Based on prior posts you know: I left 50 unused, unreimbursed sick days on the table.

Where did they go? Nowhere.

Where could they have gone? Into a sick bank.

Certainly a sick bank is not an uncommon phenomenon, even if its application among employment settings is not uniform–nor does it necessarily have to be.

Hopefully, though, the most generous kind of sick bank predominates–generous in that it provides for a high–or unlimited–ceiling on deposits and withdrawals. (Withdrawals, of course, that meet predetermined just criteria.)

In some districts, for example, retirees are able to donate to standing sick banks substantial numbers of excess, unreimbursed sick days.

In the district from which I retired, there was no sick bank. Period.

There was, however, an opportunity on an administration-approved case-by-case basis for the union to request from among its membership a particular number of sick day donations for specific individuals’ causes.

In responding to the sick day donation requests, one group of members was prohibited by administration from contributing even one day: individuals who were expected imminently to retire.

(Interesting stipulation! I didn’t decide to retire until the school year ended. Hmm…Will HR go back and revoke the donations I made this past school year?)

Four years ago, one of our colleagues died after a two-year battle with cancer. Because she never once abused any offers of sick days—Just the opposite! We really had to beg her to take some much needed time off!– I was hoping that a standing sick bank would be created in her memory and honor, with an application process our administration and union could oversee to ensure that a sick bank would not result in abuses.

Under the proposed Memorial Sick Bank, prospective retirees, unlike the one who had made known her intention to retire, and deeply regretted not being able to donate even one day to her dying friend, would be as eligible as any other employees to donate days. A parting gift from retirees, so to speak.

Sick banks: Borrowing. Lending. Transferring. Escrow. Deposits. Withdrawals. Security. Interest. Loans.

Banking terms that apply to a very human way of helping friends and colleagues in need.

Unused sick days—too bad mine had to go to waste.

However, knowing the generosity of my former colleagues, sick bank or not, when friends and colleagues are in need, others come to the rescue—and you can bank on that!

How did your employer handle employees’  needs for additional sick days? If you had a sick bank, how did it work? Pro’s and con’s you noticed?