Help! I need a legitimate excuse for a 6 month leave of absence from work.

[billvon 3,114]

>It not as cold as it sounds. They won't pay me anything while I'm
>out on leave. They'll hire a consultant to fill in for me while I'm out . . .

At twice your cost, plus they're still covering your benefits. And they're screwed once you leave for good since they _then_ have to start looking for someone.

>True but someone else that was honest about it and went to
>the Police Academy a few years ago, didn't get their job back when
>they didn't make the cut and they honest about it.

Right. So it sounds like it's a risk. If the risk is worth it to you, go for it - and be honest about it. If the risk ISN'T worth it, then don't do it.

Take the opposite. Let's say you go to the Police Academy, graduate, then quit your old job. Then the police force told you "well, we just wanted to have you around in case this other guy didn't work out, but he did - so see ya!" How would you feel?

[AlexCrowley 0]

I agree with you, even if your timekeeping software sucks.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[SuperKat 0]

Benefits aren't free.

I'm letting them know that I want leave w/o benefits.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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At twice your cost, plus they're still covering your benefits. And they're screwed once you leave for good since they _then_ have to start looking for someone.

Negative on that. They pay consultants the same hourly rate that I get. We already have 3 consultants on site here now. All they'll do is have them work my slot.

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Right. So it sounds like it's a risk. If the risk is worth it to you, go for it - and be honest about it. If the risk ISN'T worth it, then don't do it.

Of course lying is not a good option here. I'm in a tough situation here. Being a cop will only pay me $24,000 a year. That half of what I make now. I won't be able to make what I make now until after I put 4 years in. I will be literally starving, overworked and underpaid. Being on leave of absence is my safety net. It's a huge risk for me to be a cop. I'm losing a lot by switching careers. I'm a year away from getting my pension here at my current job. I risk losing a lot by changing careers.

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Take the opposite. Let's say you go to the Police Academy, graduate, then quit your old job. Then the police force told you "well, we just wanted to have you around in case this other guy didn't work out, but he did - so see ya!" How would you feel?

I wouldn't be able to say anything about it. That's because I would be on probation for two years. Whatever they say goes. If they have me shovel shit for a year while paying me $24,000 a year and then fire me when all the shit is cleaned up, I can't say a damm thing about it. I'm at their mercy. They can do whatever they want me to do and they can treat me however, they like.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[billvon 3,114]

>I risk losing a lot by changing careers.

Then like I said - decide if you really want to do it. If yes, then do it, and be honest about it. If no, then don't do it.

>I wouldn't be able to say anything about it.

Except that's not what I asked. I asked - how would you feel about it? Is that how you want to be treated? Treat the company you work for now the same way you would want a company to treat you.

[Deuce 1]

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For those of you harping on Superkat about screwing her employer over, she could join the reserve or guard and her employer would have to keep her job until she finished basic and then whatever finishing school she chose.

Deuce, I usually agree with your posts, and everything I've seen/heard about you indicates you prefer to live your life with integrity. I gotta disagree with you here.

The fact is that going to the Police Academy is not a protected employment category like the guard/reserves.

SuperKat is looking for a lie to tell the employer, knowing that the truth will likely lead to a job loss in this situation. Sure, it's a big company (and searching past posts, we know exactly which company) and the financial impact will likely be the equivalent of a rounding error on the bottom line, but that's not the point.

If she is going to help with her dad, like I said, really help by being there when she is not at school, that is a legitimate use. The other things she does while legitimately using her leave are her business. I was the FMLA manager at my last job and I would have no problem approving her request. I wouldn't have a choice. If she's using FMLA and not helping her father I'd prosecute her.

Should she not use FMLA, keep working her current job, and spend at least 8 hours a day helping her dad? Yes. The hardest thing about managing employee benefits is that they are not the benefit manager's choice. The employees generally negotiate their benefits and that's that. When a request it made within the scope of the benefit, it generally must be granted.

Here's an overkill explanation with case law from New York.

http://www.alston.com/articles/Supreme%20Court%20Update.pdf


I also was the primary caregiver to my dad, and I could really have used the help of a sister, had any of them cared.

So, it's like this. She gets a note from her Dad's doctor that her dad needs her help, POW, she gets FMLA. For the folks who don't like it, write your congressman.

If it was me? I don't know much about the poster's reputation on the boards, I'm nowhere near as active as I used to be. If it was me?

I had perfect attendance as a police officer for six and a half years. Never late, never absent, and worked an average of 15 hours of overtime a week, never late or absent to that either. First sick leave was my kids birth. At that point they weren't going to give me more than two weeks because of policy. FMLA forced them to. It was years later that I was a County department manager doing FMLA and disability management..

So, if I had a chance to train for six months to do something I loved, and coincidentaly my dad was sick and my mom could use about 8 hours of releif a night while she got other stuff done while I studied? I'd go for it. I'd have at least three months leave accrued and at it's exhaustion I'd resign. Otherwise I'd sacrifice the sick leave (depending on your agency).

If her agency will pay off on her earned sick leave, she should just resign.

Again, best scenario? Resign get paid off on all leave accruals, eat ramen and become a big fat meanie.


P.S. No. Nobody grants return to work status to folks who go to the academy. I think they should.

[SuperKat 0]

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Are you planning on being dishonest while you're in the academy, and then once you're a cop? 'Cause the road you choose now will be the road you're committed to for a long time.

I understand where you're coming from. Of course I'm not going to be dishonest.

How can it hurt the company if they already have two consultants here on board that do what I do and get paid the same amount that I do w/o benefits? I'll be leaving w/o pay and w/o benefits. All this is doing is ensuring that I have my job waiting for me if anything should happen during those 6 months. This does not cost the company a single cent for me to be out.

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See, if you're honest, and let them know you've enjoyed working for them, and want to move on to your dream job, you leave the door open. If you lie, then you shut all doors...imagine what the background check will reveal if they smell a lie...you're out without an injury.

Someone did that in the past when they went to the academy and when they wanted to come back, they got a flat NO!

I didn't come up with this idea on my own. Friends from HR and even a few members of the police dept suggested that I do this. Both parties said that it's best that I protect myself. And I'm following their advice. I was going to just leave and not even turn back but both parties suggested that anything can happen and it's best if I look out for my best interest.

There is no loss here for anyone. The company doesn't lose out on $$. They only lose out on my physical presence. We already have consultants here that can fill my shoes at no extra cost than what I'm getting paid and they get no benefits.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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Except that's not what I asked. I asked - how would you feel about it? Is that how you want to be treated? Treat the company you work for now the same way you would want a company to treat you.

I'm a human being, of course I wouldn't like it but guess what? It's not about what I like or what I don't like. If a boss wants to fire me for leaving my fly open, so be it. I wouldn't make a stink about it. I'm a minority in more ways than one. You can't argue to get your job back.

A few people from HR told me, the day I leave no one would even miss me. They'll move on and it'll be business as usual. And if they ever wanted to get rid of me, they wouldn't even give me a package or 5 minute notice. I've seen this happen a few times. Which is why a few people in HR told me to protect myself and my best interest.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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Nice moral flexibility though. If you get thru please be the cop to stop me when I'm speeding. I'll have $50 waiting for you.

Please come to NY and do that. I would love to entertain you.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[Deuce 1]

Are you asking for six months unpaid leave without accruals? That meaning you have a right to return but you stop gaining seniority and those hired after you pass you up in the last-hired first-fired heirarchy?

I doubt that would be legal.

Regarding the starving, overworked, gosh what I'm losing stuff. Shut the f*ck up, and never bring that up again. Nobody cares, especially the veterans and trainers at your new PD.

If you are a year away from being vested in your current job, continue to work hard and be a good employee and get yourself vested. Not doing that would be stupid. Managers need good people to show up ready to work every day. Employees who do that are in high demand. If you earn your money every day, I see no problem with you planning on quitting in 365. Start living on your future salary now, save the rest, and when it's time to go to the academy, write a nice resignation. That nest egg from your vested retirement and your savings will help you during the probie years.

Also, you are going to work a zillion hours of overtime after the academy and FTO programs so your take home will not suffer all that much.

Or just don't do it. A cheaper, faster way to earn your macho merit badge would be to join the Guard or Reserve.

[SuperKat 0]

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I would have said this much, much more strongly but I'm feeling tactful this morning.

Don't hold back on my account. I'm from NY. I'm not a softie.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[narcimund 0]

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I risk losing a lot by changing careers.

Of course you do. That's the deal you're choosing.

You're going to be walking around with a gun and a license to push people around.

The rest of us would all rather have cops who think about RIGHT and WRONG instead of who they can lie to in order to make their lives and jobs easier.

Edit: Just read the rest of your posts that went up while I wasn't looking ... I'm giving up.

God help the people you police.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[AlexCrowley 0]

moral flexibility is awesome.

Maybe you could find someone in organized crime to help sponsor you, that way you'd not have to worry about the money situation at all.

You're already prepared to fabricate an excuse for yourself. Im sure they wont expect anything more than you fabricating a few excuses as repayment when the time is right.

Go you!

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[Scoop 0]

I know in the UK if whilst your at college any act of dishonesty comes to light. Youll be kicked out the force quicker than you know whats happened.

If its what you want to do, go for it. No one ever got anywhere without taking risks.

If your secretly wanting them to hold on to your job because your not sure if police is job for you. Then reconsider your application.

My humble opinion

• Quote

[SuperKat 0]

You're right Deuce. I'll just take my chances and just quit my job when they call me to duty. The overtime doesn't happen until after the academy. There's also a cap as to how much you can make per year. I'm not complaining. I'm doing this because I want to. And I'll be willing to suffer with the money, changing my lifestyle and what not if it means I can save lives out there, even if it costs me my own life. If I was doing it for the money, I wouldn't even go through all these hardships. So there you have it, life goes on and I'll choose the honest path. I guess I shouldn't have let other people persuade me to look out for myself. That's what life is all about, taking risks....I take risks everytime I do videography with last minute 10 ways anyway, so why not with this, right?

Thank you all for making me feel guilty about not being honest. Even though I know I wouldn't be dishonest but who knows, why even plant the seed that I don't want sown, right?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[AlexCrowley 0]

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[SuperKat 0]

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You're going to be walking around with a gun and a license to push people around.

Is this what you think of Cops? I feel sorry for you my friend. And I'm sorry that cops pushed you around and traumatized you. Just because one or two cops did that to you does not mean that they're all like that. Maybe you should get out more often. Or maybe you shouldn't drink and drive, which would help you not getting pulled over to be pushed around. See, how that sounds if I were to think like you?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[AlexCrowley 0]

is everyone invited to the pity party?

I'm so freaking bored I need something to do.

I could set light to your candles.

I'll even bring some cheese.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[SuperKat 0]

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is everyone invited to the pity party?

I'm so freaking bored I need something to do.

I could set light to your candles.

I'll even bring some cheese.

I never asked for pity my friend. You could do whatever you want to do. I just needed to voice out that people here helped me to realize that the path I was choosing was not an honest path. I'm thanking them. Do you have a problem with people making mistakes? Have you ever made a mistake in your life?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[narcimund 0]

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(Making up a completely fictitious crime she imagines I MUST be guilty of, she says:) Or maybe you shouldn't drink and drive, which would help you not getting pulled over to be pushed around.

Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless ....

Wow.

Um... wow.

I don't know what to say ... other than in a perfect world, the academy would better at weeding out people who aren't suited to wield power over others.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[AlexCrowley 0]

Many, but rarely compounded so effortlessly, and without with the interesting potential for hilarity in the future.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[skymama 37]

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Thank you all for making me feel guilty about not being honest. Even though I know I wouldn't be dishonest but who knows, why even plant the seed that I don't want sown, right?

Mom, is that you?

I always find it funny when people ask others for their opinion and then get mad when it's not the answer that they wanted to hear. You should have never asked in the first place.

At the end of the day, nothing matters other than your integrity. You're the one who has to live with yourself, not us. Do what you think is right.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[SuperKat 0]

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Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless ....

Wow.

Um... wow.

I don't know what to say ... other than in a perfect world, the academy would better at weeding out people who aren't suited to wield power over others.

I'm not saying that you do that. I'm just saying that you're being judgemental on cops. Not all cops have a power trip. I admit, I have even been pulled over by cops and had been called "chink", I've had a gun pointed in my face, I've been handcuffed, been called racial slurs and thrown in a cell for mistaken identity. These were all done by different individuals. I have met several nice cops that would do anything for you. They would risk their lives for you. They would give you a break if you were going 10mph above the speed limit. Not all cops are bad. These type of cops were my mentors. They're happy doing their job, eventhough they get called names and what not. They're happy knowing that they could save your life and/or change your life positively. That's what I want to do. You really shouldn't brand all cops as gun wielding power tripping people. There will always be that handful that choose a different path. It's not a perfect world.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[narcimund 0]

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You're the one who has to live with yourself, not us.

Actually, because of the power of the position she's seeking that's not true. We all get to live with the consequences.

First Class Citizen Twice Over