Sick leaves in Colombia are well-regulated to ensure that employees can recover from illnesses without losing their job or income. Employers are responsible for initial compensation and maintaining job security, while the Social Security System (EPS) provides extended leave benefits.
Sick Leave Entitlements
Medical Certification: To qualify for paid sick leave, an employee must provide a valid medical certificate (certificado de incapacidad). There are two ways this certificate may be issued:
By an EPS-affiliated doctor (recommended): the certificate is issued directly by the EPS and no additional validation is required; or
By a private or non-EPS doctor, in which case the certificate must first be transcribed (transcripción) by the employee’s EPS before it can be recognised as an official incapacity. See below for the transcription process.
Required Documentation: Employees must notify RemotePeople of their illness as soon as possible and submit:
the medical incapacity certificate; and, if issued by a private or non-EPS doctor,
both the original private certificate and the EPS-transcribed (validated) incapacity certificate once issued. Without the required EPS transcription (where applicable), the incapacity cannot be verified and cannot be processed as paid sick leave.
EPS Certificate Transcription (for private or non-EPS doctor certificates)
If the employee’s medical certificate was issued by a private or non-EPS doctor, the employee must complete the following steps to obtain an official EPS-validated certificate:
Obtain the private doctor’s incapacity certificate.
Obtain the supporting clinical documentation (e.g. consultation summary or epicrisis) and, where required, the treating physician’s registration details.
Submit these documents directly to their EPS within the applicable deadline (typically 15–30 days, depending on the EPS).
Obtain the EPS-issued transcribed/validated incapacity certificate and provide it to RemotePeople.
The employee is solely responsible for completing the transcription process with their EPS. RemotePeople cannot request the transcription on the employee’s behalf. Failure to complete the transcription (where applicable) may delay the recognition and payment of statutory sick leave benefits.
Duration and Compensation
Short-term Sick Leave: For the first two days of sick leave, the employer is responsible for paying 100% of the employee's salary.
Extended Sick Leave: From the third day onward, the employee is entitled to receive a benefit from the Social Security System. This benefit is equivalent to two-thirds (66.67%) of the employee’s salary.
Maximum Duration: The maximum duration for sick leave covered by the Social Security System is 180 days. If the illness extends beyond this period, additional measures or evaluations are required.
Employer Responsibilities
Record Keeping: Employers must maintain accurate records of employees' sick leaves, including medical certificates and compensation details.
Job Protection: Employers cannot terminate an employee solely due to illness. The job must be protected during the sick leave period.
Notification to Social Security: Employers must notify the Social Security System of the employee’s sick leave to ensure proper compensation from the third day onward.
Employee Responsibilities
Employees are responsible for:
Informing RemotePeople of their illness as soon as reasonably possible.
Providing the required medical documentation.
If treated by a private or non-EPS doctor, requesting the EPS transcription within their EPS’s required timeframe.
Providing the EPS-issued transcribed certificate to RemotePeople as soon as it becomes available.
Employee Rights
Job Security: Employees on sick leave are entitled to job security and cannot be dismissed due to their illness.
Salary Compensation: Employees are entitled to 100% of their salary for the first two days of sick leave (paid by the employer) and statutory sick leave benefits from the Social Security System (EPS) from the third day onward, provided all legal requirements and supporting documentation have been satisfied.