Sick leave · Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia paid and unpaid sick leave.
How many sick days Nova Scotia law gives an employee and whether they are paid. Enter your length of service to see your days.
Nova Scotia: unpaid leave of up to 5 days per year for the employee’s own illness or injury, plus 3 unpaid days per year to care for an ill family member.
Your situation
Your sick leave days
Enter your length of service and press Calculate.
Nova Scotia: paid sick leave rules in detail
| Point | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Own illness or injury | Up to 5 unpaid days per year |
| Family member illness | Up to 3 unpaid days per year |
| Paid? | Unpaid |
Notes on this rule
The Guide section read states no qualifying period.
How to use this page
Enter your days of continuous employment with the current employer and, if you like, your pay for one day. The calculator checks the qualifying period and returns the paid and unpaid days the statute gives. Part days, carry-over and employer top-ups are not modelled.
Sources, read directly 19 October 2026: Guide to the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code (October 2026), Sick Leave and Family Responsibility Leave.
Frequently asked questions
How many sick days does a Nova Scotia employee get?
Nova Scotia: unpaid leave of up to 5 days per year for the employee’s own illness or injury, plus 3 unpaid days per year to care for an ill family member.
Do I need to have worked a minimum time first?
The qualifying period is: none stated in the Guide. The calculator above uses your days of continuous employment against that threshold.
Can my employer ask for a doctor’s note?
The source read for this page does not state a rule about medical notes for this leave. Ask the employment standards office if your employer requires one.
Can an employer or a contract give more than this?
Yes. These are statutory minimums. An employment contract, workplace policy or collective agreement can give more, but not less. Union members should check their collective agreement as well.
Where does this Nova Scotia information come from?
Every figure on this page was read on 19 October 2026 from: Guide to the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code (October 2026), Sick Leave and Family Responsibility Leave. The links are listed under the rules table above. If a source changes, this page is regenerated from one data file and the verified date is updated.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory sick leave entitlement from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.