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California makes huge payouts for some workers' unused time off
Los Angeles Times ^ | May 15, 2011 | By Jack Dolan

Posted on 05/15/2011 4:29:04 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Managers in California's government routinely ignore official limits on the number of vacation days their employees can save, compelling the state to cut huge checks — many worth six figures — for unused time off when workers retire.

Prison doctor Fong Lai received $594,976 when he retired in 2010. Jay Wickizer, an administrator for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, saved about the same number of days, resulting in a $294,440 check upon his retirement last year.

The controller's office cannot tell how many employees do this, because payroll records offer no way of tracking it.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: comptime; employment; failure; socialism; unions; vacationdays

1 posted on 05/15/2011 4:29:10 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Hang 'em.

I am all in favor of public sector pension reform but generally believe changes should be made prosectively, not retrospectively. In this case, however, if California agencies have been ignoring their own regulations, I'd seek recovery. I'd also hold approving officials personally liable for overpayments. This is misappropriation of public funds, pure and simple.

In the federal system, there is a modest carryover amount, after which leave becomes use-or-lose. This is why many federal agencies become ghost towns in December. In my experience, most of the federales are conscientious workers, and folks in technical and managerial positions find it difficult to get away. But after ten or twenty years in the system, they get tired of forfeiting a couple weeks of leave every year. The "December is mine" attitude becomes part of the institutional culture. Sort of like France shutting down in August.

2 posted on 05/15/2011 4:46:02 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

These are the same creepozoids that are on tap to manage everyone’s healthcare.....unless we ALL stand up!


3 posted on 05/15/2011 5:16:28 AM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer; sphinx

UNaccountable accounting and UNaccountable bureaucrats = socialism/collectivism at its core. We are FORCED to pay for it = totalitarianism at its core.

I’m with sphinx...

Hang ‘em

Life, liberty and the pursuit and destruction of totalitarians.


4 posted on 05/15/2011 5:19:18 AM PDT by PGalt
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
The controller's office cannot tell how many employees do this, because payroll records offer no way of tracking it.

Elsewhere, auditors observed a sudden increase of state employee applicants for SQL training.

5 posted on 05/15/2011 5:23:21 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Where I work we’re not allowed to carry over any vacation days, it’s use ‘em or lose ‘em.


6 posted on 05/15/2011 5:23:26 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

The feds limit retirement pay out for vacation time at 420 hours and now dont pay for unused sick.


7 posted on 05/15/2011 6:58:28 AM PDT by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Now I’m sure that these vacation days are cashed out at the wage scale when they were given and not at the highest wage scale such as the last year of service.


8 posted on 05/15/2011 6:59:02 AM PDT by artichokegrower
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To: bdfromlv

I believe that is 240MH, not 420MH.


9 posted on 05/15/2011 7:00:13 PM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Cvengr
that's 240 hours carry over in the last year + accrued at 8 times 26 pay periods. Just time it right and they pay it.
10 posted on 05/15/2011 10:20:04 PM PDT by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
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