Employees unhappy with possible sick leave changes
Some Marion County employees are not happy about the possibility of changing their sick leave policy and they're letting the commission know about it.
Marion County Commission had discussed at the March 12 meeting the possibility of eliminating the current sick leave policy and replacing it with a short-term disability insurance that would only pay employees 66-2/3 percent of their wage instead of 100 percent.
"I received a lot of calls from concerned employees," said commissioner Bob Hein.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said the commission was just reviewing the options and had not made any final decisions. He said he had contacted McPherson County officials where this plan had been implemented.
Dallke said he also wanted to reduce the number of allowed sick days. Currently employees receive one sick day per month.
The actual cost of sick leave has not been determined and Dallke wants to review those numbers.
Later in the meeting, Michele Abbott-Becker, communications and emergency management director, said her employees had expressed concerns and she asked for clarification of the benefits.
"We're looking at 13- or 26-week plan to be implemented Jan. 1, 2008," Dallke said.
The question was asked if accumulated sick leave could be used first and then receive the short-term disability compensation. Dallke wasn't sure if accumulated sick leave could be used with the disability plan.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield would administer the plan which allows the partial payment of wages beginning the first day of missed work due to an injury or on the eighth day due to an illness.
"This plan is good for those who do not have any sick leave days left," Dallke said.
Holub said he wanted to have input from employees before implementing.
