The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) requires different sick leave rules for new employees during their first six months.
First six months of employment (probation): Employees accrue one day of paid sick leave for every 26 days worked
After six months: Employees then switch to their full sick leave entitlement
You can set this up directly in a time off policy.
How to apply for a probation period
You can create a new policy or edit an existing one.
Go to Profile, then Settings.
Select Time of then Policies.
Click + New time off policy.
Scroll down to the Conditions section.
Under Does this policy have special conditions for new starters? select Yes.
Choose how long the probation applies (for example, six months).
Decide whether employees can accrue time off during probation:
Select Accrue based on days worked
Enter the accrual rule: One day per 26 days worked
Click Save.
📎NOTE: Sage HR will automatically manage the switch from probation rules to full-cycle entitlement after six months.
EXAMPLE:
If you set probation to six months:
During probation, an employee who works 130 days accrues 5 sick leave days (130 ÷ 26)
After six months, they become entitled to their full 36-month sick leave cycle
Employers take off any sick leave used in the first six months from the full entitlement
If the employee used two sick days during probation, they have 28 days left in their three-year cycle.
📎NOTE:
This functionality is only available for customers in South Africa (ZA)
Sage HR provides predefined BCEA policies as a starting point. Review and update policies if legislation changes