HomeMy WebLinkAbout992286.tiff OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
J PHONE (970) 356-4000, EXT. 4200
FAX: (970) 352-0242
915 10TH STREET
P.O. BOX 758
Wine GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
September 2, 1999
Anne Cox
3509 Latham Avenue
Evans CO 80620
Dear Ms. Cox:
We received your letter dated August 18, 1999. The Board of County Commissioners
expresses our deepest concern about your son's health and wishes him well with his
treatments.
Weld County employment policies have been tested over time and are very much
standard business and government mainstream employment policies that try to be
sensitive to the welfare of the employees. However, the policies must also be
acceptable and defensible to the taxpayers of Weld County that pay all of our salaries.
In looking at the alternatives available to us regarding your request, the option of
allowing you to use more than 40 hours of sick leave for your son's illness was the only
one available to the board while still maintaining the integrity of the sick leave policies
in Weld County. Unlike vacation, which is a compensable employee right, sick leave is
a privilege granted employees primarily to accommodate employee illness. The sick
leave granted for the care of family members is limited to allowing an employee time to
arrange for care of the family member. It does not provide paid leave for long-term
care.
The sick leave bank is a system put in place for employees with long-term illnesses to
transition to long-term disability. It was never intended to be used for family member
illnesses. When the sick leave bank was established, it was never the intent that
employees could contribute sick leave to other employees for the employee illness or
for an employee's family member's illness. The policy is based upon the fact that sick
leave is not a compensable property right that can be transferred or given by one
employee to another.
a/in- an-I area 992286
9/x/99
Anne J. Cox September 2, 1999 Page 2
In comparison with other employers, Weld County is viewed by most to have relatively
liberal sick leave policies. As a result, in order to balance the interests of the employee
and the taxpayers of Weld County, the Board of Weld County Commissioners is not
willing to expand the utilization beyond the existing policies. To accommodate
situations like yours, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides you with the
opportunity to use 12 weeks paid or unpaid leave for family illness. This policy protects
your position while you are caring for a family member but only pays you within the
established parameters of the existing sick leave policies.
We hope you understand the board's position on this matter. We wish you and your
son continued success with your son's treatment and your continued employment with
Weld County.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Dale K. Hall, Chair
cc: Don Warden
Pat Persichino
Judy Griego
CORRESPONDENCE RESPONSE
DEPARTMENT OF OhnintLCCIAZil:60;7'
* * * PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN THREE DAYS* * *
IF RESPONSE WILL BE DELAYED,
PLEASE NOTIFY"CTB GROUP" BY E-MAIL
OF EXPECTED DATE FOR RESPONSE.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Narrative:
METHOD OF RESPONSE:
Board Action
Work Session
Letter (Attached) /
- Telephone Call
- No Response (explain)
—adild
knt Head Signature
M:\CAROL\OPMAN\RDCOM P2
•
\VELD COL .'T1f'
August IS, 1999
Weld County Commissioners
915 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Dear Commissioners,
As an employee of Weld County Social Services, I was aware of the fact that it would take just
one serious illness or accident and I and my family could end up on the other side of the desk,
asking for help. But as life went smoothly along that awareness at times was very distant and
vague. Then on Thursday. July 296. T took my yea r old son into the doctor for a mild fever.
ear infection and sore leg he complained ot. On Monday, august 2"1 he was diagnoses with
luekemia. Suddenly, our world changed completely. The disbelief and questioning and unfairness
of it all is changing to faithfulness and acceptance. as it must, it'we are to be of any good for our
son.
Through all of the unfortunate circumstances we have been well aware, and extremely thankful
for, the caring, prayers, and thoughts of friends and family and fellow employees at Social Services
It is because of the employees at Social Services that I write this letter. So many have come
forward and said they would be willing to donate their annual time since the sick bank is not
• available to me because this has happened to a family member. They have been told the cannot
donate hours to others. even though they earned those hours. So some have said they would come
and be with Bryan so I might work. Although this is extremely generous of them. wouldn't all be
better served if his mother could be home with him and they could donate freely that which they
have earned? I have been told that the state has such a policy and it recently helped a man with a
luekemic son to get much needed time off and in turn made the employees feel good that they cool,
help in some way.
f have been informed that in Bryan's case this has been voted down. So he it. But I would
strongly urge all of you to reconsider this policy. As I am now well aware, life for any one of us.
and our families could change tomon-ow. There are no guarantees and sometimes things we have
no choice over. It would be nice to know in times like these that there is a -cushion" of friends and
fellow employees who want to and are allowed to help in such an important way i can only hope
that someday soon I could do the same Tor someone else
At this time also. l would like to thank you and Judy Griegu for waiving the au hour ru!e on
FI\fl..A so that I could use ail of my earned sick time. This was very much appreciated.
Thank you all lax your consideration.
Sincerely, _72•10.)1144
64,
et,efiLOYI tp,tut Sin
BAXTER
.Anne J. ('ox i� 1 r� �r--
QulsF
‘Veld County Social Services .77p' ,e,0,y ,t9
GEILE u/� diet s6r h ye is ,
Cc. Judy Gnego
HALL
David and MOW Cox KIRKMEYER
3309 L#— Aroma
Swam CO NM VAAD �---- �f
Hello