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FERS, Sick Leave and Your Retirement: How Much Is This New Benefit Worth to You in Dollars and Cents?

Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

Retiree
Retired
Sun Apr 5, 2009 7:52 PM

Post Reply

Thank you very much for the article as it puts a light on the difference between FERS & CSRS employees with regard to earned sick leave (SL), hours at the time of retirement. Of course, as you point out, financially one will benefit more if they are permitted to use their SL prior to retirement; however, in addition to the items you highlight in the article, there is one more part to the equation that should be highlighted. Regardless of the federal agency one works for, the use of SL is governed by the principal that one must be sick to use SL. Why then are we discussing using SL prior to retirement if one is not sick? For the life of me, I cannot understand the ethical make-up of a federal employee that has worked long enough with a federal agency to receive a retirement, & prior to retiring exhaust his SL when they are not sick, simply to gain a few dollars more in retirement. What happend to committment & dedication along with being thankful for being healthy so many years.

Re: Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

worker
Federal government
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:28 AM
Perhaps, if the worker was not treated very well, one might consider the use of sick leave to maximize financial benefit.
Note also how many management people feign an illness such as back pain or whatever. it is easy to get a doctor's note for this.
Sorry I am so cynical, but I believe I am not out of line in my comments. others may disagree.

Re: Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

analyst
DoD
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:11 PM
worker - you manage to build in negative statements about management nearly every time you post. Are you one of those problem employees that causes trouble for every boss they have?

Re: Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

worker
Federal government
Tue Apr 7, 2009 9:16 AM
To analyst

Are you one of those managers who treats his (her) employees like garbage and wonders why there are negative feelings for you?

Re: Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

analyst
DoD
Tue Apr 7, 2009 5:34 PM
see there worker - you're doing it again.

Re: Use of Sick Leave Prior to Retirement

worker
Federal government
Wed Apr 8, 2009 8:45 AM
To DOD analyst
Obviously, you are one of those people who walks on workers for their own gain.

To the rest

I have seen management and non management people use up their sick leave before retirement to maximize their income. This is true whether they are in CSRS or FERS. FERS gives one a greater incentive to use up sick leave as no benefits are given for unused sick leave.
Although I cannot prove it, I believe that less sick leave would be used by FERS people if they knew they would
get a benefit from the unused sick leave.
I am in CSRS with over a year of sick leave. It is my short to medium term disability policy. I will not benefit from this proposed change and I doubt I will use up all of my sick leave. Hopefully, I will not need to.

It's this simple

Engineer
FAA
Mon Apr 6, 2009 6:17 AM

Post Reply

Look,

Use S/L when you are sick. Don't come to work sneezing and coughing all over me. Stay home and keep your germs to yourself.

Save up a little S/L for when you reach 50+ and have several procedures that require a week or so off.

Otherwise....DON'T abuse it. And certainly don't worry about it one way or the other. It is there if you need it, but it's not A/L for crying out loud.

If we get retirement time for it, fine. If not, that's fine too.

Remember--SL is a Privilege...

Fed
DoD
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:09 AM

Post Reply

and not a right.

It's the reason AFLAC exists, b/c not every employer offers this perk. And if you've ever worked outside the federal govt, then you know the truth of that statement. People have lost their jobs for leaving to attend to medical issues and emergencies.

As someone who suffered a severe injury that required multiple surgeries and extensive leave, I'm grateful SL was there to be had--and to be advanced, since I had to borrow more than I had on the books to cover corrections and convalescence of 6-9 wks each.

FAA Engineer is right; save it and use it when you need it. Most of all, don't be a pig about it and demand the credit at retirement. Don't squander this privilege, just be thankful that it's offered at all.

Re: Remember--SL is a Privilege...

worker
Federal government
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:33 AM
Sorry, sick leave is a right and benefit offered. It should be used for sick leave, but otheres, especially in management, use it at the end of their careers. Can't blame them.
For what it is worth, I have over a year of sick leave. I used it when I needed it.
It should also be noted that in some jobs, such as police
in a particular place, get paid for thir sick leave but to a very substantial number of hours.

Sick Leave for CSRS

Revenue Agent
IRS
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:12 AM

Post Reply

I have 36 years service, Grade 13, step 10. I have 1000 of sick on books. I'd like to see your analysis for CSRS as you just did for FERS. Thanks. Yes, I do know old timers and one on board now who use annual instead of sick to increase their annuity.

FERS Sick Leave

accountant
Air Force
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:20 AM

Post Reply

Glad to see this taking place. It could mean the difference between my staying an additional 3 yrs or booking at the end of this year.

Sick leave & FERS

Supervisory EOS
HUD
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:22 AM

Post Reply

Employees have used accrued S/L just prior to retirement for family medical leave act purposes, to have an operation, for general illness, and for a combination of these things. If the S/L usage is planned (assuming that these things can be planned), it can extend the length of federal service into the next calendar year; the COLA will slightly raise the base pay which in turn raises the high 3. But, we all need s/L for emergencies.

Funny Math

Soon to be retired
DoD
Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:29 AM

Post Reply

How can anyone think that taking sick leave while employed, honestly sick or cheating, has any additional value? If you are not sick, you are still working and receiving the same identical salary or wage. Last time I checked, they did not pay me more for being sick. There is nothing extra there to take to the bank or spend. The only benefit to cheating might be to have some extra time off. But then you are destroying your integrity and lowering your self worth. I would much rather have $400 additional annuity every year after I retire than absolutely nothing, zilch, zero point zip, nada!

Re: Funny Math

worker
Federal government
Wed Apr 8, 2009 8:56 AM
This would encourage those, who do not have the same integrity as you do, to save their sick leave. It also benefits the agency by having less pseudo sick leave disruptions.

Re: Funny Math

Tired & Ready To Retire
Fed Agency
Thu Apr 9, 2009 2:49 PM
Talk about "cheating"..............why are you reading personal information and blogging on gov't time??? Look whose calling the kettle black. There are multiple ways of cheating.

Re: Funny Math

Worker
Federal government
Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:17 AM
To tired and ready to retire:
So why are you blogging.
Total Comments: 56
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