receipt.

Attention! Sick leave for children covers occasional illnesses and day-to-day injuries.

The law also provides two business days, paid, family events leave for families whose child has just been diagnosed with a chronic or serious illness. Care leave allows (among other things) parents to be with a child with a disability, disability or loss of independence.

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