FAQ: Can You Use Sick Days for Vacation?

When you ask the question: can I use sick days for vacation, you should start with the company policy and employee handbook. Some companies have a more liberal definition of sick days, and they understand that sometimes – to take care of your work-life balance – you will need some time away to maintain your energy and health. Regularly calling in sick and booking a holiday, however, is not the best practice. 

1. The difference between vacation days and sick leave

There is a great difference in vacation days and sick leave. Normally, your vacation days are limited, and if you run out, you can’t do much. Flexible working companies, however, have contracts that allow you to buy or sell vacation days. So you don’t have to tell your employer that you are sick, when you simply only need a bit of Vitamin D. 

When you book a vacation day, you are usually asked to do this in advance, as the company will want to have a notice so they can work on resource allocation. You don’t have to give then a reason why you are booking the time off, and where you are going. They also cannot legally ask you to work during your vacation. 

This is not the case when it comes to sick days. You can’t plan to be sick, unless it is a planned medical appointment or operation. Before you ask if you can use sick days for vacation, you will have to check whether there are personal days you can take advantage of, or additional paid or unpaid time off. There’s always a solution, just sit down with your employer. For example, if you have to stay home waiting for a delivery or a HVAC service, you can offer to work from home, whenever possible, instead of calling in sick.

2. Can sick time be used for vacation based on the company policy?

The truth is that every company’s policies are different when it comes to vacation and sick day entitlement. You have to study both your contract and your employee handbook to determine if using sick time for vacation is a good option. Further, you have to study the state’s law that has a clear definition of sick days and vacations. 

Whenever you are confused about your vacation and sick days, it is better to have a chat with your HR representative or supervisor, to make sure that you are doing things right and don’t get into trouble. 

3. What if you get sick while on vacation?

In this situation, you can still call in sick, but only if you originally booked the vacation and got sick while away from the office. Accidents happen, you can get food poisoning, or need urgent medical attention that prevents you from coming back to work. 

While you are encouraged to call in sick even while on holiday, it is your HR department’s decision whether or not to believe you. They might be asking for a copy of your medical report or bill, so you can change your vacation day to a sick day. 

4. Taking sick days for vacation when you are not sick

This is not a smart move, no matter which company you are working for, and what your career level is. If you get found out and the company can prove that you were trying to mislead them, you will face disciplinary procedures. If you have just been invited by your friends to have a beach day, you need to learn to say no, or you will find yourself in trouble. 

However, you can always check whether you can take flexible working or unpaid time off when you are not sick but feeling tired and down. If you have an understanding manager, they might even allow you to pay time back whenever you can. Check out if you got a fair deal when signing your contract and being offered employment benefits. 

5. Paid leave vs. vacation days

You might be entitled for paid leave above your vacation day allocations. The main difference is the purpose. For vacation days, you are expected to travel out of state and spend some quality time with your family. When it comes to paid time off, you can use it as a personal day, time for travel, or anything else. Unlike with sick days, you will not be required to give a detailed report of why you are absent from the workplace. 

6. Burnout and vacation days

In some cases, people need to take more time off than what is allocated to them. If they don’t they will become overworked, burnt out and either leave or become less productive. Companies usually have a cap on vacation days they pay for. If you have a highly stressful job and are spending all the lunch breaks by the desk, you might ask your employer for personal days or additional vacation days. 

Some flexible working companies will allow you to take time off when you feel like you need it and pay it back later. 

7. Responsible use of sick days

This is a gray area for many companies, and you will have to make sure that you comply with the HR rules or you might break your contract. You will have to find out which reasons you can give for sick days. For example, some companies will only tolerate you taking a day out for looking after your sick child for a few days. Other companies will allow you to take time off for looking after an elderly relative. 

Before you ask yourself can I use vacation time for sick time, you might want to consult with your manager or your HR representative. If you feel like you cannot book a holiday for the emergency, however,  it is better to ask a colleague to cover for you and pay back their time later on than to lie to your employer. 

8. Is there a flexible vacation policy you can use instead?

It seems like a better option to ask the company whether they have a flexible vacation policy and opt for it. For example, if you have a big plan for a monthlong family vacation, you might want to try and roll over your vacation days from the previous year, or take out more and pay the time back the following year. 

Some companies also allow you to take unpaid leave, which is the same as buying and selling vacation days. 

9. Do you need a doctor’s note?

Before you use a sick day for a vacation, you need to know whether your employer will ask for a proof of illness or doctor’s visit. Some companies will only ask for it when you are away for longer than a couple of days, but it is always better to be safe. You don’t want to be caught in a lie and get into trouble with human resources.

If you are just generally not feeling well, or you think that you have a virus, you should always let the company know straight away and ask whether they need any proof of the illness. You might also need to report to the office on the phone to keep the management updated. 

10. The difference in pay

While most of the time people have a personal reason for using sick time for vacation, some employees will try to maximize their salary. Your company is likely to be legally required to provide sick cover, and you will be paid when you are off sick without any major limitations. 

However, it is possible that you have something urgent and you cannot book a holiday in advance, so your only option is to take a sick day. You will still be paid, but you will not be using your paid time off how you should. 

11. What if you can’t take a vacation?

You might be asking now: what if you are unable to book time off, can sick time be used for vacation then? In some cases, your department might be too busy to allow you to book time off, and this can interfere with your plans. 

First of all; if your employer cannot let you have your vacation days, they will have to pay you for the days. Second, there are different policies regarding vacation allocation, and you should – at all times – have the freedom to book time off, independent of what your employer’s human resources predictions say. 

Whether or not you get unlimited sick days in your employment contract depends on the company you are working for. If you are getting sick leave benefits, make sure that you are not overusing them, and ask your employer for guidance: can you use sick days for vacations, and if yes, in which circumstances. 

What is your company’s sick day policy? Learn more and share your experience here.