Originally Posted by
castrobenes
Many officers argue with me that sick leave is a benefit that the agency gives them to do with as they please. But that is not the standard that the agency has established. Sick leave is given for officers who are too ill to come to work have family members who require care. It is given as an insurance policy. When officers use excessive leave, it is the manager's responsibility to ensure that it is being used for legitimate medical needs.
I think one needs to be careful here. I can think of a variety of reasons why people use sick leave and are not lying in bed shivering or coughing up blood.
For instance, this week I took off two sick days because I was feeling off. A bit of a headache, some sniffles and a bit of a annoying cough. I would have been able to do my job and complete my goals for the week, but decided to stay home and rest. I ended up at the doctor's office and found I had a bronchial viral infection. Nothing major, but I certainly would not want to expose my co-workers to a respiratory viral infection.
By the standard you gave above (i.e sick leave is for officers who are too ill to come to work), I would be abusing the sick leave policy.