A new bill from Sen. Brian Stack, who is also the Union City mayor, would allow towns to “purchase” unused sick time from employees annually, which one critic said could fuel fraud and waste. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)
Public employees who want to cash in on their unused sick time wouldn’t have to wait until retirement to do so under new legislation.
Under a bill sponsored by Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson), government officials could “purchase” up to 120 hours a year of accumulated sick leave from employees at up to 60% of its worth. The bill would undo part of a 2007 law that allowed such payouts to be disbursed only at retirement. Employees would have to maintain at least 800 hours of accrued sick time after such a purchase…