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Ill or injured employees
Last updated August 2019
This chapter explains how to legally manage situations that may arise when an employee is ill or injured.
Managing ill or injured employees
As an employer, from time to time you will need to manage employees who are ill or injured. Your rights and obligations will depend on the situation that arises as a result of the illness or injury, such as whether the employee:
- takes personal leave;
- requires modifications to their role or workspace to accommodate their injury or illness;
- claims workers’ compensation; or
- is unable to perform their role.
Remember: Anti-discrimination legislation creates liability for you if you discriminate against an employee because they have an illness or injury.
Your rights and obligations when an employee takes personal leave
All employees, except casual employees, are entitled to paid personal leave if they are ill or injured and unable to attend work.