Discussion on another message board got me thinking.

The guy who posted the initial thread was pissed off that he was on a probation of sorts because he was absent 20 days a year. It's a Canadian message board & people are calling him down for his laziness. (He does sound like a bit of a tool).

A Canadian who recently moved to Nebraska said he gets no paid sick days.

I had 10 paid sick days at my last job. This job gives me six sick days & two personal days per year. The personal days can only be used once I've been here a year.

My father was a teacher & any unused sick days were rolled over to the next year & when he retired, he got to include them in his generous settlement package.

We don't get rollovers.

Anyway, that discussion got me curious about you peeps when you have to call in with the sniffles/Mental Health Days/etc.

Also, how often do you call in sick? Is it possible in your line of work? I admit, I pretty much always use my sick days as impromptu vacation days. Murphy's Law --the few times I get the flu or a cold, work's too busy for me to call in sick.

I get 10 days per year, three without a medical certificate.

They do roll over (I have over 1200 hours) but I get none on separation.

To get any value out of them I would have to go on long term sick leave before separation.

We don't call in sick, only dead.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

I get 2 "personal days" and 18 "vacation days" due to being at the company 9 years or so. My company is pretty flexible with time off "for reasons beyond your control". Just recently while Mr. Lixy was hospitalized I was able to use "vacation days" for the time I stayed with him, as long as I had a note from his doctor.

In 2001, from New Year's day till the 7th of January, I took off to stay with Mr. Lixy after his operation. He was so sick and nearly/could have died. My bosses were very understanding and let me use my vacation time, which I nearly used up. Later that summer I was able to take vacation time regardless that I used up most of it early in January.

I don't abuse their understanding and kindness...but they know if I "call in" I've got a good reason. When I am out it's a little chaotic and they scramble to rearrange who does what. In the end it all gets done...just a little differently and possibly a little slower.

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

LOL @ the last sentence. Too true for too many.

How does the long term sick leave benefit your rolled-over days? If we go on long-term disability, the insurance company takes over. The sick days from work are irrelevant once the insurance company steps in to deal with the claim.

I think I may be in the minority here Steph!

I work for the National Health Service here in Scotland and, in many respects, we get a very generous sickness package. If we go on long-term sick, we are paid full-rate for sixmonths, then half-pay for another six months. After a year, they quite rightly look at whether you'd ever be going back, and a settlement can then be reached on an individual basis.

This kind of package is, I believe, also run by the Civil Service, local councils and the like. Police, Forces etc. have their own rules. Most people, in the UK at least, don't actually have "sick days" programmed to use - that seems more North America/Australasia-type thing.

(Or, I'm wrong again! )

DM

__________________
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind

I get ten days a year which averages 1 per month. 5 are sick and 5 are personal. Personal roll over but sick does not. And they only roll over for 1 year I believe. I never call in sick. I just don't. My kids need the stability. I have an aide who is constantly out and I consider her very undependable because I can't count on her to be there.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

The person who started the thread on the other board is in the healthcare field as well. He argues that since he's dealt with SARS, violent HIV patients, patient death, etc., he should be permitted to take off as much time as he wants.

It seems he has wonderful benefits but abused them.

Do you have a good benefit package? This job gives me the best dental plan ever. I just have to make time to spend some time in the dentist's chair.


P.S. DM, mail me the dogs & horse

Steph, so long as it's sick leave, I'm fine.

If it's workers compensation, then it becomes the province of state insurance.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Doh! When I first read it, I thought you meant *your* kids but I'm thinking you're talking about the Lost Boys (let's face it, does any substitute teacher 'deserve' them? )?

I predict sdls may have something to say/rant about 'dependability'.

I'm in the Mental Health field, as you know, and we have our share of "dodgy stuff" to deal with!! (e.g., Hepatitis A, B, and C, AIDS/HIV, it goes on and on)... I have to say, I don't know anyone who takes time off over what they should, and definitely no-one who would use his excuse! (Lazy seems right to me!!)

As for benefits, over here all medical/dental treatment is (almost!) free at the point of delivery - that's what the National Health Service is all about. Natch, it is paid for, through our taxes and stuff.

Whatever you do though...... DON'T ask about pensions!!

Oh, btw........ re the dogs and horse.......... NO!!

DM

__________________
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind

LOLOL I WAS going to ask about pensions. I actually have one with this place. I would have assumed you have a pension, too. I'm assuming you do but there are negotiations underway for a better deal?

OK, just the dogs then!

Steph,

Here in Oz there is no employer sponsored health or dental. You want 'em, you pay for 'em.

There is the most confusing mix of pension and superannuation also to deal with.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

To buy dental and health insurance would cost about 1/10th of my pay and then I'd still have huge out of pocket expenses.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

A scary word akin to audit

We should exchange pay stubs some time (not a come on )

The taxes we pay out of pocket are crazy but we do have a lot of companies who pay benefits. I have really good benefits with this company (again, Murphy's Law -- I'm too busy to use the benefits). We get fillings paid for 100%. Massage therapy is paid for to a reasonable extent.

From where do your out-of-pocket expenses stem?