* Gov. Pritzker yesterday…

“I am very concerned about many people who either have to self-isolate, or have become ill and who have to take lots of time off work. Fourteen days is a long time for many people who live paycheck-to-paycheck,” he said.

* Employee memo today from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is overseeing the state’s COVID-19 response. Click the pic for a larger image…

That’s gonna do wonders for employee morale. /s

*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office responding to HR director’s email…

That email is not an appropriate, correct version of policies and it will be clarified for employees today.

I’m told the actual policies were outlined in a memo last week where employees who were experiencing symptoms or are quarantined can take advance sick time. “We’ve been working with the unions and various state agencies,” on setting up policies.

…Adding… Advance sick leave currently only applies to employees with two years of continuous service “whose personnel records warrant it.”

       

46 Comments - Bothanspy - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:47 pm: That’s just lovely. Expect a new policy to emerge for all agencies as soon as this email starts to spread. - NIU Grad - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:51 pm: I wonder how much flexibility they have in this area due to statute/rules and bargaining agreements. - Sterling - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:54 pm: To clarify though, it looks like they can use their normal (paid) sick time, but there are no plans to add additional paid sick time, right? - Seriously? - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:54 pm: Real nice requiring a doctors note when hospitals are already swamped. - Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:55 pm: I suspect this policy is a reflection of what agencies are being told by CMS. Naturally, it’s leaked from IDPH employee because it would look bad involving the response agency. Check it out before jumping on IDPH. I also suspect that once this gets to JD’s attention the CMS directive may change. - Modelovirus - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:55 pm: NIU grad - I would think that AFSCME wouldn’t have an issue with paid time off for having the coronavirus. But at the very least, CMS could’ve told other agencies to not send out any notes on official policy until a memorandum is agreed upon. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:55 pm: So… a memo was generated to inform folks that the governor expects to be the leaders in direct fighting of the virus to accept no time will be given if they, themselves, are infected? April Fools Day is 3 weeks away, they must’ve hit “send” early. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:58 pm: This is better than what the rank and file state employees are usually granted since they’re being given the option to “advance” 10 days of sick time. However this is a great looking glass for the public into the inconsistency that exists between the state wide elected officials, their statements, and their intent, and how the agencies they trust others to manage actually govern. The advance time is better than approved dockage, which I presumed would be what folks out of sick time would be forced to do. I also presume that if the state closes non-critical facilities to prevent the spread of the outbreak that those employees would receive paid time from the state. But, this wouldn’t be the first time a PSA or SPSA in the employee of the State of Illinois mistook their views as that of the legitimate elected representatives and constitutional officers of the People of Illinois. - Centennial - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 12:58 pm: To be fair, I think the Gov was referring to hourly workers who have no sick time benefits at all. That being said, it does come across as a “do as I say not as I do.” - ;) - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:01 pm: Pritzker and his whole team lie incessantly. Why does this even surprise anyone anymore? - Grimlock - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:02 pm: That policy looks very reasonable to me. I always try to have at least 5 sick days and 10 vacation days banked up for emergencies for myself or my kids. - DTAG - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:03 pm: Sick leave is in fact paid time off, I am not sure I understand the headline. - Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:03 pm: The policy discourages people from self-isolating when they are not feeling well, but feeling well enough to report. Businesses are telling employees to work from home under these circumstances, What is most bizarre, unheard of really, is IDPH indicating repeatedly they reserve the right to deny the request for time off if you burn through all of your sick days and need to use vacation days. Every state agency and every private employer should allow employees to go into sick leave deficit. Not force them to use vacation days, not force them to go on FMLA. Full stop. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:03 pm: === That email is not an appropriate, correct version of policies and it will be clarified for employees today.=== Maybe a “tighter grip“ on policy issues might be in order. I don’t think there was any immediate rush to issue a memo that needed, well, clarification. - Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:05 pm: To the Update: It’s a bad day to be Melissa M. Lueken. - Saul - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:13 pm: Even Walmart is providing two weeks paid leave if you are required to be quarantined: https://newschannel20.com/news/nation-world/walmart-sets-emergency-leave-policy-for-14m-hourly-workers - whatdoesthefox say - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:15 pm: Morale? I don’t think morale at any State Agency could get lower. Rauner’s policies of you get nothing and don’t ask for anything including guidance from supervisors or office supplies are still in place. - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:16 pm: == try to have at least 5 sick days and 10 vacation days banked up for emergencies … == When I used to work for the State, I and most the people I know had the maximum in vacation time banked and had quite a few sick days banked also. Unless they are a recent hire or had a major illness, existing state employees should have a minimum of 20 or so days banked. Some may have 50 or 100 or more. I’m just going to note that a past policy, since revoked, of paying employees upon retirement for 1/2 of their sick days encouraged people to bank sick days instead of using them as fast as they got earned … - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:19 pm: ===That email is not an appropriate, correct version of policies and it will be clarified for employees today.=== There must be a “new” policy that folks aren’t aware of yet. ===of paying employees upon retirement for 1/2 of their sick days encouraged people to=== Come to work sick. They were encouraged to come to work sick. - thoughts matter - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:21 pm: So, you can take advance sick time to self quarantine. I don’t work under the governors office. What does taking that much sick time do to a person, benefit wise? Do they lose personal days? Do they lose accumulated sick days that were being banked for surgical leave? Maternity leave? Do they get a black mark on their next salary evaluation? What happens if they were going to use that banked sick at retirement to extend their retirement date? So stay home because to come to work when you’ve been exposed is selfish. But we are going to mess up your personnel file… and don’t let yourself get exposed again. - AD - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:24 pm: I can sympathize with DPH here. Everybody knows someone who burns through their benefit time once they receive it. It’s amazing that they just get sick the first week of the month every month. And to no one’s surprise, once this policy goes in effect, there’ll be the same people abusing it. That being said, there’s not much they’ll be able to do as you can’t worry about those people with something as serious as this. - AMouse - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:35 pm: Until this thing calms down, I’d rather see people abusing sick leave than not taking sick leave because they’re worried about saving it and infecting everyone they work with - Former Candidate on the Ballot - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:40 pm: Policies are in effect that have been negotiated and agreed upon regarding vacation, sick days, etc. If you have traditionally come to work sick and not used your sick days for personal financial gain - Maybe that is the behavior that should change For those not having any paid time off due to illness - totally different conversation. - HangingOn - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:43 pm: About 2 years ago I blew through all my time and had to borrow the 10 days when I had the kidney stones. And with my child’s health issues it’s hard to get it built up. I’m not maxed out on earning vacation time yet though so I don’t get the top amount a year. But yeah, some people just have trouble banking time due to reasons out of their control. - Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:47 pm: This is why it would be better all around to have only one type of paid time off with no restrictions on use. Many organizations have switched to this concept. Much simpler to administer and none of this “appropriate use” for each type of time nonsense. Rather than 12 sick days, 10 vaca days, and 3 personal days, just give me 25 pto days a year to use as I see fit. - ??? - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:47 pm: Meh. As an IDPH employee with over 125 sick days, this doesn’t bother me at all. I guess the pessimist in me has always counted on having some devastating illness at some point, so I hoard my sick time. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:48 pm: === Corona or the flu or the chicken pox=== Are we all equating illness to the Coronavirus situation and the state of emergency this governor issued? Oh boy. - wayward - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:48 pm: Out of curiosity, would there be any consequences if an employee who’d been displaying symptoms or had been in close contact with a confirmed case showed up at work and put others at risk rather than burn through their sick time? - Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 1:51 pm: I am a bit out of touch. Is PTO a combo of vacation and sick leave? - Skeptic - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:28 pm: “..encouraged people to=== Come to work sick.” I worked with a guy that felt that since you don’t get paid for unused sick days, there was no point in having any when you left State employment (he equated it to giving his time to the State), so he’d take sick days whether he was sick or not. - Father Ted - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:35 pm: As someone with experience writing these types of messages, HR departments often need to give specific, short term guidance for what to do in these situations while a longer-term or permanent solution is worked out. Someone mentioned this could be to guide hourly employees on how to fill out their time card. It’s not an ideal situation and this message isn’t necessarily how I would have handled it- not that I’m God’s gift to internal communications. It’s a good reminder to HR people to plug in your communications team to stress test what you plan to send out. - MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:40 pm: -plug in your communications team- And your legislative teams as well. They are just as front line as comms staff for the agencies. - Saul - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:46 pm: I will add that I’ve worked with people that have enormous amounts of sick time but still come to work sick. I don’t have a ton. Two young children can eat up sick time quickly. - Ali - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:47 pm: I doubt anyone will voluntarily self quarantine if they have to use their own time - Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:50 pm: Another indication of the Gov’s Office not being in control of the agencies. It became horrible under Rauner, and JB has done little to nothing to improve it. Legislatively they’re rock solid. Operationally - they’re either uninterested, unwilling, or most likely, not capable. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 3:23 pm: ===so he’d take sick days whether he was sick or not.=== Nice anecdote. But the point of paid sick leave is to use paid sick leave. Creating a circumstance where you are encouraging employees to come to work when they are sick not only reduces productivity for that employee, or depending on the agency and line of work, place their safety and the safety of others at risk because their job performance suffers, it also increases the likelihood of making other workers sick — creating a feed back loop of lost productivity. So, paying people to not use their sick days is a bad idea and when you actually look at it in longitudinal studies can wind up costing the agency more in the long run than just letting them be out sick. - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 4:19 pm: Answering using the SERS employee rules as I understand them. == What does taking that much sick time do to a person, benefit wise? == Nothing other than decreasing the amount of banked vacation or sick or personal time. No direct effect on retirement benefits, but see my explanation below on retirement date and service credit. == Do they lose personal days? == If they use them. It may mean they don’t get 1 ‘extra’ personal day the following year. == Do they lose accumulated sick days that were being banked for surgical leave? == If they use sick time, they lose those days. == Maternity leave? == Not sure about the answer to that one because I didn’t have to deal with that issue, so I’m skipping this one. == Do they get a black mark on their next salary evaluation? == Not supposed to. == What happens if they were going to use that banked sick at retirement to extend their retirement date? == You aren’t supposed to use as sick days to delay / stretch your actual date of retirement. You are allowed to use sick days for service time, which could allow you to retire a bit earlier than without them. If you use the sick days, then you won’t have them to extend your service credit calculation. - SAP - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 4:59 pm: Looks like someone summarized the existing IDPH/CMS policy without running it through the political filter. - Modelovirus - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 5:47 pm: I think the problem is honestly that there are people in decision-making positions at CMS who are holdovers from the Rauner admin and aren’t on the same page with Pritzker. Look no further than how they’re implementing the new bereavement policy. - ChiSox - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 5:51 pm: this reads like a article from the Onion. - Jacob - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 5:53 pm: I had a major life threatening illness that needed immediate surgery a little over twelve years ago. I blew through all of my sick days (47.50) and was back at work minus 3.9 days. I requested Sick Bank Days (3.4) and it was denied. I was so upset and fought for over a year. I was very angry at not being given the days when it was severe. I went from not being able to move to a wheel chair, then a walker, then used a cane for over a year with physical therapy. The Union voted yes but CMS and my agency, revenue kept denying the 3.9 days. In the end, I was docked the 3.9 days. I didn’t apply for early sick days since I needed them for physical therapy which I would go to as late as possible to only use a few hours each time that I had to go. - RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 5:53 pm: == Come to work sick. They were encouraged to come to work sick. == Actually, that was aimed at the people that treated sick days as just more personal days and burned through them as fast as they earned them. - CardsFan - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 7:51 pm: –I doubt anyone will voluntarily self quarantine if they have to use their own time– Bingo - thoughts matter - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 8:34 pm: RNUG - thank you. I did phrase my question about sick days at retirement incorrectly. I did mean the service time rather than extended retirement. My point was that forcing employees to use sick time to self quarantine when they may not even have the virus will cause havoc on their future sick time needs. If this virus spreads and we get exposed multiple times, multiple self quarantines could cause severe issues for that employee later when they need those sick days, it’s not as if we can rely on a short term disability policy for surgical absences. - CardsFan - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 8:50 pm: The state has a lot of employees who have been hired within the last 5 years and only earn 6 hours and 15 minutes of vacation time a month, and may not have a lot of sick time built up, especially if they have small children, chronic illness, or an unforseen medical emergency that has caused them to utilize a lot of their earned benefit time. The private sector is doing this the right way. Employees will be paid for their time away without having to utilize their own benefit time. CMS and the GO better get on board with that, and quick. - Nameless - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 9:08 pm: Do they qualify for Workman’s comp if they contract the virus as a direct result of their job duties? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.