Sick leave refers to the time off granted to employees to recover from an illness, medical condition, or injury. It is a form of authorized absence from work, allowing employees to take care of their health and prevent the spread of contagious diseases within the workplace.

Example
An employee contracts the flu and is unable to perform their duties. They inform their supervisor and request sick leave. The employee is then entitled to take the allocated number of sick days provided by their employer, during which they are not required to report to work and can focus on recuperating.