Independent guide

SICK on a pay stub: Sick leave or sick pay

Sick and SIC can identify paid sick time. A sick-leave balance is different from wages paid for an absence and from a disability insurer’s benefit.…

Last updated September 13, 2026

Browse leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes.

Sick and SIC can identify paid sick time. A sick-leave balance is different from wages paid for an absence and from a disability insurer’s benefit. Eligibility and accrual depend on the relevant law and employer policy.

Related spellings covered here: SIC.

How to read this entry

Use the meaning Sick leave or sick pay alongside the column heading. An earnings amount, an employee deduction and an employer-cost memo can have different effects even when their labels look similar.

Example on a pay statement

Six paid sick hours at $20 an hour produce $120 in this illustrative hourly example. The leave bank should also fall by six hours, unless the employer uses another unit.

Examples illustrate the checking method. They are not a personal tax calculation or a promise of a particular benefit.

What to check with payroll

Check approved absence hours and distinguish employer sick pay from third-party disability payments.

Compare related entries

Read the leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes guide to compare the entries in this part of your statement. Use the full pay stub code directory when a second abbreviation is unfamiliar.

Reference and scope

Official guidance on leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes provides background on the underlying rules. The actual plan, tax year, jurisdiction and payroll record determine how the rules apply.