Over fifty thousand individuals have surpassed the annual capacity limit of two buses.
In Portugal, employees aged 16 and over have the right to self-declare sick leave for up to three days without the need for a doctor's note, a measure implemented by the National Health Service (NHS). This simplifies short-term sickness absences and provides a balance between employee health needs and employer protections.
According to the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, the NHS issued 1,038,296 self-declared sick leaves from May 1, 2023, with 311,000 issued in the first seven months of the year alone. However, data from the Publico newspaper indicates that nearly 100,000 people exhausted the annual limit of self-declared sick leave in 2024, and at least 52,000 have already done so this year.
Key aspects of the rules for self-declared sick leave in Portugal include:
- Duration: Up to 3 days of sick leave can be taken by employees without presenting a medical certificate.
- Notification: The employee should notify the employer as soon as possible about the absence; in emergencies, this can be done as soon as practicable.
- Paid Sick Leave: Sick leave beyond the self-declared period must be medically certified and can be paid for up to 30 days per year with full pay, according to social security rules.
- Certification for longer absences: Required
- Special menstrual leave: Since April 2025, there is a special paid menstrual leave of up to 3 days per month without the need for a doctor’s note for those diagnosed with conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.
For longer sick leaves, medical certification is necessary to qualify for sickness benefits, which typically start at 55% of an employee's salary for up to 30 days, increasing with longer illness duration. It's important to note that the responsibility of justifying absence from work due to illness lies with the person themselves in self-declared sick leave.
The SNS24 website provides information about the self-declaration of illness process and details about the self-declared sick leave document, which serves as proof of a person's illness, declared by themselves. This system allows for short-term absences without bureaucracy, while still requiring medical certification for longer sick leaves to ensure legitimacy and entitlement to social security sickness benefits.
The days that weigh the most in the total self-declared sick leaves issued are Mondays and Wednesdays, suggesting that self-declared sick leave is a common practice among employees in Portugal. It's worth noting that consulting a doctor is not necessary to request self-declared sick leave, and no visit to a health center or hospital is required to do so.
These rules reflect recent labor law reforms in Portugal aiming to modernize sick leave practices and support employee well-being. For more detailed information, employees are encouraged to visit the SNS24 website.
In the context of Portugal's work culture, the implementation of self-declared sick leave by the National Health Service (NHS) has led to an increased focus on workplace wellness, fostering a healthier blend of employee health needs and employer protections. To further improve health and mental health, it's essential to promote awareness about the special menstrual leave, which doesn't need a doctor's note, for those affected by conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.
