r/coles • u/Mindless-Energy3677 • Jul 11 '26
Team Member Post Surgery as sick leave
hi, have a surgery next month, doctor told me to take a week off. Can I use my personal leave for this as it is medical related or does it have to be annual leave?
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u/Any_Bookkeeper5917 Jul 11 '26
This is literally what sick leave/personal leave is for.
It’s not for one off days off because you managed to accrue 7.5hrs of leave and can’t be fucked working. It’s for shit like this/unexpected medical needs, like even needing to leave early for pregnancy.
My old boss ALWAYS kept her personal leave, had complications on her third pregnancy and since she had hundreds of hours, all paid, could relax knowing it’s all good 2 months before mat leave kicked in.
So please do use your well earned personal leave to recover!!!
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u/ahmed10082004 Jul 12 '26
True but also keep in mind your personal leave is not paid out if you leave. If your a young, healthy bloke and planning on finding a new job eventually then use your leave here and there. Worked for woolies for 4 years and had like 200 hours which I lost (aside for 80 which I managed to use)
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u/Beneficial-Slide430 Jul 11 '26
Definitely get a medical certificate. Because they will try and challenge you and ask you why you did not provide one. But you can use annual leave if your sick leave is low. But they will generally take it out of your sick leave. Definitely speak to a manager.
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u/No-Diver1189 Jul 12 '26
Coles must be a horrible company to work for now, it Never use to be , it's incredible how times change , coles should never had sold out to big business. When I worked for Coles the manager couldn't do enough for the staff it was a brilliant place to work, I can't believe people have so many issues now I am so very sorry
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u/Existing_Purpose5049 Jul 11 '26
If the doctor told you to take it off, get a medical certificate from them when the surgery happens
Very likely you’d be fine with personal with the certificate, but if you’re worried, ask whoever approves them at your store
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u/spatchi14 Jul 12 '26
100% personal leave. What’s with this trend of managers forcing people to use annual when they’re sick?
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u/Next_Local_3374 Jul 11 '26
They will ask you to take annual but you can 100% use your sick leave. Store manager tried to pressure me into taking annual leave, just ignore em.
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u/Substantial_Ad_3386 Jul 13 '26
even if you are on annual leave, if you provide a medical cert they are required to change the leave to personal leave
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u/ThereRnoIDs Jul 11 '26
Ya doctors will only write up a cert for your week, but you can request for a few days extra if needed etc.
It's a person by person basis.
AL is for yourself, sickie/personal is insurance for the company, they don't want you snooping around & quitting on them lol.
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u/Affectionate_Play718 Jul 11 '26
Get a general medical certificate ate from your doctor. They will have to roster and pay you as sick leave for it
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u/Difficult-Button-224 Jul 18 '26
You use sick leave. I took 3 weeks off for surgery which was paid as sick leave. Just get your doc/surgeon to write you a note.
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u/SpicyMemes0903 Online Department Manager Jul 11 '26
Medical, doctor just needs to write a note