Comments on: More Benefits You Probably Don’t Get (Unless You’re a Certain Public Sector Worker) http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/ All about the issues that arise when workforce issues converge with business management. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:18:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.3-2.2.1 By: VenusC http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29276 VenusC Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:23:44 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29276 California state law states that all accrued paid time off, aka vacation, is income earned and payable to the employee at time of separation, regardless of whether or not they are private sector or state employees. As a taxpayer I have to ask why the prison doesn't know how an employee who only worked 10-years for the system earned and accrued nearly 4-years of unused vacation. That is outrageous! I am confused as to why overtime has been included in this article. Overtime doesn't have anything to do with accrued vacation, paid out or otherwise. California state law states that all accrued paid time off, aka vacation, is income earned and payable to the employee at time of separation, regardless of whether or not they are private sector or state employees.
As a taxpayer I have to ask why the prison doesn’t know how an employee who only worked 10-years for the system earned and accrued nearly 4-years of unused vacation. That is outrageous!
I am confused as to why overtime has been included in this article. Overtime doesn’t have anything to do with accrued vacation, paid out or otherwise.

]]> By: CarolB http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29273 CarolB Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:44:54 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29273 Having worked in the the construction industry and private sector during my entire career, 3/4 of the companies I worked for have paid out accrued vacation time upon termination. Some of the employers had limitations on the amount of time that could be accrud but some did not. Sick Leave has never been paid out nor Paid Time Off (PTO), however. My spouse works in the public sector and their entity pays out vacation time which has limitations on the amount of time that can be accrued. Also, under the current contract, the entity pays out sick time as well which has no limitations on the amount of time accrued. I believe that other factors including regional business practices, the bargaining units involved and the overall recruiting picture greatly affect the benefits package offered by both public and private sector employers. Having worked in the the construction industry and private sector during my entire career, 3/4 of the companies I worked for have paid out accrued vacation time upon termination. Some of the employers had limitations on the amount of time that could be accrud but some did not. Sick Leave has never been paid out nor Paid Time Off (PTO), however.

My spouse works in the public sector and their entity pays out vacation time which has limitations on the amount of time that can be accrued. Also, under the current contract, the entity pays out sick time as well which has no limitations on the amount of time accrued.

I believe that other factors including regional business practices, the bargaining units involved and the overall recruiting picture greatly affect the benefits package offered by both public and private sector employers.

]]> By: BillD http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29270 BillD Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:49:31 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2008/10/10/_you_do_not_get/#comment-29270 You forgot to mention that public sector wages, in CA and all over the country, tend to be lower on average for similar work when compared to the private sector. Where I work, in FL, vacation (annual) leave is considered income earned as it accrues and therefore an employee is entitled to it when they depart their job. It's part of your overall compensation package which helps to bring pay more in line with the private sector. We are also permitted to annually cash out up to a certain amount each year, which reduces the employer's long-term liability somewhat, as do caps on total accrual which some employers have. Despite how wonderful all this sounds I would still rather have a paycheck that matched those of my counterparts in the private sector because I'm still going to use up some, if not all of that leave before I can ever cash it out. You forgot to mention that public sector wages, in CA and all over the country, tend to be lower on average for similar work when compared to the private sector. Where I work, in FL, vacation (annual) leave is considered income earned as it accrues and therefore an employee is entitled to it when they depart their job. It’s part of your overall compensation package which helps to bring pay more in line with the private sector. We are also permitted to annually cash out up to a certain amount each year, which reduces the employer’s long-term liability somewhat, as do caps on total accrual which some employers have. Despite how wonderful all this sounds I would still rather have a paycheck that matched those of my counterparts in the private sector because I’m still going to use up some, if not all of that leave before I can ever cash it out.

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