State Spends Big to Pay Workers for Unused Vacation

[TexasTowelie]

Texas government agencies have paid fired or resigning state employees more than $500 million in unused vacation time over the last decade. It’s a staggering sum that fiscal conservative critics call “ridiculous,” especially in tough budget times.

But state workers say what’s ridiculous is that so many jobs have been cut — and that agencies are so understaffed that employees can’t take vacations.

In each of the last 10 years, state officials paid out an average $50 million in accrued vacation time, according to data from the Texas comptroller’s office. That number crept up to $68 million in 2004 and $67 million last year — both on the heels of a budget shortfall and related layoffs.

In Texas, Allison Castle, communications director for Gov. Rick Perry, said the governor is "concerned about every issue that impacts the state budget" and will be "looking at all cost-drivers" headed into the next legislative session.

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-taxes/budget/state-spends-big-pay-workers-unused-vacation/

[hobbit709]

1. It will be another way to screw the workers out of their benefits.

"Use it or lose it" and then deny you time off because they're understaffed. I've seen that happen in private industry and they want to privatize or the equivalent with government.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Use or Lose has been Federal Gov policy for years

Max of 6 weeks carryover. Paid/taken upon retirement/separation. Unused sick leave can count towards retirement time, but is not paid for IIRC.

[sonias]

3. State employees in Texas are overworked and underappreciated

“I know people who haven’t had a vacation in five years, and keep requesting time off, but it’s not granted because there’s not enough staff to do the work,” he said. “People are actually losing their vacation time because of the accumulation caps, and because they’re made to work.”

The republicans have always been anti-labor, anti-worker. They wished they could get robots to do all the work.

I certainly hope workers are prepared to sue the state if the state steals they vacation salaries - because that's what it is effectively - theft. Those weeks of vacation time are figured into your wages. If the state is so understaffed that they never let you take a vacation - then it's not the fault of the employee. He or she should be paid for that time.

[white cloud]

4. BTDT

“I know people who haven’t had a vacation in five years, and keep requesting time off, but it’s not granted because there’s not enough staff to do the work,” he said. “People are actually losing their vacation time because of the accumulation caps, and because they’re made to work.”

I work in private industry that always tried to do the same. Screw you out of your vacation time and schedule because they were short manpower...