Can vacation illness be charged to sick leave?

By Raymond Dreyfack -- Plant Engineering, 3/1/1999

Toolroom Attendant Marge Evans returned from her week's vacation with a note from her doctor confirming that she'd had to defer a planned trip because she was laid up for five days with a virus.

"I'd appreciate it," she said, "if you could charge that time to my sick leave instead of my vacation."

"Were you hospitalized?" Maintenance Supervisor Bill Arnold asked.

"For two days. I was confined to bed rest for the rest of the week."

Arnold frowned. "I don't know, Marge, it's an unusual request. It's not covered by the labor agreement."

"I know. But the family has been looking forward to this vacation all year. Now all of a sudden it's wiped out."

"That's a rough deal," Arnold replied sympathetically. "I'll discuss it with Mr. Turner. But I can't make any promises."

Question: If this were your decision, would you charge Marge's vacation illness to sick leave?

Turner's decision: "Charge the illness to sick leave," Plant Engineer Larry Turner directed.

Arnold frowned.

"What's the problem?"

"I don't know. It just occurs to me that any employee who gets a cold on vacation could make a similar request. Do you think that's a good precedent for us to set?"

"I don't think that's a significant concern," Turner said. "Bear in mind that Marge's claim is supported by her hospitalization and certification from her doctor. Plus that, Marge is a top performer. She deserves our best consideration."