An increasing number of employers are coming to us with gripes about how their employees are using and abusing sick leave entitlements. There appears to be a prevailing attitude in New Zealand that sick leave is a “right” and that it should be treated almost an extension of an employee’s annual leave. Although the minimum entitlement for an employee for sick leave is 5 days per year, this entitlement accrues so that an employee at any one time may have 20 sick days available to them. This can be a serious liability for an employer.