Are you able to take time off from work if you or your child are sick?

November 4, 2009 11:11 AM
Thomas V. K. Two Harbors, MN  

When I worked on the railroad, we had no sick leave. If you missed work on account of illness, you did not get any pay. If you missed three or more days in a row on acocunt of illness, you had to see a doctor to affirm that yes, you were sick, and yes, you are now able to go back to work. Still, no income for the days you missed work. If a spouse or family member were sick and you had to stay home for that person, well, you were not paid for the time off. Vacation time was available, but you had to schedule your vacation time. There was also one or two personal leave days (depending on your seniority) but you had to schedule those at least 48 hours in advance.

I've only been retired for two years, so the FMLA was in effect, but I do not know anyone who successfully used it at my workplace.


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November 2, 2009 9:29 PM
ragStalker e. Duluth, MN  

Time off is like a toy.
You've decided to play at your employer's house and he wants that toy and you can't have that toy because if you have that toy he won't have it and there is no way to share that toy because that is his toy and if you go and take that toy then he won't have that toy.
Next time you're sick, go pull your boss's hair until he lets go and share's the toys with you.

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October 29, 2009 2:44 PM
Patrick A. Superior, WI  

I work with a lot of parents, they are constantly getting time off for their kids. Having no kids, I cut out a picture of a young child from a catalog. I put it in a frame and named him "Timmy". Timmy was born missing a third of his brain. I am always taking time off to take Timmy to and from the hospital. It works great and I would recommend it to anyone who is single and has no kids!

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October 25, 2009 5:31 PM
Mark T. International Falls, MN  

Anyone who needs help here should look up the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). There is also a federal law that says parents may take up to 16 hours per year, probably unpaid, for parent-teacher conferences. Do a little studying, print out what you need and hand THAT to some boss who wants to dock your paycheck.

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October 24, 2009 6:54 AM
P.J. P. Cloquet, MN  

I worked for over 17 years as a local university professor. I have serious illnesses that cost me my career just to maintain health insurance. I am now disabled by the SSA yet qualify literally for none of the "social services" that I paid taxes to for over 40 years. My home is being foreclosed and yes, I utilize the area's food pantries. Throughout this entire life altering circumstance the most absolute vengeful and vile individuals who used sick leave and "benefits" as punitive allocation were those individuals who "led" our university's Human Resources Department. They were more debiltating than my actual disability. To use sick leave in a bona fide manner from their perspective equated such to theft. And I was naive enough to once think that the personnel department was there to assist employees. WRONG! My suggestion is that if one gets ill necessitating time off from work be readily prepared for a secondary illness imposed by those in human resources who truly control one's illness in addition to the medical team.

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October 23, 2009 4:28 PM
Michael S. Duluth, MN  

I used to work for the City and the City's sick leave policy was really fun to work with. Contract language allowed for the employer to send you to Dr. for confirmation of sick after x (usually 3) days of sick leave. So, if somebody missed 3 days, they would, upon return to work, be required to see a Dr.
Dr. would ask why they were now seeking medical advice (illness had passed), carefully listen to the story and write a note saying, esentially, "(patient) indicates he/she had symptoms commonly found in (influenza or other disease) which has since passed."
Then everybody was happy - eventually the City contracted with Occupational Medicine to perform the service.
I once received an annual employee evaluation which indicated my supervisor was mildly concerned with my sick leave use. I had used one day in the previous year and over a 26 year career used a total of less than 10 days.


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October 23, 2009 11:29 AM
K G. Esko, MN  

You have to be able to predict and plan your illness or illness of a child, so you don't get penalized using your earned sick time or PTO.

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October 23, 2009 8:19 AM
Misty M. Duluth, MN  

If you work for a Large Organization they can pull the "average" crap on you. Not everyone is average. It's all in the genes folks. After reading the comments here I see the "average" answer is 'we earn sick days but if we use them, we get penalized'. And the usual response of 'no one does my work when I am gone' so you end up penalized by the employer and then relapse trying to 'make up' for being gone. That's just the half of Using the sick leave you earn. If you Don't use sick leave your co-workers get on your case for being there, and if you Do use sick leave they get on your case for Not being there. Best to just die and be done with it.

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October 21, 2009 9:39 PM
Janelle C. Duluth, MN  

I am able to use my sick time for ill self or ill child. I accumulate a certain amout (based on years served) per pay period, which isn't much. It's nice to have. I wish more businesses would be more flexible!

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October 21, 2009 6:47 PM
Tim B. Duluth, MN  

According to one of my customers, if you call in sick at his job you not only lose the days wages, but your future wages (until the end of the current pay-period) get docked by $ 1 per hour, as well. To me, it sounds illegal.

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