Corona Virus in Israel: how does it work?

Corona virus in Israel - What are the employer's obligations?

In accordance with orders issued by the Ministry of Health in Israel, the 14-day isolation at home of people who have visited the countries concerned by the reform, from the date of their return, obliges employers to pay these employees sick leave at their own expense.

Subject to balance of employee sick days.

Instead of the government bearing this burden, it decides to pass it on to employers, the self-employed in Israel and even the employees themselves.

Isolation for 14 days

Under new orders issued in recent days, anyone returning from certain countries must be placed in solitary confinement for 14 days from the date of their return to Israel.

Isolation includes being banned from public places, educational establishments, workplaces, public transport, entertainment venues, stores, hospitals and clinics.

The isolation requirement does not apply to those who were in the countries concerned for a stopover (Connection). On the 15th day of isolation, if Beezrat Hashem no symptoms of illness develop, the person may resume work and normal activities.

According to Ministry of Health orders, an employee's absence from work in Israel after isolation is considered sick leave.

The employee will therefore be paid for his accumulated sick leave, provided he has enough days left for the entire isolation period.

This decision comes at the expense of accumulated sick days. In addition, we remind you that the first day of illness in Israel is unpaid, the second and third days are paid at 50%, and only from the 4th day onwards will you be paid at 100%.

How to get paid for sick days following the "isolation Corona Virus in Israel"?

The employee must provide proof of the date of departure from the country concerned.

Family doctors should not be contacted for absenteeism-related sick leave. You therefore do not need to send a ishour mahala - medical certificate.

However, you must complete the declarations available on the Ministry of Health.

Employers are prohibited from requiring the presence of their employees.

The Public Health Order (New Corona Virus 2019) (Employer Instructions for Employee in Home Insulation) (Temporary Order), 5720-2020, states that employers are prohibited from requiring an employee in isolation to enter the workplace during the isolation period. And even prevent him/her from entering the workplace if the employee so requests.

The ordinance also stipulates that an employer is prohibited from dismissing an employee who is absent from the workplace due to the need to remain in isolation for fear of contracting the Corona virus.

The self-employed are not entitled to any compensation.

It appears that, as usual, the self-employed, employers and employees will bear the burden of sick pay:

(1) Self-employed workers - for whom the law on sick pay does not apply - will receive no compensation for their absence from their business activity in Israel.

(2) Employers pay sick pay to their employees at their own expense.

(3) Employees will also be penalized if they have not accumulated sufficient sick days, or at least if these days are deducted from the accumulation of sick days accumulated by them.

(4) The State in general - and the Ministry of Health in particular - will under no circumstances compensate employers or employees!

The question is why is the state imposing additional financial burdens on employers, the self-employed and even employees, and waiving its obligation to finance damages from the state budget, in order to protect all citizens?

We wish everyone reading this good health.