Since I have excellent attendance at my job, and hardly ever take a sick day, my new supervisor is giving me permission to take three sick days this year even though I don't have to be sick. I work for a huge financial center and my time off is based solely on her discretion. What do you think? Would you take them?

-- mp (marypar@hotmail.com), August 12, 2004

Answers

If she has the authority to approve days off and she has approved them, then I don't see that any deception or injustice is involved. Count your blessings. If you have a problem calling them "sick days" then think of them as "appreciation days". Of course if she doesn't have the authority to make such a decision and you know she doesn't, then that's another matter.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 12, 2004.

Thanks Paul, She is my boss and everything is left to her discretion, so "appreciation day" sounds pretty good to me. thanks again.

-- mp (marypar@hotmail.com), August 12, 2004.

Dear mp: there is a known Spanish saying: "A quién le dan pan que llore?" Roughly translated it would be something like this:

Who is ever offered a loaf of bread and bursts out in tears?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), August 17, 2004.

If she knows you aren't sick and is giving you permission to take them anyways, you aren't sinning by taking days off you shouldn't. I don't see any problem either. Of course, being the prudent sort, I would recommend you not use up *too* many days in a year before you build up enough to cover you if you really ARE sick.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), August 17, 2004.