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Physician Contract Glossary · Benefits & Leave

Sick Leave

Sick leave is paid time off for illness, which may be a separate bank or folded into a combined PTO pool.

Sick leave is paid time off when you are ill or caring for a sick family member. Some contracts give it as a dedicated bank; others roll it into combined PTO. Whether it is separate matters, because a dedicated sick bank means an illness does not cost you vacation. State and local sick-leave laws may also set a floor the contract has to meet.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Determine whether sick leave is its own bank or part of combined PTO. A combined pool means every sick day is a vacation day you no longer have, which is worth weighing when comparing offers.

Related terms

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