Last updated on January 18, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Bahamas

Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota

At least 1 or 2 weeks of paid leave; up to 3 weeks (depending on seniority).

Employees in the Bahamas receive at least 1 week of paid vacation per year after six months of employment and 2 weeks per year after 12 months of employment. Furthermore, the vacation entitlement consists of more days for employees with more than 7 years of service.

Here’s the overview:

• 6 months of service: 1 week of paid vacation leave;

• 1 year of service: 2 weeks of paid vacation leave;

• 7 or more years of service: 3 weeks of paid vacation leave.

Days off for public holidays are provided in addition to vacation leave. If a public holiday falls during an employee’s vacation, they will get an extra day of vacation leave to make up for it.

Vacation Pay

Vacation pay must be equal to an employee’s regular salary. Employees must receive their vacation pay at least a day before their time off begins.

PTO Payout at the Termination

If an employee’s employment ends before they have worked a full year, they will still get paid prorated for any vacation days they have earned so far. This prorated payment is calculated based on how much they have earned during the year. In order to qualify for this payout at the termination, an employee needs to have worked for at least 90 days.

Sick Leave in Bahamas

1 week of paid leave

After an employee has worked for six months or more, he or she gets 1 week of paid sick leave per year. Employees may not save any unused sick days in the following year (no carryover). If an employee must take sick leave, he or she needs a doctor’s note to have a valid absence. An employer might ask the employee to see another doctor for a second opinion. An employer may refuse the sick leave of an employee if that doctor says that the employee is able to work.

Employees aren’t paid for taking just one day of sick leave, but by providing a doctor’s note, they can get paid even for the first day (or only day) of their sick leave.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Bahamas

12 weeks of paid leave

Female employees in the Bahamas are generally entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

The minimal duration of legal maternity leave of 12 weeks must include:

• The first period before confinement (prepartum) must be at least one week.

• The second period after delivery (postpartum) must be at least eight weeks.

In case a pregnant woman experiences health problems related to her pregnancy, she can take a supplementary six weeks of unpaid leave in addition to regular maternity leave.

To take valid maternity leave, a mother must give her employer one of the following:

• A doctor’s certificate stating the expected delivery date.

• A doctor’s certificate or a midwife’s certificate stating the exact birthdate.

Payout

Maternity leave payments come both from an employer and the National Insurance Board (NIB) of the Bahamas, as long as all conditions from an employee are met, in order to be eligible. Employers must pay at least 1/3 of an employee’s regular wages.

To be eligible for paid maternity leave in the Bahamas, an employee must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months. She may receive maternity pay from the same employer once in each period of three years.

Paternity Leave in Bahamas

1 week of unpaid leave

After the birth of a child, an employee who is eligible may take up to one full week of unpaid family leave per year.

Eligibility

Employees acquire the right to take paternity leave after being continuously employed for six months.

Bereavement Leave in the Bahamas

1 week of unpaid leave

Employees in the Bahamas are entitled to an unpaid family leave for a duration of a maximum of one week in the unfortunate event of the death of a parent, spouse, or child. An employee must have at least 6 months of service in the company to be eligible for this type of leave.

Jury Duty Leave in the Bahamas

Leave required by law.

Employers are required to provide time off from work for each employee who is officially called to participate in court proceedings (such as hearings and trials) or jury. Employers are not allowed to reduce their employees pay or fire them for the sole reason that they were called for jury duty.

When an employee is summoned for jury duty but not chosen to serve on a jury must go back to work until needed again at court.

Military Leave in the Bahamas

Military leave is not specified by the Bahamas leave laws.

Voting Leave in the Bahamas

Up to 2 hours of paid leave

An employee is allowed by law to take leave up to 2 hours of to vote in national elections.

Public Holidays in Bahamas for 2024

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/bahamas

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide the Bahamas, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/bahamas

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in the Bahamas, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/bahamas

4. Online Legislation: The Government of The Bahamas - The Office of the Attorney-General, https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.