How casual leave works
Companies credit casual leave either at the start of the year, such as 8 or 12 days, or monthly, such as one day a month. Because it covers unplanned needs, notice rules are light, but many policies cap a single CL spell at two or three days and do not allow CL to be joined with earned leave to make a long break. Unused CL usually lapses at year end instead of being carried forward or encashed. The number of days and the rules come from the company's leave policy and, for some establishments, the state's Shops and Establishments rules or the standing orders.
Casual leave, sick leave and earned leave compared
Mixing these three up causes most leave disputes. If someone uses CL for a two-week holiday, or sick leave for a wedding, the balances stop meaning anything, and people with genuine illness run out of sick leave when they need it most.
- Casual leave: short, unplanned personal needs, a small yearly quota, usually lapses at year end
- Sick leave: illness or injury, a medical certificate for longer spells, often allowed to build up to a cap
- Earned leave: earned by working, used for planned holidays, carried forward and often encashable
- Casual leave is usually not joined with earned leave in one spell
Setting casual leave rules
Write down the yearly quota, how it is credited, the most days allowed in one application, the notice expected and which leave types CL cannot be joined with. ZeniaHR's default leave types include CL at 1 day a month, alongside EL at 1.5 and SL at 0.5, all editable, and each leave type can carry rules like these. The leave apply screen previews the days charged and the balance after before the employee submits.
See it on your own data
A 30-minute demo on a video call. We set up your departments, shifts and leave rules and show attendance, leave and payroll running for your team. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
How many casual leaves are allowed in a year in India?
Each company's leave policy sets the number, within any minimum in the state's Shops and Establishments rules or the standing orders that apply. Many policies give somewhere around 7 to 12 days a year, credited in advance or month by month. Check your appointment letter or the leave policy for your exact entitlement and the rules on notice.
Can casual leave be carried forward?
In most companies, no. Casual leave is meant for short, unplanned needs within the year, so unused days usually lapse on the last day of the leave year. A few employers allow a small carry forward or move unused CL into earned leave. Your leave policy will say which rule applies at your company.
Can I take casual leave when I am sick?
Usually yes, for a short illness when you prefer not to use sick leave or your sick leave has run out, though some policies expect illness to be taken as sick leave. What you generally cannot do is use casual leave for a long illness, because most policies cap a single CL application at two or three days.