5 Investigates: Retiring state workers paid millions for good attendance

[unhappycamper]

http://www.wcvb.com/news/retiring-state-workers-paid-millions-for-good-attendance/38700276

More than 100 people received $50K or more for unused sick time

5 Investigates: Retiring state workers paid millions for good attendance
By Mike Beaudet
UPDATED 7:42 PM EDT Mar 25, 2016

BOSTON —Massachusetts state workers are cashing in for not calling in sick to work, collecting $157 million since 2006 for unused sick time, records obtained by 5 Investigates show.

"It's an enormous amount of money," said Mary Z. Connaughton, director of Finance and Administration at the public policy research group The Pioneer Institute. "It's quite a perk to be a state employee and get this benefit at retirement or simply leaving state service."

The average Massachusetts state employees gets 15 sick days a year, which carry over year after year if they're not used. When workers leave government service, the state pays 20 percent of the unused sick time based on their current salary. But other high ranking state employees earn even more.

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The issue is before Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Massachusetts, after the Boston Business Journal revealed that the former president of Bridgewater State University cashed in nearly $200,000 in unused sick time when he retired -- part of a $269,000 retirement payout.