PTO/Sick Leave, etc.

[MHDNURSE]

I am curious what you get for this. My school's new policy this year makes it very clear that although you get 8 days of PTO, it is NOT for use as vacation time, but only for use in emergency situations (sick, child sick, etc.). They consider the fact that we get all the other days off during the year as "vacation". While I totally understand this and would never plan a vacation outside of the regular weeks we have off, things come up and I am now realizing that I cannot even get an afternoon off to attend an activity with my daughter I have 122.5 hours of accrued PTO because I have never used it. It does not get "paid out" when you leave either so I feel like I either have to lie and say I am sick if I want to be able to have any time off, or miss out on family stuff. Part of why I took this job was to have more time for my kids. We are told that they put this policy into place because too many teachers were abusing the PTO/sick time and calling out or using it as additional vacation days. They also added "black out sick days" where if it is a Friday before or Monday after a holiday, you can't call out or request time. You also can't request sick time during standardized testing weeks. They literally make it impossible to take any time off. I just re-read the handbook to make sure I wasn't crazy. It really sucks. Needless to say, I am finishing out my year here and looking elsewhere. I am just bummed that I have never called in sick or asked for any time off and I am being punished for employees who abused it.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

We get 13 days a year, 10 are sick days and 3 are personal days for any reason we want. We can only accrue up to 6 personal days or we won't get anymore until those are used up to prevent staff from taking week long vacations. However, the teachers are approved by the principal ALL THE TIME to take a week off around holidays to go to Disney or wherever. Nurses would never be approved to do that.

If I were you, I'd just call in sick, or maybe prearrange it as a "dr appointment". No it's not super honest but I know for a fact teachers do that kind of stuff all the time without batting an eye. Ask the teachers what they do.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

WOW. Whelp....that seems unfair. We get 10 days to use as we see fit. But "fair" is really just something that happens in Dallas every fall, right?

I think I would be scheduling my mammogram, colonscopy, dental appointments, etc. during the year, just because I'm ornery. I try to schedule all that stuff during the summer because again, I have 10 days to use during the year as I see fit.

[AdobeRN]

We get 10 days a school year to use however we want and they roll over to the next school year. We have "protected days" where unless there is an extenuating circumstance we can't take off those days and if we do we are docked and can't use any of our time - these days are usually the Friday/Monday before/after breaks and our professional development days. State testing days are also "protected". If we need to take off more than 3 days in a row we have additional paperwork to fill out for it to be approved.

My principal encourages time off for ourselves - within reason of course, she pretty much follows the protected day rule but the 3 days in a row rule she says is at principal discretion - not a district policy. She has approved week long vacations for several staff members this year as long as the campus sub/teacher ratio isn't too high at that time frame and if the staff member actually has the time to use.

When I take off I never give a reason - its my private business nobody needs to know why.

16 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

I think I would be scheduling my mammogram, colonscopy, dental appointments, etc. during the year, just because I'm ornery.

That is actually a great idea! I am way past due on a lot of self-care appointments and hadn't thought of that. My daughter does have an oral surgery consult as well as likely need a procedure after that so will make sure to schedule those without feeling badly or worrying about it.

[kidzcare]

We get 12 sick days per year and 2 personal. Any unused sick days roll over indefinitely and you can roll over 1 personal day or it converts to a sick day.

My immediate supervisor is extremely flexible and family oriented. She always tells us to use our sick time if it's going to be a 1-2 day thing. For example, I was going out of town last Friday and said I was going to take a personal day and she insisted that I use a sick day and save my personal days. They can't ask for "proof" unless we are out 3 days or more. She says as long as we get our work done and are not absent a lot then she wants us to use our time.

I've done the same as others said- I'll schedule my dental exam early in the day and take the whole day as a sick day.

[Keeperofbandages, LPN]

I get 7 days a year to use as sick or pto, they do not roll over from year to year. My principal encourages us to stay home if sick or if our kids are sick to take care of them.

[Eleven011]

We get 9 sick days and 2 personal days per year. Sick days roll over, personal days don't. You can "trade in" 3 sick days for 1 additional personal day at the beginning of each year. My personal time is usually eaten up by leaving early for kids sports, activites, etc. This year it was college visits with my son. If we need to take time off, and are out of sick/personal time, we can take "deduct", which just means we don't get paid those hours. My school is pretty easy to work with and very family oriented.

[pedi_nurse]

Yeah, I always just say I have an "appointment." I could legit have an appointment with my doctor, or an appointment with my daughter's school, or an appointment with my sanity. IMO, we don't get paid for the summer break or school holidays. We get paid by the number of days in our contract. If I am supplied PTO as part of that contract, I'm d*** well taking it. Nothing pisses me off more than this country's obsession with not taking time off that is outlined in a contract (meaning companies that subtly pressure their employees not to take off). ETA: Basically they are trying to steal from you, and that's not okay.

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

Someone once told me. "Administrators take off and don't feel guilty. You're entitled to your time, just like they are, take it off." And since then, I've never felt bad again.

12 minutes ago, pedi_nurse said:

or an appointment with my sanity

LMFAO! I love this!

[Glitternurse, LVN]

We get 10 days a year and any unused rolls over to the next year. Time can be used for sick time, PN(personal necessity), staying home with a sick child whatever. I have used PN for appointments, mental health day (I pre-scheduled so it was no problem), I took 2 PN days to go to friends wedding. This September when my father in law passed away I needed an extra day so took a PN day after I used up my 3 bereavement days. I am never made to feel guilty for using my time.