The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia

Inquirer  sick and vacation time.

January 15, 2025billrossGuild News, Inquirer

Happy New Year, Guild members:
The new year has brought some confusion over sick and vacation days. So I thought this was a perfect time to review the policies for each under the Guild contract with The Inquirer.
And you can have an opportunity to get more questions answered at the General Membership meeting on Jan. 29, an especially significant meeting as it is the one when officers will be sworn in for another term. SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS: WED., JAN. 29, NOON.
As for the sick time: Under the current contract, total 100%-paid sick days increased to 8 from 6. What also changed is when that bank of sick days renews. IT IS NOT BY THE CALENDAR YEAR. It is measured backward from the date you take your first sick day.
So, for example: If you took a sick day on Feb. 1, 2024, that sick day will not be restored in your sick days bank until Feb. 1, 2025. In other words, a particular sick day may only be used once in a 12-month period.
The company insisted on this setup in exchange for the two additional 100% paid sick days and the extraordinary increase in parental leave to what is essentially now 16 weeks, up from 6 weeks.
As for vacation, the issue here is not whether people are getting the proper amount of vacation time but whether UKG Pro was tracking it correctly. In some circumstances, it was not. So, take some time to check to see if the system has the correct amount of vacation time recorded for you. If it does not, contact People & Culture and your immediate supervisor. The Guild has been told that whatever computer glitches had shorted some people have been fixed.
Like I said, we can answer any and all questions about this or anything else at the General Membership meeting on Jan. 29. See you there.
In solidarity,
Diane