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Show 26 HILL TOP TIMES Friday, August 12, 19S3 5ci iecove lostf for. DimsyirQiinice cogjcaiiirDsfl' ftSinriie Government employees have a financial protection plan that grows with service. It is insurance against time lost because of illness. Sick leave is one of the valuable fringe benefits of a federal career. If used properly, it guarantees an in- statement explaining the cluding pregnancy and confinement. Medical, dental or optical examinations' or treatments, including physical examinations for retention of status in a reserve component of the Armed Forces or the National Guard. Exposure to a quarantinable contagious disease or a need to care for an immediate family member who has been exposed to a contagious disease. An absence of more than three days due to illness must be verified by a statement from a physician or other licensed practitioner. If a medical certificate cannot be obtained because the illness did not require the services of a physician, or for other reasons, the employee should present a written come during lengthy periods of illness. Sick leave abuse can create problems for both the employer and the employee. The employer loses valuable manpower, and the employee may not only lose a source of future income but face possible disciplinary action. To guard against sick leave abuse, Air Force Logistics Command in 1973 established a goal of a 4.5 percent sick leave usage rate. So far in 1983, the sick leave usage rate command-wid- e is 4.22 percent, lower than the 4.5 percent goal. Civilian employees have a normal 2,080 hours per year work schedule and earn sick leave at a rate of 5 percent, or 104 hours per year. This translates to 13 workdays a year set aside for sick leave. Sick leave is granted only for: Incapacity to perform regular duties, due to illness or injury, in circum- stances supporting the claim for sick leave. Employees who cannot support claims for sick leave could be charged absence without leave, leave without pay, or annual leave as appropriate for . such absences. During extended absences lasting more than one pay period, medical certificates or other supporting evidence may be requested from the employee periodically. These may not be necessary if the employee is hospitalized or the physician has specified a recuperative period in writing and in advance. In such cases, medical certification may be submitted for the record when the employee returns to duty. A sick leave application, like a voucher, is a claim for payment. Employees commit fraud if they claim sick leave when they are not entitled to it. Sick leave abusers tend to follow a pattern which can be identified by supervisors; Possible signs of abuse include taking sick leave: on the ""first workday following . ' -- DaTHB BANK! paydays You may live longer if you're in the military, Air Force members outlive counterparts before or after a holiday on Fridays or Mondays, for a three-da- y weekend when work load is heaviest during inclement weather during public events such as ball games when an undesirable job is to be performed as soon as it is earned on days when watching an event on television may be as great a lure as attending the event itself excessively for short, intermittent periods on the same day each week on days when it can be deterr mined the employee worked at outside employment on days the employee is on vacation from outside employ ement on days the spouse has time off or is on vacation. In the long run, sick leave abusers fool only themselves but, worse yet, cheat themselves of valuable benefits. Questions concerning sick leave can be directed to the specialists at the Employee Relations Unit, Ext. 7720577251. (LOGNEWS) medical screening and the high standard of physical fitness maintained in the military. ac-- ., cording to a four-yea- r company morof men. tality study U.S. During the 1976-198- 0 period, the overall death rate among men in the U.S. Armed Services was about three-fifth- s the death rate among males in the U.S. general population. The Air Force enjoys the most favorable mortality rate. The accident rate for was comparatively servicemembers, however, ' higher. Statisticians believe the low death rates in the Armed Forces indicate that service personnel are a select group of healthy individuals. They feel the favorable mortality rate reflects the effects of life-insuran- '. DlUDness ce : The Air Force had the lowest accident death rate among the services .67 deaths per 1,000 members, compared to a high of 1.24 per 1,000 in the Marine Corps. The accident death rate for the Army and the Navy was the same: one per 1,000. The accident death rate for all branches of the services was .93 per 1,000 somewhat higher than the rates for men in the general population. Data for the report was developed from statistics supplied by the Department of Defense and from the experience under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance of the Veterans Administration, officials said. (AFNS) our prices leave vote cash with in your pocket NO CASH NEEDED! BRAND NEW! 1983 Dodge Colt 17" Diagonal COLOR TV 1903 CLOSEOUT I ' Reg. $499.00 S ;; - SCAN REMOTE CONTROL , Modal 17AC3642W :at)imt(iH)sttu liil.tt hitih inii.H . ' or hatchback 1133 NOW ONLY Color Monitor Programmable Scan Remote Control sclpcts and scans channels" I, I Of per month for 48 months H Quart? Electronic Tuninri with H;1- ' cftanrw-- l capability l soiulstatcrtMssis NO CASH NEEDED! BRAND NEW 1983 17" Diagonal COLOR TV Dodge 1983 CLOSEOUT VIVI COLOR SYSTEM Reg. 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