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Change sought in sick leave regulations
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Posted on Apr 30 2009
Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider wants to amend the Commonwealth code to change the regulations governing the use of sick leaves among government employees.
Under Senate Bill 16-55, workers would be allowed to use sick leave hours from the sick leave bank in order to attend to an immediate family member who needs care due to a prolonged illness. A medical statement from the attending physician that such care is necessary is required.
In the legislation, Hofschneider said some government employees have had trouble continuing care for a sick relative after they have exhausted their sick leave days.
“The Legislature further finds that the current regulations governing the eligibility of those government employees who may apply for sick leave hours from the sick leave bank do not allow for the use of such hours to care for an ill family members,” the bill states.
Moreover, many of the affected employees would rather retire from the government in order to attend to their sick family member but have been unable to do so because of the poor financial condition of the government’s retirement fund currently, which prevents them from being able to retire.
“Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to allow for government employees to use sick leave hours from the sick leave bank to attend to an immediate family member suffering from a prolonged illness,” Hofschneider said.
