What is carer’s leave?

When can carer's leave be taken?

While policies vary by employer, carer's leave is generally intended to support employees when someone close to them genuinely needs care or assistance. Common situations include:

• An employee's child comes down with a fever and needs to be cared for at home
• An employee's spouse is recovering from surgery and requires daily support
• An employee's elderly parent has had a fall and needs assistance around the house
• A family member is diagnosed with a serious illness and requires accompaniment to medical appointments
• Someone the employee lives with becomes suddenly unwell and cannot manage alone

In general, carer's leave can be taken when a member of the employee’s immediate family or household is sick, injured, or affected by an emergency and genuinely needs their care or support.

Do you get paid for carer's leave?

Whether an employee is paid during carer's leave in India depends largely on employer policy and the type of leave available in their balance. In the absence of a statutory entitlement, most employees use one of the following:

• Earned Leave (EL) / Privilege Leave: Accrued paid leave that can be used for caregiving. Under the Factories Act 1948 and state Shops and Establishments Acts, most employees earn approximately 15 days of paid leave per year.
• Sick Leave (SL): Typically 6-12 days per year depending on specific state laws. Some employers permit sick leave to be used when caring for an immediate family member, depending on company policy.
• Casual Leave (CL): Usually up to 6-12 days per year (depending on the state), intended for unplanned personal matters. Typically cannot be carried forward.
• Dedicated Carer's Leave (employer-specific): A growing number of companies have introduced standalone paid carer's leave. For example, Diageo India introduced up to five paid days annually for employees caring for loved ones due to age, disability, or chronic illness.
• Unpaid Leave / Leave of Absence (LOA): Where paid leave is exhausted, employers may grant unpaid leave with job protection, subject to approval and company policy.

How much carer's leave are you entitled to?

Because carer's leave is not yet uniformly mandated in India’s private sector, entitlements depend on the employer’s leave policy, the applicable state Shops and Establishments Act, and the sector in which the employee works. Employees should check their employment contract or speak with their HR team to understand what is available to them.

What are typical paid leave entitlements for caregivers?

Under the OSH Code 2020, adult workers are entitled to one day of paid earned leave for every 20 days worked, provided they have worked at least 180 days in the year. This amounts to approximately 15 days per year for most full-time employees.

Most private companies offer 15–30 days of combined paid leave annually across Earned, Sick, and Casual categories, which employees can draw upon for caregiving. Part-time workers and contractual employees may receive leave on a pro-rata basis, depending on their employment terms.

What about central government employees?

Central government employees have access to more defined caregiving provisions. Under a 2024 announcement by the Union Ministry of Personnel, central government employees can take up to 60 days annually for elderly care, comprising 30 days of Earned Leave, 20 days of Half Pay Leave, 8 days of Casual Leave, and 2 days of Restricted Holiday.

Female government employees are also entitled to up to 730 days of paid Child Care Leave over their career for children up to the age of 18, which can also be used for caregiving responsibilities.

How often can you take carer's leave?

There is no statutory limit on how many times an employee can use their leave balance for caregiving purposes, provided they have entitlements remaining and a genuine reason. Casual leave is typically limited to no more than three consecutive days per instance, while earned leave generally requires advance notice and manager approval.

Where a company has a dedicated carer's leave policy, the number of days available per year will be specified within that policy. Frequent or extended leave may require supporting documentation, especially where it affects business operations.

How long can you take carer's leave?

The duration will vary depending on the type of leave used:

• Casual leave is usually taken for a few days at a time and cannot be carried forward.
• Earned leave can be accumulated and used in larger blocks, with most companies permitting carry-forward of up to 30-45 days.
• Where a dedicated carer's leave policy exists, it will specify an annual maximum (e.g., five days at Diageo India).
• Extended unpaid leave may be arranged with employer approval for serious long-term caregiving needs.

Employees in need of extended caregiving leave are encouraged to speak with their HR team early to explore available options, including unpaid leave or flexible working arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

What proof do you need for carer's leave?

Employers in India may request reasonable evidence to verify that the leave is being used for its intended purpose. While specific requirements are determined by an organization’s internal leave policy, common forms of documentation include:

• Medical certificates: A doctor’s certificate or official medical prescription.
• Hospital records: Admission or discharge summaries for the person being cared for.
• Self-declarations: A written explanation from the employee (often used when formal medical proof is not immediately accessible).
• Childcare documentation: Notices from schools or care centers in the instance of a dependent’s illness.

Standard enterprise practice in India typically requires a medical certificate for absences extending beyond two to three consecutive days. Modern human resource management systems allow employees to upload this evidence directly via mobile or desktop, ensuring that documentation is handled discreetly without placing an undue administrative burden on the employee during stressful periods.

Can an employer refuse carer's leave?

Because carer's leave is not a statutory right in India’s private sector (outside of specific employer policies), employers have more discretion than in countries where it is legislated.

Howbeit, employees retain the right to apply for earned, sick, or casual leave for caregiving purposes. Employers must manage all leave requests fairly and consistently in line with their own documented policies.

Where a dedicated carer's leave policy exists, employers cannot unreasonably deny a valid claim. They may negotiate timing if the absence would significantly affect operations, but must act in good faith and in accordance with their stated policies.

Is carer's leave becoming more popular in India?

Yes. India Inc. is increasingly recognising the importance of caregiving support as Gen Z enters the workforce and employee wellbeing becomes a key differentiator for talent retention.

The Deloitte-NASSCOM India Tech Compensation Benchmarking Survey 2024 found that wellbeing-focused initiatives like dedicated leave types are increasingly common as organizations work to reduce attrition and improve employer appeal.

Modernizing leave and payroll management in India

Successfully managing diverse leave types like carer's leave requires a cohesive strategy that connects employee wellbeing with operational accuracy. By integrating Human Resource Management with Global Payroll, Indian enterprises can automate leave tracking while ensuring seamless synchronization with payroll and statutory compliance.

This unified approach ensures that when an employee takes leave, their records, tax calculations (TDS), and provident fund (EPF) contributions remain accurate and compliant with the latest Indian regulations. With Workday, HR and Finance teams gain a single source of truth, allowing them to support their workforce during personal emergencies without increasing administrative risk.