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Excessive Absenteeism

You've been sick. Your children have been sick. You have had to use sick leave to take care of yourself and your kids. You have lots of sick leave coming, so everything is okay, right? Maybe.

Excessive Absenteeism

Many Local 6 members have questions about their absenteeism rates. This is because several employers have been monitoring how much sick and leave time employees are using. Then, managers meet or write employees about possible "excessive absenteeism." If this has happened to you or your friends, read on.

The Difference

First, there is a difference between "sick leave abuse" and "excessive absenteeism." Sick leave abuse means an employee is dishonest about using sick leave; that is, the employee or the employee's family member isn't really sick. Excessive absenteeism means the employee is off work for good reason. Excessive absenteeism means the employee is away from work too often.

Either way, the end result could be a termination. Abuse could mean being fired without prior warning. Excessive absenteeism could mean eventual termination after a series of warnings.

Employers' Standards

Employers have standards of what percentage of total hours is possibly excessive. There is room for individual stories, but Local 6 members should be aware of the possible ramifications of being talked to about being absent too much.

Absenteeism Can Hurt

Second, we are important to what goes on at work everyday. That is why managers get upset when we call in sick, especially calling in at the last minute. If our calls come in at the last minute more often than not, or if our absences are usually on Fridays and Mondays, we may have an absenteeism issue.

And when we get fired because of absenteeism, the sad fact is that unions usually lose the case in court. We don't agree with the system, but judges rule in favor of management.

Third, Local 6 knows we have to be absent sometimes. Local 6 fights unfair absenteeism standards. If the standards are based on 1950's families, those standards are unfair for families in 2007. The passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act helps. What we need is more awareness on the plight of working families today.