If you’ve ever wondered how Canada stacks up globally when it comes to sick pay, the answer is: pretty well.

According to a new Global Sick Leave Report by U.K.-based Moorepay, Canada ranks first in North and Central America for paid sick leave. On average, Canadian workers are entitled to about $697 per week in mandatory sick pay — or $613 in “international dollars” after adjusting for cost of living.

The report highlights how strong sick leave policies don’t just help workers recover, but also prevent “presenteeism” — when people show up sick and end up spreading illness or working at reduced productivity.

Behind Canada on the regional list were:

• Bahamas

• Panama

Meanwhile, the United States ranked last, offering no federally mandated paid sick leave, though some states and companies offer limited protections.

Globally, Canada didn’t make the top 10 overall. Countries like Qatar, Singapore, and Luxembourg offer some of the most generous sick pay in the world, with Luxembourg covering 100% of salary for extended periods.

The report also found that the average Canadian takes about 12.5 sick days per year, showing that access to paid leave actually encourages people to recover properly instead of working through illness.

Bottom line? Compared to its neighbors, Canada leads the way in protecting workers when they need time to heal.