Updated 11 August 2025
Not sure how many paid sick-leave days you still have this year? Our mobile-friendly sick-leave days calculator guide spells out the exact number based on South Africa’s Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and your company’s rules.
How sick leave works in SA
- Full-time staff: 30 days paid sick leave in every 36-month cycle.
- Part-timers: 1 day for every 26 days worked.
- Unused days roll over until the 36-month cycle resets.
- After 2 consecutive days off, your employer can demand a medical certificate.
Quick sick-leave calculator on your phone
- Open your calculator app.
- Work out how many days you’ve worked since your last cycle started.
- Divide by 26 → that’s your total sick days for the 3-year cycle.
- Subtract days already taken.
Example: You’ve worked 780 days = 30 days sick leave. You used 12 days in 2023 and 5 in 2024. Balance = 13 days left until the cycle restarts.
Spreadsheet trick for HR managers
Column A: Employee name
Column B: Cycle start date
Column C: Days worked (use NETWORKDAYS in Excel)
Column D: Sick days granted (=INT(C/26))
Column E: Sick days used (manual entry)
Column F: Balance (=D-E)
Conditional formatting turns red when balance < 5 days.
Common SA search phrases
“sick leave calculator South Africa”, “how many sick days per year in SA”, “sick leave balance app”, “BCEA sick leave entitlement”, “sick leave without medical certificate”.
Apps & links worth bookmarking
- Department of Labour BCEA guide – labour.gov.za → Downloads.
- Google Sheet template – tinyurl.com/SA-sick-leave.
- HRmobile – free leave-tracking app for SMEs.
Pro tips for load-shedding days
- Screenshot your current balance; no internet, no problem.
- Ask your GP for an e-sick-note; most medical aids email it instantly.
Bottom line
Use the 1-in-26 rule, track days in a simple spreadsheet or app, and keep medical certificates handy. That way you always know how many paid sick-leave days you have left in your 36-month cycle.