We have a very generous leave setup where I work. A ridiculous amount of vacation time, and you earn 7 hours of sick leave every month.
I have only ever called in sick when I am, but we have several co-workers who use up ALL their sick leave every year. I’ve tried to explain why that’s a bad idea (but we’ll lose it if we don’t use it), but my recent surgery drove my point home.
I expected to be back to work within 3 weeks. I was off for nearly 3 MONTHS, as recovery was slower than normal.
I STILL have over 3 months of leave left on the books.
I showed the “chronically unwell” my leave allotment, and explained why I keep a big bank.
It takes 6 MONTHS for long term disability to kick in where I work. One could get into serious financial trouble without a cushion of some sort. I’m lucky I have one, and I do everything I can to protect it from idiots who abuse it.
You’re double lucky. Mid 70s I worked for stste of NC. Sick leave and personal time: you don’t use it in a calendae year, it flushes. Double stomp stupid, they all but begged us to lay out using it up.
Some of us (me) actually liked the job, never scammed them. Could be why I made Operator 3 in 18 months; supposed to take minimum 3 years. Boss had to take that one upstairs, but he did.