Workers Lose Thousands by Reporting Work Injuries as Illness
Israeli workers who report injuries sustained at work as regular illnesses risk losing thousands of shekels, according to National Insurance Institute regulations. The first 12 days of absence following a work injury are covered by the employer and do not count against the employee's sick leave balance or pay. However, if an employee submits a regular sick note instead of filing a work injury claim, these days are deducted from their accumulated sick leave.
In Israel, employees accrue 1.5 days of sick leave per month, totaling 18 days annually, with a cap of 90 days. Losing 12 days due to a single work injury can deplete two-thirds of the annual allowance. For a daily wage of 400 shekels, this amounts to a loss of 4,800 shekels. Furthermore, unused sick leave is not redeemable for cash upon leaving employment, unlike vacation days.
Work injury benefits are calculated at 75% of the employee's income from the three full months preceding the injury, with a daily cap of 1,314.25 shekels. The benefit period can extend up to 13 weeks (91 days). In contrast, regular sick leave pay starts at zero for the first day, half pay for the second and third, and full pay from the fourth day onward. This structure significantly reduces the financial compensation for employees who opt for the sick leave route.
Even for shorter absences of less than 12 days, reporting an injury as illness is disadvantageous. The National Insurance Institute pays work injury benefits starting from the third day after the injury, with the preceding two days deducted from sick leave. The day of the injury itself is paid as regular wages by the employer in both scenarios.
Employers with special permits can pay work injury benefits directly and receive reimbursement from the National Insurance Institute starting from the 13th day of absence. However, the initial days remain the employer's responsibility. The standard procedure involves the National Insurance Institute paying the employee and then billing the employer for the first 12 days, with exceptions for domestic workers.
Filing a work injury claim within 12 months of the incident is crucial for eligibility. A recognized work injury also entitles the employee to medical treatment funded by the National Insurance Institute. If a work injury results in a disability of 9% or more, the employee may be eligible for a one-time grant or a monthly pension, depending on the severity of the disability.
