Is it legal for a company to keep all of your "sick/leave time" if you just can't use the hours up in time

SPIFIMAN1

A lot of companies have this policy.

There are some that will make exceptions, try talking to your human resource's department and see.

C Anemone

Sick time is a "use it or lose it" deal. Vacation hours are accrued on the books as a liability, so most companies will pay you vacation hours when you leave, but there is no legal requirement to do so. How is your "leave time" classified? Does it include accruals for vacation or is it strictly sick/personal leave time? It really kind of stinks because people who are hardworking, dedicated and don't abuse the sick time are the ones who lose!

Caitlyn

Yes it is legal. Different companies have different policies. My old job did the same like yours. If I didn't use my sick time within a year then it'd be gone. I was also in your position. If I was out of the office nobody else would do my job and when I came back I'd have this high stack of papers and tons of voicemails and emails. My job now roll over any sick time that I have to the next year if I don't use it. Next time you are looking for a job make sure you ask about it during the interview.

Ann

From an employer's point of view, sick leave is not vacation time. It is a benefit for when you are "sick." You cannot predict being ill nor can you expect to be paid for being healthy. It's frustrating when employees no longer see that this is a privilege, not a right. Consider yourself lucky that your employer(s) are generous enough to have a built in insurance policy to continue providing you income if you are really ill.

hr4me

It depends on the state you work in. In California it is illegal to have a "Use it or lose it" policy. So employers here use a policy of accrual capping to get around this. Once you have accrued a certain amount of hours you stop accruing time until you use some up.

I would take a day off here and there and get your balance worked down if you can't take off a full week. Maybe take off every other Friday or every other Monday?

MSAD

Most companies are use it or lose it. If selling the hours back to the company is not part of the policy - then it's not an option for you. Your HR department can't make new policy that just for you that does not apply to anyone else (as a supervisor - you know that). So -you have a choice - use your time or lose your time.

Trish

Yes. It's not an entitlement. They can keep the hours you do not spend being sick.

Retired and Glad

Generally Sick Leave is not paid. It was the same at the company I worked at for over 36 years. I left with over 300 sick days and did not receive any compensation.
That is strictly company policy.
Better to not use sick leave "Just to use it". What if the company found you doing your own little things, when you are supposed to be "Sick". That would be a reason for termination. Just be happy you get sick leave---some companies do not provide that benefit.

alecs

There is no question that it is. There are two standard leave, i.e., sick leave and vacation leave (R&R), in some companies both type of leaves can be accumulated to not more than 30 days, the excess will be forfeited. Some company they only forfeit excess vacation leave and allow sick leave to accumulate and converted into cash upon separation from the company, and then some convert them into cash before the end of calendar year. These leaves are voluntarily provided by the company to their employees and there is no law in the labor code except the standard or the minimum days an employee should be given R &R and how many days should the employee be paid while on sick leave.
therefore in the absence of any law, the company policy takes effect or if is not a written policy, the generally accepted practice takes effect.

far as i know, they're not wrong because with you working and getting the paid hours, their losing. instead of just paying you once they're paying you twice. you at work + your hours = twice as much money. use your hours and make up the slack when ou get back. you have about 3 weeks off. take it, a lot of us dont even have this option.

FALL

Most companies do not give you unpaid sick time. It is there for when you need it. Many companies will bank it for you in case there comes a time when you are out with a major illness. A company only needs to pay you for unpaid vacation time that you may have accrued during the year when you leave the company.

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