Search:

Custom Search

Readers' Comments

Total Comments: 127
Page 1 of 14

« Previous | Next »

Sick Leave and FERS: Leave Abuse? Justifiable Cheating? Flexible Ethics?

sick leave and mental health

IT SPECIALIST
DFAS
Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:29 AM

Post Reply

It is amazing how many people treat "mental health" like it is the plague! A lot of physical health problems could be eliminated if people would take "mental health" days. Most of the manifested sickness in the workplace began in the mind - disgruntled employees, people who see "unfairness" keep it in and keep smiling until they bust in the guts, have a stroke or a heart attack. Then it's okay to use sick leave. Then it's really okay to need a caregiver or place an added burden upon your family. Then it's okay to leave a widow or orphans behind. Then it's okay!!!!!!

Unfortunately, most people don't care and people who take a day to care for themselves because they know they need it have will have to carry the burden of being unethical and dishonest liars and cheaters.

It's not just about saving for a rainy day - it may not rain for years - but a sunshiny day can do wonders when the day is just overcast and cloudy!

Re: sick leave and mental health

Administrative Assistant
OPM
Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:01 PM
Bravo! I could not have said it any better. If more people took "mental health" days, it would be a much better world.

Re: sick leave and mental health

Civilian
Navy
Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:22 AM
And just what do you do on your "mental health" day? If you are truly using it as a recovery day, are you seeking treatment? This mental health issue is just another excuse. Use your annual leave if you want a day off. Read the requirements for requesting sick leave; incapacitation for duty. If you've gone fishing, you're lying to yourself and your supervisor.

Re: sick leave and mental health

IT SPECIALIST
DFAS
Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:05 AM
Well again, such ignorance about mental illness. Depression is a very incapacitating disease - in fact, depression is the number one cause of death by suicide. Maybe people ought to go fishing and enjoy the beauty of nature - that's not lying to oneself. In fact, the mental health professionals that have treated me have suggested just that. When your mind cannot not focus on your work, then you are incapacitated for that work. When you have a cold or the flu, why take sick leave - you can still raise a fork to your mouth and eat. With your logic, that is what annual leave is for....

Re: sick leave and mental health

Manager
DoD
Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:14 AM
I like the idea of a mental health day. Most of us could use more of them.

Re: sick leave and mental health

Civilian
Navy
Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:24 AM
IT - ignorant, I'm not. I'm not referring to those with documented medical (mental health) conditions. I'm referring to the "I just don't feel like going to work" syndrome used by many employees. They call it a mental health day, but all they want is day off. Call it what it really is. Sorry, I'm not buying it's okay to go fishing when calling in sick. If I was a supervisor, I'd be taking action. Let the employee justify that absence with medical documentation, if he can.

Re: sick leave and mental health

supervisor
VA
Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:28 AM
I think those opossed to Mental Health days miss the point entirely. Yes there a shamers out there. We all know that. But there are hard workers are there who sometimes find that they need today off because they are a point where things aren't well mentally. Do they to a see a Doctor? No no more than a person with a cough or headache. There is 3day time period where one does not need to see a physician.

I recall when I was in the US Army and stationed in northern Europe. It was winter. In northern Europe the nights are long in the winter. I worked in an office with the windows painted black. I did see the sun during the winter months. One day I came to work. I felt down, really down. I wanted to see the sun. I wanted to see sun light. I was complaining. I never thought that my supervisor would let me take the day off so I didn't ask. I had a good supervisor. He understood. He told me to take the day off. It was best day off in my whole life.

Re: sick leave and mental health

Engineer
DoD
Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:51 AM
Yes, I believe in mental health days. And, yes, I get "treatment".....I try to spend the day with someone like Dr. Bass or some equally theraputic experience.

I also schedule doctor appointments for myself and daughter on days other than my day off. And, no, I won't expect anyone to donate sick leave as I have private disability and long term care insurance should I be ill beyond the 240 hours of annual leave and the + 400 hours of sick leave I keep "on the books".

Sick Leave

Manager
DOT
Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:30 AM

Post Reply

As I age, my ability to keep the same schedule as a twenty-something employee would seem to be something to keep in mind. I am disappointed when someone obivously abuses the system but (at my age) I am angered when I have to interact with peers who are ill. I am now getting glasses, hearing aids and flu shots. I didn't bother with these items until the age of 50. Those that have cancer or other devastating deseases should not be considered a problem. Take the older and the termanlly ill out of the mix and do the numbers still look bad?
If they do, then an incentived program is the answer. Those that fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.

It's Up to Congress

Computer/Network Support
DOD/USAF
Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:49 AM

Post Reply

Countless times I have suggested to Congress that they allow us FERS retirees to convert unused sick leave into a cash lump sum, or add it to our pension annuity like the CSRS retirees. This would bring prudence to the whole thing. So far, no action!!

Sick Leave

Supervisor
hastings Indian Medical Center
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:11 AM

Post Reply

Everybody is right about the abuse of sick, and who hurts when staff abuse their sick or annual leave, in our case the patients, your fellow staff and visitors get the short end of the stick. When staff abuse thier sick leave, that tells me they have no pride in their work and need to find another job that better suited for them. Only way this could be stop is have them get a doctors statement for relase and doctors statement to return to work after one day. I see alot of abuse for family leave, beacuse they can use up to 40 hours a year on family friendly.

Re: Sick Leave

IT SPECIALIST
DFAS
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:26 AM
Can we fix the system so we can see a doctor on the same day! If we can, I can go for that! My depression was horrible this year - went to my family doctor who will NOT treat my depression. Made an appointment in November - right after Thanksgiving, guess what I go to the doctor today to treat my depression that lifted about 4 weeks ago! With your plan, I would have been off work since November and whatever the doctor says today, I may get to come back to work. Wonderful plan - I love it!

get off it

engineer
air force
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:12 AM

Post Reply

you bore me and just keep on... basically, the old retirement plan gave people sick days and paid them if they did not use them. The new retirement plan uses social security which will be cut back sooner or later and only offers sick days to those who use them. You ride one issue and point fingers at the workers as if they have no ethics. I would put my money on the federal workers ethics against your ill willed ethics.

Re: get off it

analyst
DoD
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:34 AM
Isn't capitalism a bitch?

I don't know how many responses are normally received but with the survey getting 1400 or so and 500 people writing in about it, in addition to the comments on this article, it seems like someone has hit a nerve and has exposed the abuse of the system that is going on. My guess is that the articles are here because there was a continuing interest in them. That is probably how the system should work so if one person is bored and wants to spend time spewing insults while a few thousand others find the subject of interest, life may be a bitch for the spewers and those with the flexible ethics.

flexible ethics

hr spec
DoD
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:15 AM

Post Reply

The commentator quoted in the article probably hit the nail on the head. Many Americans have apparently adopted a theory of "flexible ethics." The suggestion that each person should decide for himself whether it is right to take sick leave without regard to the regulatory requirements leads to the logical conclusion that each person is free to do whatever he feels like.

The other extension of this train of logic is that we, as federal employees, should have the best of both worlds. We get additional contributions to the TSP if we are in FERS and "should" also get additional retirement credit just like the CSRS folks because, after all, we have personally decided that is the right thing to do.

With no moral compass or with a moral compass that is infinitely flexible as suggested by this innovative commentator, we are undoubtedly in trouble as a society. Everyone do what you want and to hell with everyone else!

Re: flexible ethics

IT SPECIALIST
DFAS
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:28 AM
Is this new for America! Where have you been? People been doing what they wanted since they landed and took the land from the North Americans - just because they wanted it.

CRAZY!

Re: flexible ethics

engineer
air force
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:43 AM
Wow, fed employess are on the road to a catastrophe. And, everything else is going so well, except maybe...
- bank scandals, stock scandals, govt scandals
- the foreign debt increasing at $1.5 billion a day
- the mounting government debts, over $44 trillion
- the 75% of home mortgages backed by Fan Mae or Fred Mac
- the 2/3rds of couples having no children
- the loss of our manufacturing industry to other countries
- the record level of household indebtedness
- the Social Security benefit without funding
- the impoverishment of the middle class

SICK LEAVE

Procurement Analyst
Navy
Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:36 AM

Post Reply

I have been with the Government almost 22 years and I missed CSRS by three months, so I am under FERS. I have about 500 hours of sick leave. While I do not abuse it, when the kids go to the doctor or dentist, I will take them based on this benefit. This is as opposed to my wife who does not get paid time off for this situation. When my kids were born, I took time off to be with my family. On days I don't feel great, I may take the day off as a FERS employee and whereas I may not have if I was a CSRS employee. I have off every other Friday, but I will not schedule doctor's appointments on that day. Bottom line, I don't abuse sick leave, but I do use it to the maximum extent possible within the allowable limits. There is no incentive to minimize usage.

Re: SICK LEAVE

Supervisor
Department of the Navy
Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:27 AM
You are abusing sick leave. Some of us are not fortunate enough to have RDOs. I want my SL balance to be as high as possible. If you are using SL for appointments that could be scheduled during off hours, your coworkers will not be compelled to donate hours to you in cases of debillitating illness or injury. Sorry
Total Comments: 127
Page 1 of 14

« Previous | Next »

Add a Comment about this Article

** All fields are required.
Note: Your comments will not show up right away. FedSmith.com selects the most insightful comments from our readers for posting. If selected, your comments will show up in the comments section after they have been reviewed and approved. See our terms of use for more information.