From The Washington Post today:
At the Internal Revenue Service, one employee over a two-year period took sick leave on 13 of the 14 Tuesdays after a Monday holiday.
That’s an extreme case of sick-leave abuse, but the IRS employee had plenty of co-workers who also liked to take Tuesdays off, a report by the Inspector General for Tax Administration found.
The story goes on to discuss sick leave use and compensation for unused leave. The issue is something I’ve found to be a hot button topic at places where I’ve worked. Some places gave a standard 10 days off. You could use the time off for sick days, personal days or vacation. Other places split them up - 10 for vacation, two personal days and five sick days.
The sick days always were the source of controversy. If you took them off, you got the day off work. But say you got your flu shot, took your vitamins and didn’t need any sick days? You got a pat on the back and that’s about all. But what if you could cash in unused sick days and vacation at the end of the year? Would you be more inclined to bring your germs to the office?
How does it work at your office?
We get two weeks off per year. Week of July 4 and week of Christmas. Everyone gets paid for those weeks, unless they are a new hire. Then, the vacation check is pro-rated, based on how much time they have been there.
For hourly folks, a sick day means no pay.
If an hourly employee miss the work day before or after a holiday, they don’t get the 8 hrs of holiday pay.
Yep I’ve always had a problem with this everywhere I’ve worked.
I don’t get sick often and never anything more than a cold. Sure there are times I don’t feel like getting up and going to work just like everyone else but I know that if I’m not there someone else suffers.
But where’s the thanks when everyone else is maxing out their sick days and you get nothing, not even a thanks!
12 years and never used one.. this year I’m gonna spread them out and use them. I don’t feel good about it but it’s just not fair.