Re: sick leave

What aren't you understanding about the law? You may not agree with it, but that doesn't equate to the law not existing. You will jeopardize and likely lose your job if you don't accept the law for what it is. Sick leave abuse is the easiest way to lose a job - is it really worth it?

Re: sick leave

SSA, when you "use" your sick leave when you aren't sick just because it's there, do you lie to your supervisor about why you aren't reporting to work?

Re: sick leave

To Claims Authorizor,

Sick leave is not earned like Annual Leave. it is an entitlement.
It belongs to the USG and is for your use provided you are sick. Since the Sick Leave is not yours to give away it cannot be donated. It is an entitlement owned by the government therefore requlated by the government. You notice there is nothing in writing that tells you how to use Annual Leave. That is because you own the annual leave. Sick leave however is owned by the USG therefore they can put restrictions on it like documentation, abuse etc.. People need to understand that Sick Leave is not earned by given to employees as an entitlement

Re: sick leave

The "ER Specialist" who claimed that "sick leave abuse is the easiest way to lose a job" can't be too much of an ER specialist.

There are several other pecadillos --oh, fraud, for example - that jeopardize an employee's job. I've yet to fire an employee for SL abuse. I've placed many on leave restriction.

Anyhow, no manager should allow any kind of leave abuse. However, FERS should be in the same boat--sick leave-wise--that CSRS is.

Re: I don't like the tone of this series

While some people do not like hearing what could be called "bad news", I think the author has done a service for many federal employees. Any federal employee who thinks he or she can abuse sick leave and not suffer any consequences could find a career (or paycheck) in disrepair. "For the informed fed" should not mean just reciting awards or good news; it also means telling people what they should know.

From some of the comments on this and the previous article, it is obviously a topic that many people do not know much about and some have probably been abusing leave and subjecting themselves to disciplinary action without understanding the potential consequences.

I hope the author and fedsmith will keep up the good work of providing useful information--even if some do not iike to hear it.

Re: I don't like the tone of this series

Ah, the poor, long-suffering Federal employee! Only five plus weeks of annual leave, and if your working a 5-4-9 schedule, another 5 plus weeks off. Ten holidays (unless a President dies). That's onlt sixty-two days off a year and mean old Bob Gilson trying to tell you you can't use your thirteen days of sick leave whenever you want! All this for a lousy median Washington salary of $86000+. I think you should all run off to the private sector where they love employees who call in every Monday on sick leave and whine to "work" from home two days a week! Pathetic.

Re: I don't like the tone of this series

To L&ER Consultant...and other non-Feds - all Federal employees are not leave abusers nor are we whiners. While I am in CSRS, I can see benefits to both systems. For one, I believe that the demise of CSRS has resulted in the government having problems in recruiting - with FERS being so portable folks are not spending their entire careers in the govt.

As for the leave, everyone does not get 5 weeks of annual leave. Annual leave is earned based on the number of years of service an employee has. After spending 30 plus years working for the Federal government, I don't take for granted my great benefits package nor do I abuse it. I have annual leave banked and well over 1,000 hours of sick leave. Technically, I don't get paid for my sick leave when I retire, it is used to determine the final length of service in the Federal government which might equate to 5 dollars extra in my annuity check after taxes.

Re: I don't like the tone of this series

L&ER consultant give me a break. If we have it so great why don't you get a job with the feds. I have a feeling that since you're posting on a federal blog you are trying to do just that.

I worked for a consultant for years, and the majority of people left there to work for the governement sector. The consultants I worked for enforced mandatory 50 hour work weeks and could care less if we needed to care for children family etc.. All that mattered was making money to the consultant...at the expense of the sanity of all the employees. And the only people who moved up were the spineless ones that never challlenged management's ideas.

So as hard working as I can see you think you are I would never want to trade places. And I can tell you I work harder for the federal govt than I would ever for a consultant because I APPRECIATE an employer that cares about and takes care of me and my family. Its hard to work for places you don't respect.

Re: I don't like the tone of this series

Analyst -- actually I'm a retired SES, so I'm well aware of the benefits of the Federal government. The difference between myself and many of the other posters on this site is that I didn't spend my career whining as to how bad I had it.

Re: FERS Dilemma

The choice is not between use it or lose it. The choice is between honesty and dishonesty.

Re: FERS Dilemma

You've hit the mark right on. The FERS policy on retirement and SL eventually drives EVERYONE who is lucky enough to stay healty too become abusers. Its an engineered-in factor. The policy makers knew it when they purposely designed it out. Why else would they NOT include an incentive to save SL as in the CSRS?

Re: FERS Dilemma

Stop the whining about the FERS/SL issue. I'm CSRS and don't get matching funds on my TSP contributions. I'm not whining about that! SL is only to be used when you are incapacitated due to illness/injury, medical appts, family use, etc. Otherwise, it is not a blank check to be used when you feel like. Like it or not it is insurance and when you don't make a claim on your insurance policy, your premiums are not returned. You're entitled to earn it, not use it, unless for a reason as stated above.

Re: Donating Sick Leave

The reason this suggestion has been denied is that making the change would require a change in the law. It is not something that can be done administratively.

Re: Sick Leave usage

I did....just yesterday in fact. And why did I not return to work? Because it didn't make sense to me to drive 25 minutes back to work so I could work the remaining 30 - 45 minutes of my normal work day.

If that makes me an abuser then so be it.

Re: Sick Leave usage

I've done exactly that, for the same reason as Engineer/DON. That's why I try to schedule my dr appts for first thing in the morning or late enough in the day to offset that situation. And, oh, by the way, the USG has gotten plenty of free time out of me, since I rarely leave on time, and ususally it's a good 30 minutes or more after my official "quitting" time, and I don't claim any kind of comp time unless it's at least a full hour.

Re: Sick Leave usage

I applaud this writer. I understand some abuses are worse than others, but dishonest is dishonest, regardless how seemingly small the infraction. Let he who is without sin... People in glass houses... etc.

Re: Re: I don't like the tone of this series

When SES heads of offices take 6 months of sick leave in conjuction with retirement, it is hard for the a front line supervisor to prevent sick leave abuse among retiring employees.

However, as a soon to retire employee, I think back to the many times that I did show up for work due to "Mission Critical" obligations when taking sick leave was totally justifiable and legal. I then ask myself, was I stupid for putting the job before myself?

Should I have told my supervisor back then, sorry I'm on sick leave and let months of work go to waste?

Is my "reward" for putting the job first now to be called a dishonest sick leave abuser if I take a "mental health day" after over 32 years of service?

When I was younger and had to take time for doctors appointments, I would if all possible schedule them for federal holidays (like MLK Jr Day) when clinics were open and it would not be detrimental to my work. Was I wrong?

Just call me "sucker" from now on.