Most Americans are generally aware of, yet pay little attention to, a Federal law that is commonly referred to as "FMLA," which stands for the Family Medical Leave Act. This innocuous-sounding law provides that any employee in a sizable organization (very small businesses are exempt) can take up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid leave (either consecutively or at different times) in any calendar year, in order to recover or help a family member recover from a health problem, without fear of losing their job.
An article in the local birdcage liner advises that 95% of the employees of the Allegheny County (PA - Pittsburgh) Jail are signed up for, and annually take full advantage of, the FMLA. That is to say, these employees take twelve full weeks of FMLA leave, in addition to their annual allotment of "regular" sick leave, vacation, holidays, and other assorted paid time off.
It is logical to assume that timekeeping in the Allegheny County Jail must be a nightmare, what with all the time off, and the need to keep that fine institution fully staffed, 24 hours a day, to keep the detainees in check. One may also correctly assume that overtime runs rampant in this institution, as guards are constantly called in to sub for those who are on one sort of paid absence or another. And parenthetically, since retirement benefits are based on earnings during the last three years of employment and NOT their annual base salary, this situation will cause Allegheny County's taxpayers to spend muchly for the foreseeable future.
But I have saved the best for last. Although the law provides for UNPAID leave under FMLA, for purposes of FMLA, all of these people are considered SALARIED, and thus they do not have their pay docked for the twelve weeks of absence provided under the Federal law. This is twelve weeks of unquestioned vacation (the County is not permitted to question any of it once a doctor's note is initially provided for the FMLA), required by Congress, and paid for by the gullible and constantly-abused taxpayers of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
And prepare yourself for a shock: The managers at the Jail are beginning to suspect that there may be some abuses of FMLA. Did I mention that 95% of the Jail's employees are signed up?
...beginning to suspect...
For those of you who believe that public sector employment is similar to private sector employment, I give you EXHIBIT A.
Any private sector employer who tolerated this situation would be OUT OF BUSINESS. Any private sector manager who allowed this grotesque abuse to go on would be SUMMARILY TERMINATED. Any private sector employee who took such blatant advantage without clear documentary evidence of a family member is serious need would be fired or his application just thrown into the garbage can, where it belongs.
Without going into a lot of detail, Allegheny County is noteworthy for its consistent and energetic stimulus of new business and residential development OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. In all four directions - North, South, East, and West - there have arisen over the past 40 years energetic hubs of new business activity and vibrant suburban communities within mere feet of the Allegheny County Line, which business (and residential development) is spurred by two contrary factors: (1) the nearness to the Pittsburgh population and business community, and (2) avoidance of Allegheny County taxes.
It's no wonder. But who is doing anything at all to stop this sort of shit from happening? I'm sure the same thing is going on all over the country, but isn't reported because no one talks about it.
An article in the local birdcage liner advises that 95% of the employees of the Allegheny County (PA - Pittsburgh) Jail are signed up for, and annually take full advantage of, the FMLA. That is to say, these employees take twelve full weeks of FMLA leave, in addition to their annual allotment of "regular" sick leave, vacation, holidays, and other assorted paid time off.
It is logical to assume that timekeeping in the Allegheny County Jail must be a nightmare, what with all the time off, and the need to keep that fine institution fully staffed, 24 hours a day, to keep the detainees in check. One may also correctly assume that overtime runs rampant in this institution, as guards are constantly called in to sub for those who are on one sort of paid absence or another. And parenthetically, since retirement benefits are based on earnings during the last three years of employment and NOT their annual base salary, this situation will cause Allegheny County's taxpayers to spend muchly for the foreseeable future.
But I have saved the best for last. Although the law provides for UNPAID leave under FMLA, for purposes of FMLA, all of these people are considered SALARIED, and thus they do not have their pay docked for the twelve weeks of absence provided under the Federal law. This is twelve weeks of unquestioned vacation (the County is not permitted to question any of it once a doctor's note is initially provided for the FMLA), required by Congress, and paid for by the gullible and constantly-abused taxpayers of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
And prepare yourself for a shock: The managers at the Jail are beginning to suspect that there may be some abuses of FMLA. Did I mention that 95% of the Jail's employees are signed up?
...beginning to suspect...
For those of you who believe that public sector employment is similar to private sector employment, I give you EXHIBIT A.
Any private sector employer who tolerated this situation would be OUT OF BUSINESS. Any private sector manager who allowed this grotesque abuse to go on would be SUMMARILY TERMINATED. Any private sector employee who took such blatant advantage without clear documentary evidence of a family member is serious need would be fired or his application just thrown into the garbage can, where it belongs.
Without going into a lot of detail, Allegheny County is noteworthy for its consistent and energetic stimulus of new business and residential development OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. In all four directions - North, South, East, and West - there have arisen over the past 40 years energetic hubs of new business activity and vibrant suburban communities within mere feet of the Allegheny County Line, which business (and residential development) is spurred by two contrary factors: (1) the nearness to the Pittsburgh population and business community, and (2) avoidance of Allegheny County taxes.
It's no wonder. But who is doing anything at all to stop this sort of shit from happening? I'm sure the same thing is going on all over the country, but isn't reported because no one talks about it.
