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For someone with a disability, having combined PTO and sick time basically means taking time off to remain healthy means you don’t get time off to actually do a

For someone with a disability, having combined PTO and sick time basically means taking time off to remain healthy means you don’t get time off to actually do anything with your life. Sick days aren’t vacation for me. I’m generally too depressed or manic to function. I’ll usually drive to a park or the local zoo to walk so I’m not sitting in a chair, too anxious or tired to get up. Somehow that’s “vacation” time because I’m able to (or need to) leave my house.

fm2606 4y ago
1000% this. I have routine procedures that require 2 days just for the procedures. Then a half day for travel. The hospital is 2.5 hours away. One of those days is a prep day so I don't venture to far from the hotel. And this is a yearly occurrence. Now if I have an acute episode that is a 3 day stay (at a local hospital). Which, luckily this only happens every other year or so. Basically if I take any time off that is true vacation days I have to make sure I have plenty of days on the books in case I get sick or know I will be having to make doctor appointments in the next few months.
- kayodelycaon 4y ago
  I’m out a lot more frequently than that. If I actually took the time I needed, it would be 2~3 days each month. I usually want to take a minimum 12 days of vacation per year to attend conventions and visit people. The end result is me spending a week or more per month being barely functional. I’m at my desk, poking at code I don’t have enough brain power to understand. But, better to “work” than get in trouble for not being visibly at my desk.
  - fm2606 4y ago
    Sorry to hear that. As far as diseases go I guess I'm fairly fortunate. I don't have to manage it day-to-day but it is always in the back of my mind. If I had known in my teens and 20s I'd end up with this type of disease I'd have done drugs and raw dogged some hookers, at least I'd be able to point to a reason for having a bad liver. /s
- no_wizard 4y ago
  In the US, you can use sick time for these things, BTW. Things that are required for care are legally allowed to be used as sick time instead of PTO. I think the unlimited time off loophole damages the sick time more than actual vacation, as others have pointed out in this thread, which is the real shame.
  - brewdad 4y ago
    We’re talking about companies that don’t offer “sick time” at all. PTO is one bucket of accrued time with no distinction as to why you are taking time off. The first company I worked for out of college had this policy. Ironically, they were lauded in the press at the time as they had some of the most comprehensive health coverage for workers and all of their dependents. Cadillac plans at zero payroll deductions to the employees regardless of family size.
hospadar 4y ago
This this this. Split PTO is an accommodation for disabled and chronically ill folks that allows them to have actual vacation and also take care of themselves. Unified PTO penalizes people who need time off work to care for themselves regularly. If you're disabled/chronically ill you maybe be able to use intermittent FMLA (in the US) to take more sick time but this is unpaid and can be a big hassle, esp if your employer/doctors are not supportive/cooperative (which can be a result of incompetence/ignorance as easily as malice)
- kayodelycaon 4y ago
  I have ADA accommodations for intermittent leave, which is about as good as it gets, but I’m required to use my PTO before going unpaid. Once I’m unpaid, I don’t have PTO to use.

fm2606 4y ago

1000% this. I have routine procedures that require 2 days just for the procedures. Then a half day for travel. The hospital is 2.5 hours away. One of those days is a prep day so I don't venture to far from the hotel. And this is a yearly occurrence. Now if I have an acute episode that is a 3 day stay (at a local hospital). Which, luckily this only happens every other year or so. Basically if I take any time off that is true vacation days I have to make sure I have plenty of days on the books in case I get sick or know I will be having to make doctor appointments in the next few months.

kayodelycaon 4y ago
I’m out a lot more frequently than that. If I actually took the time I needed, it would be 2~3 days each month. I usually want to take a minimum 12 days of vacation per year to attend conventions and visit people. The end result is me spending a week or more per month being barely functional. I’m at my desk, poking at code I don’t have enough brain power to understand. But, better to “work” than get in trouble for not being visibly at my desk.
- fm2606 4y ago
  Sorry to hear that. As far as diseases go I guess I'm fairly fortunate. I don't have to manage it day-to-day but it is always in the back of my mind. If I had known in my teens and 20s I'd end up with this type of disease I'd have done drugs and raw dogged some hookers, at least I'd be able to point to a reason for having a bad liver. /s
no_wizard 4y ago
In the US, you can use sick time for these things, BTW. Things that are required for care are legally allowed to be used as sick time instead of PTO. I think the unlimited time off loophole damages the sick time more than actual vacation, as others have pointed out in this thread, which is the real shame.
- brewdad 4y ago
  We’re talking about companies that don’t offer “sick time” at all. PTO is one bucket of accrued time with no distinction as to why you are taking time off. The first company I worked for out of college had this policy. Ironically, they were lauded in the press at the time as they had some of the most comprehensive health coverage for workers and all of their dependents. Cadillac plans at zero payroll deductions to the employees regardless of family size.

hospadar 4y ago

This this this. Split PTO is an accommodation for disabled and chronically ill folks that allows them to have actual vacation and also take care of themselves. Unified PTO penalizes people who need time off work to care for themselves regularly. If you're disabled/chronically ill you maybe be able to use intermittent FMLA (in the US) to take more sick time but this is unpaid and can be a big hassle, esp if your employer/doctors are not supportive/cooperative (which can be a result of incompetence/ignorance as easily as malice)

kayodelycaon 4y ago
I have ADA accommodations for intermittent leave, which is about as good as it gets, but I’m required to use my PTO before going unpaid. Once I’m unpaid, I don’t have PTO to use.