Can You Combine Sick, Casual, and Earned Leave? Understanding Leave Policies in Private Companies

I am working in a private limited company. Can you please help me understand how sick leave and casual leave can be taken by an employee at the same time? Also, can casual leave and earned leave (EL) be taken at the same time as well as sick leave and EL? Please assist me with this. Thank you.

Leave Combination Guidelines

1. Sick leave can be merged with annual leave if it exceeds the entitlement.

2. Earned leave or annual leave can be merged with sick leave, depending on the circumstances.

3. Casual leave CANNOT be combined with any other type of leave. Please note that an individual must report back after completing casual leave, work for a day, and then avail of annual or sick leave. Additionally, if a person is on earned leave/sick leave, they must report back after completing the leave, work for a day, and then avail of their balance casual leave.

Hope that answers your question.

Hi Guys, actually, EL is purely based on the Factory Act of 1948 and State rules. Under these regulations, an employee becomes eligible for 1 day of Earned Leave (EL) for every 20 days worked, which can be availed in the following calendar year.

State Leave Rules

On the other hand, Sick Leave (SL), Casual Leave (CL), National Holidays (NH), and Festival Holidays (NF) are dependent on the State leave rules, which vary across different states in India.

Company Leave Policy

Every company formulates its own leave policy to ensure compliance with regulations and to facilitate a smooth process for employees to take leaves.

Both can be taken together. If sick leave exceeds and no sick leave is available, the employee can go ahead and apply for EL.

Compliance with Leave Policy Enactments

The leave policy must comply with the enactments applicable to the establishment. A Pvt. Ltd company might be covered by the (name of the state) Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which was enacted to govern the service conditions of employees working in such establishments. Leave is also covered by this Act.

The company's leave policy can offer superior benefits but not inferior to the provisions of the Act. The leave policy can be framed in consultation with employees' unions, representatives, Work's Committee, and standing orders.

Thus, the company's leave policy can allow clubbing any leave with any other leave.

I am working in an IT company. My question is, in our company, we are only given PL leave. Only PL leave should be available; there is no CL, SL, etc. Is this fair or not? Only 6 PL days can be carried forward; the rest are forfeited. There is no compensation for that or for extra working hours.