You wake up feeling terrible. You cannot work. And in the middle of feeling unwell, you are already worried: Will this day be paid? Will the employer be angry? What paper do I need and how quickly do I need it?
Being sick is hard enough on its own. This article removes the extra stress by telling you exactly what to do — step by step, from the first hour.
What sick leave looks like by the numbers
According to Ministry of Labor guidance, sick leave accumulates at 1.5 days per month, up to a maximum of 90 days. Payment follows this structure under the standard rule:
- First day: no payment
- Second and third day: 50% of normal daily wage
- Fourth day onward: 100% of normal daily wage
A short illness of one or two days costs you something financially under this structure. That is simply how the law works. But from the fourth day forward, you are fully protected — as long as the paperwork is in order.
What to do on the first day
When you are too sick to work, two things need to happen: see a doctor, and tell your employer.
Call or message the employer in writing as early as possible. A short message is enough: you are unwell, you will not be in today, and you are going to seek medical care. Keep it brief and factual. Save it.
Then see a doctor or clinic as soon as you reasonably can. Do not wait two or three days and then try to get a backdated certificate. That creates a weak paper trail and makes employers suspicious — even when the illness was completely genuine.
The certificate: what to check before you leave the clinic
Before you walk out of the clinic, check the certificate. Specifically:
- Are your name and the dates of absence correct?
- Does the date range on the certificate match every day you could not work?
- Is the doctor’s name and signature visible?
- Is the clinic’s stamp or details on the document?
If anything looks wrong or unclear, ask for a correction immediately. It is much harder to fix a certificate after you have left.
Can an employer demand a certificate on the first day?
This is a question many workers face. The short answer: some employers do require a certificate from day one, and in some sectors this is written into the employment terms. Whether that requirement is lawful in your specific situation depends on your contract and sector rules.
If your employer demands a day-one certificate and you cannot provide one — because the clinic was closed, because you were too unwell to travel, or because you treated the illness at home — keep any available evidence: pharmacy receipts, clinic visit records from a nearby date, or a message you sent to the employer on the day itself.
💬 Did your employer refuse sick pay and you are not sure whether that was legal? Use Ask an Expert on LankaConnect. Sick pay disputes often have specific facts that change the answer.
How to send the certificate
Send it in a way you can prove. A WhatsApp message with the photo attached, an email, or any written channel where you can see the delivery. Keep the original file — not just a cropped version that cuts off the clinic name or the date.
If the employer later says the certificate was not received, resend it together with the original message date visible. “I am resending the certificate I sent on Tuesday at 14:23” is a much stronger position than “I thought I sent it.”
Check the payslip after you recover
Do not wait three months to discover that your sick days were coded as unpaid leave or as annual vacation. Check the first payslip after the illness. If something looks wrong, raise it immediately — while the dates are still easy to discuss.
What to do ?
- Message the employer in writing on the first day of illness
- See a doctor or clinic as soon as reasonably possible
- Check that the certificate dates match your actual absence
- Send the certificate in writing and save the delivery record
- Keep the full certificate — not a cropped version
- Review the next payslip to confirm sick days were handled correctly
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